Marie Curie Helper

A Marie Curie Helper is a trained volunteer who can help support a terminally ill patient and their family or carer so that they can cope more effectively and with greater confidence.

This service is available, at home and free of charge, to all people with a terminal illness, from the time of diagnosis all the way through to bereavement.

What will a Marie Curie Helper do?

A patient and their family or carer might need someone to talk to or want to know more about local services that might benefit them. A Marie Curie Helper would be able to listen and provide information and advice on these services.

Although a Marie Curie Helper is not a healthcare professional and therefore cannot provide any medical or nursing care or advice, they can offer carers the chance to take a short break from their caring role. Carers can feel confident leaving their loved one with a volunteer they know and trust.

A Marie Curie Helper will try to help with most requests and if they can’t help, they will find someone who can help.

For further information on the Marie Curie Helper Programme please contact: helper@mariecurie.org.uk

Download the Marie Curie Helper overview (pdf, 453KB)

Access the service

The service is available free of charge to people with a terminal illness over the age of 18, and their carers.

We are currently offering Marie Curie Helper in Somerset and North Somerset. If you live in this area and would like support from a Helper or know of someone who might, please contact the local Volunteer Manager on 0845 303 2777 or email us at somersethelper@mariecurie.org.uk

Download our leaflet for patients and carers (pdf, 1.3MB)

People can also be referred to the service by a health or social care professional, care organisation or charity.

If you are a professional who would like to refer, please contact the Volunteer Manager on 0845 303 2777 or email your referrals to somersethelper@mariecurie.org.uk In addition, patients, their families and carers can contact this service directly for support.

Download our leaflet for professionals (pdf, 2MB)

Why volunteers can make it work

Volunteers can bring a quality to caring that is different from care provided by healthcare professionals. Patients and carers have told us that they get really great care from professionals but they would also welcome support from someone who is independent of the healthcare system – someone just like them.

Would you like to be a Helper?

If you are living in Somerset or North Somerset area, and would like to be a volunteer, please contact us at helper@mariecurie.org.uk