North-east Cancer charity launches free online support resource centre
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People affected by cancer can now access free services online which have been developed by a charity working to provide advice and support during the coronavirus pandemic.
CLAN Cancer Support which has offices across the north-east including Inverurie and outreach services in Turriff has seen over 500 people access its telephone service over the past week after the temporary closure of its physical centres.
The charity has now developed a free online resource centre, which will provide information and advice, and support through the provision of virtual therapy sessions.
The CLAN resource centre is free to access at www.clanhouse.org and includes therapy sessions and online demonstrations including relaxation, hand reflexology and self-massage.
The website also includes a children’s pack, which gives relaxing and creative craft ideas for young people and ideas for indoor activities.
The charity, which supported 2611 people in 2019, including 384 families, is endeavouring to provide support to anyone affected by cancer during the lockdown, despite the physical restrictions in Scotland.
Laura Davison who presents an online relaxation session on CLAN’s website, said: “While we cannot meet with clients at the moment, we hope that the virtual sessions will help provide some respite from the fears and worries that surround a cancer diagnosis.
"During these difficult times, it is important that we are all kind to ourselves and dedicating some time to relaxation can be extremely beneficial.”
CLAN’s head of services, Iona Mitchell said: “Cancer doesn’t stop during the lockdown, and people who are undergoing treatment for cancer are at particular risk.
"In uncertain times, it is even more critical that CLAN continues to provide its services to support people who are facing cancer.
"Every day someone new is diagnosed with cancer, and every day a relative or friend will hear that their loved one has a cancer diagnosis.
"With treatments improving all the time, more and more people are living with cancer and living with the after effects of cancer treatment, so the emotional and wellbeing services provided by CLAN are increasingly important.
“The number of people CLAN supports grows every year, and the response to our recently developed telephone support service shows that the support is valued, needed and important.
“The team at CLAN is spread over a broad geographical base from Orkney to Inverurie, from Elgin to Aberdeen and in every area, we have people working hard to support their local communities either on the phone or by helping to develop our online resource centre.
“We will continue to add new services to the resource centre to support people with a cancer diagnosis in any way we can, whether that be that through emotional or practical support, or signposting to other professionals in their local area.”
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.
Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Buckie, Crimond, Elgin, Buckie, Inverurie, Lossiemouth, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.
For more information about CLAN Cancer Support, please call (01224) 647 000.
