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CLAN Officially Opens New Wellbeing And Support Centre

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A leading north-east cancer charity has officially opened a new centre in a purpose-designed community facility in north Aberdeenshire.

CLAN Cancer Support has established a new wellbeing and support centre for anyone affected by cancer within the Crimond Medical and Community Hub.

Initially, the CLAN facility will open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays from 10am to 4pm, with the option of further expanding services in line with future needs.

The centre will enable people to access a wide range of support for individuals directly affected by cancer, as well as their carers, family and friends, free of charge.

The new facility, which was officially opened on Friday, March 9, has a large drop-in area where CLAN staff and volunteers will offer support and information without the need for appointment, along with three separate rooms which will provide space for one-to-one support.

This will include one-to-one counselling, dedicated support for children, teenagers and families, a library and information service and complementary therapies aimed at pain and stress relief. Cancer related support groups will also be developed, along with a number of wellbeing activities.

CLAN Cancer Support received funding towards establishing the centre from Nexen Petroleum UK Limited and the Big Lottery Fund’s “Awards for All” Fund.

Dr Colette Backwell, chief executive of CLAN Cancer Support, said: “We understand the pressures living in remote or rural communities can have on individuals who are faced with, or affected by, a cancer diagnosis. For this reason, we want to ensure that people can access crucial support services as close to their homes as possible.

“To address this need, we have been working towards establishing modern, accessible bases across the north-east from which we will continue to provide services that meet the needs of the local community and our clients in the area.

“Establishing a wellbeing and support centre in Crimond Community Hub offers us the opportunity to develop our own services in north Aberdeenshire and also to build valuable links with the other organisations within the Hub.

“I’m confident that this fantastic facility will play a key role in our aim to provide wellbeing and support services in the heart of the local communities we serve. It will allow us to build our outreach services to Fraserburgh and Peterhead and in the surrounding area from Stuartfield and New Deer in the south of the area to Lonmay and St Combs in the north.

“This is a key progression of CLAN’s services and will allow us greater flexibility to grow and develop the services we provide, ensuring they meet the changing needs of people affected by cancer in the area, and within their local community.”

Conrad Ritchie, Chairman of Crimond Charitable Trust, said: “We are delighted that CLAN Cancer Support is now operational within the Crimond Medical and Community Hub. The services provided by the charity will complement the medical practice and benefit the local communities that are served by this facility.

"We wish them well and look forward with confidence to the positive impact they will have within the area today and in the future.”

The charity’s outreach services continue to run in both Fraserburgh and Peterhead in the town’s library buildings. Fraserburgh’s service will be available each Monday from 10am to 1pm and Peterhead’s will be held each Thursday from 3pm to 5pm.

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness.

Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Elgin, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Lossiemouth, Peterhead, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

The Crimond Medical and Community Hub opened in 2017. Formed by Score Group plc, the Crimond Charitable Trust was formed to design, build and operate a new facility for the benefit of the community. In addition to the medical facilities, the building houses a number of community amenities such as a community café, fitness suite and community rooms.

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