New Marie Curie service to support Argyll & Bute residents
Press release published
Marie Curie, the charity for people living with a terminal illness, has received a grant of £320,188 from the Big Lottery Fund Investing in Communities Scheme for a new service in Argyll and Bute.
The funding, over three years, will support families in their own homes or in a home setting. The new service, known as Marie Curie Remote and Rural Helper will offer one to one companionship, emotional and practical support to families living with a terminal illness from trained volunteers.
Marie Curie will provide additional funding and will be recruiting a locally based manager and administrator to coordinate the service. Working alongside existing voluntary organisations locally including Shopper Aide, Cowal Elderly Befrienders and North Argyll Carers Centre, the service will also complement the Marie Curie Nursing Service which provides hands-on nursing care and support in planned visits to people at home.
The need for home based palliative support for people with terminal illness and their families within Argyll and Bute was initially identified through research that was part of the Argyll and Bute Delivering Choice Programme.
In its first year the Helper service is aiming for 30 volunteers supporting 40 people. At the end of year three it’s hoped 130 volunteers will have supported 200 people.
The service has been developed specifically to support residents in Argyll and Bute where over 75 per cent of the population live in remote small towns or rural areas and the demand on health and social care services for older people will increase considerably. The population in Argyll & Bute is older than the average Scottish population - 31 per cent aged over 60 compared to 24 per cent across Scotland as a whole (National Records of Scotland, 2015). By 2037 it is expected that the number of residents aged over 75 will have increased by 75% (NHS Highland, 2015).
Niall Kieran Marie Curie Service Design Manager, Scotland said: “From discussions we’d had locally its clear this service will complement existing services and help with issues such as loneliness, isolation and bereavement support for the family once their loved one has died. Recruitment for the two new roles to deliver the service will start shortly. I’d urge anyone interested in volunteering for the service or looking for support for a family member or friend, or themselves, to visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/Helper”
Brendan O'Hara MP for Argyll and Bute said: "While we hope we are never in this situation, the value of the work of Marie Curie and similar organisations cannot be understated.
"What this award from the Big Lottery Fund's Investing in Communities scheme confirms is that we as a society still care; that there are individuals and groups who can, and do, offer their time, their ear and their compassion for nothing other than to know they've helped.
"So this grant is immensely welcome but it's also an opportunity for us to recognise and reflect on the work of voluntary organisations who seek nothing in return other than the opportunity to support and care within our communities."
If you or someone you know would benefit from care provided by the Marie Curie Nursing Service please speak to your District Nurse or GP.
Notes to editor
About Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.
Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK including Edinburgh and Glasgow, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
For more information visit www.mariecurie.org.uk
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