Comic strip highlights CLAN’s Children & Family Service
CLAN Cancer Support is aiming to catch the eye of those passing its Aberdeen charity shops as it celebrates the 10year anniversary of its children and family service.
To mark 10 years of providing a specialist service for children, young people and their families, CLAN has installed an eye-catching giant comic strip at its Rosemount and Chapel Street charity shops in the city centre.
The comic strip was designed by one of CLAN’s shop assistants, Emma-Cole Hamilton for the charity’s newly launched newsletter, The Hop, which is aimed at children aged between 4 years and 12 years of age. The window graphics were painted by Emma and her colleague Dawn Williams.
The paintings follow the story of a family’s first visit to CLAN House in Aberdeen where they are met by a member of the charity’s children and family service team; a team that offers a dedicated and confidential service that allows children, young people and their families to share any thoughts and fears they may be experiencing as a result of a cancer diagnosis.
CLAN’s children and family team has entered its 10th year in operation with a renewed focus on promoting its services across all of the existing CLAN bases. The team currently works with over 70 families throughout the north and north-east, providing support for over 100 young people and nearly 65 adults. Already this year, the team has established a fortnightly presence in Elgin and Inverurie, giving people the option to make appointments or simply drop-in for advice and help.
With plans for further expansion, it’s shaping up to be a busy 10th year in operation for the team.
Iona Mitchell, CLAN’s children and family service manager, said: “The idea of a comic strip came from a recent illustration we commissioned for our new children and family service newsletter. This has been so warmly receivedas an effective method for communicating with young people that the opportunity to reproduce this on a grander scale with a graphic covering the entire window is very exciting. The illustration is really eye-catching and therefore we hope that this will get passers by talking about CLAN and the services that we provide.
“This year’s main aim is to promote the work of the children and family’s team not only in Aberdeen but also throughout CLAN’s bases across the north-east of Scotland, in Elgin and in Orkney and Shetland. We do a lot of work throughout the school holidays and we are planning to take part in community events throughout this period allowing further promotion of our service and giving families the opportunity to learn more about the work of the team.
“We will also be offering activity based days to children and teenagers over the summer, which encourages peer support at what can be recognised as a difficult period for families. We’re also looking at the possibility of increasing our resources for young people and their families in terms of books that provide information and support for those affected by cancer, which can be accessed at any of CLAN’s bases.
“It’s fantastic that CLAN has provided a children and family service for the past 10 years and we’re looking forward to enhancing this service in the months and years ahead. A cancer diagnosis can often be a stressful and upsetting time for children and young people and I’d encourage anyone who thinks their child may benefit from meeting with us, to come forward and find out more about how we can help.”
For more information on the children and family support services, please contact Iona Mitchell on 01224 647000 or email iona.mitchell@clanhouse.org
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, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Kirkwall and Lerwick.
For further information about CLAN Cancer Support please call (01224) 647 000 or visit www.clanhouse.org
