‘It is open to everyone’: Cancer support expanding after £180,000 award for Thurso centre

One year on from a £180,000 funding award, North Highland Cancer Information and Support Centre is offering an expanded range of services and reaching further into the communities of Caithness and Sutherland.

The grant from Macmillan Cancer Support has been used to fill three part-time posts over a three-year period at the centre in Thurso as well as providing new activities and classes.

The money was secured after two years of discussions with the national charity and there will be a focus on sourcing long-term funding to keep the centre going.

Its spring newsletter sets out some of the “exciting and positive advancements” in the year since the Macmillan funding came through.

These include 65 new members, increased opening hours, weekly one-to-one counselling consultations, regular Macmillan nurse visits, fortnightly chair Zumba and meditation workshops and new therapists, as well as numerous workshops.

There are support groups in Wick and Bettyhill, with the Wick taking place weekly at Caithness Mental Health Support Group’s premises, The Haven, and the Bettyhill group being run on a monthly basis in the local library.

Staff are keen to raise awareness of what North Highland Cancer Information and Support Centre can offer, as the only cancer support charity north of Maggie’s Highlands in Inverness.

“We are open to anyone that is affected by cancer,” project/programme officer Gemma Sutherland said.

“They could be a family member of someone with cancer, they might have cancer themselves, they could just be affected by it.

“We’ve got people who have maybe lost their partners and still come for support, people in remission… It is open to everyone. We’re just trying to get the word out there.”

Gemma is one of the three staff whose posts have been made possible by the Macmillan funding. The others are Sophie Kinghorn (health and wellbeing manager) and Liz Ritchie (volunteer coordinator)

Staff would welcome additions to the existing team of volunteers.

“We’re always looking for more volunteers,” Gemma said. “Usually the volunteers are also members, but there are no set hours.”

One of the committee members, Mike Murdoch, has shared the story of his cancer journey to mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in March.

It has been posted on the centre’s website to encourage more people to talk about cancer and to emphasise the importance of getting tested.

Mike’s advice includes:

• If you have symptoms, see your doctor – don’t delay.

• If symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, work or family issues are affecting your mental health, speak about it – seek help.

• Try to think positive.

Meanwhile, the centre has benefited from a £500 donation from the Unite 7215 branch at Dounreay. The money is being used to buy a hearing loop for the centre to benefit service users who have a hearing impairment.

North Highland Cancer Information and Support Centre is located at 5A High Street, Thurso (phone 01847 890996 or email cancer.support@btconnect.com).

A statement on the centre’s website explains: “We provide emotional support and information about treatments and services to individuals affected by cancer in Caithness and Sutherland.

“Our services include complementary therapies, counselling, group activities, referrals to financial services, access to support, and a welcoming environment for visitors to have a conversation with our volunteers and staff.”

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