Marie Curie Helper service in East London celebrates first anniversary

Marie Curie Cancer Care is celebrating the first year anniversary of its Marie Curie Helper service in East London, delivered in partnership with St Joseph’s Hospice, which provides one-to-one companionship and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families, all completely free of charge.

The Helper service is provided by trained volunteers who offer up to three hours each week visiting people in their homes to provide emotional and practical support, short respite for carers and families, and signposting to information about relevant local services.

In the past year, Marie Curie Helper volunteers have provided over 425 hours of support to 24 terminally ill people and their families. The service is currently available to those living in City and Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham.

Examples of some of the support Helper volunteers in East London have provided include:

• Providing companionship and emotional support, offering a listening ear and spending time engaging in everyday conversation.
• Offering practical support, such as making a cup of tea – small, daily tasks that can have a positive impact by making things easier.
• Enabling families and carers to take a short break from their caring role
• Signposting to further information about local services and support, such as finding a gardener or cleaner to help around the home
• Providing support to families for up to three months after bereavement

The one-year milestone was marked at an event on Wednesday, 20 March at St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney, where local people supported by the service, referrers and volunteers came together to share their experiences and celebrate the success of the service’s first year.

Patricia Alexander from Hackney, who has been matched with a Marie Curie Helper volunteer Christine since March 2012, said: “The Helper service has made a big difference to me. I feel if I need any help I've only got to ask. She is someone to talk to and my best friend. I can speak to her about subjects that my family find very difficult to talk about without it being emotional.”

Service Manager Clare Hodder said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating a successful first year of our service. Marie Curie Helper volunteers can be a real lifeline, providing companionship and helping to reduce the social isolation faced by some terminally ill people and their carers. Our service aims to fill the gap in meeting the emotional support needs of people with a terminal illness and their families. They can also help by giving family members a short break so that they can take some time for themselves, knowing that their loved one is with a trained volunteer they know and trust.

“We’re keen to make sure as many people as possible in East London can benefit from our service, which is available for people throughout the terminal phase of their illness, from the point of prognosis. We would urge anyone who thinks they may be able to benefit to get in touch and we look forward to supporting many more people and families over the next year and beyond.”

Referrals are welcomed from any health or social care professional. Families who need the service can also contact the Service Manager directly for support.

To refer, please contact the Service Manager Clare Hodder on 0845 201 0823 or email your enquiries: eastlondonhelper@mariecurie.org.uk

www.mariecurie.org.uk/helperservice

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