| A diagnosis of cancer often leaves
people feeling isolated, vulnerable and afraid, seeking
the answers to a whole range of questions and concerns.
Our Aims
CREST will provide access to the most recent and reliable
sources of information on cancer and its treatments.
It will also offer emotional support for anyone who
is affected by cancer; patients, carers and their families,
at a time when they may feel that life changing decisions
are being taken out of their control.
CREST will give patients someone to talk to after the
initial shock of diagnosis. It will give them the opportunity
to meet and talk to others who are in, or who have been
through, similar situations to themselves in a non-threatening
environment. It will help patients, carers and their
families to take the first steps in helping themselves
to focus on living with cancer and to confront and alleviate
their concerns about treatment and their prognosis.
The following resources are envisaged to achieve these
aims:
A Dedicated Website
Promoting the services available at the centre and offering
information and resources.
A Resource Library
Offering current, reliable literature on cancer. Books,
leaflets and videos will be available for patients,
carers, their families, children, minority and community
groups. Assistance will be offered to anyone wishing
to access the available internet connection for further
research purposes.
A network of related organisations/contact
points
To link in with local and national organisations in
order to share information and increase the effectiveness
of services. CREST will offer workshops/talks on certain
cancers with other support/carers goups.
Complementary therapies
Access to complementary therapies will be available
including relaxation classes (these include self help
techniques which can be used at home) and counselling.
These can enhance and improve the well being of those
affected by cancer. All our therapists will be fully
qualified and have additional training in working with
cancer patients.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Specialist
CREST will provide up-to-date information on the prevention
of Lymphoedema, especially for those who require MLD
on a daily basis. Cancer patients in North Surrey are
not well served in this respect. Advice can be given
on how patients can help themselves to prevent severe
Lymphoedema in the arms and legs.
Financial Advice
For patients struggling to come to terms with cancer
it is often difficult to deal with associated financial
problems. The Centre will provide financial advice,
especially in the area of Benefits.
Counselling
A safe environment where someone can talk in confidence
to another patient or carer who has been touched by
cancer with some understanding of what they are going
through. This will include bereavement counselling where
appropriate.
Cancer Awareness
Advise people on how to help themselves by what to look
for, lumps etc, help to give up smoking, eating healthy,
the benefits. Also the education of the younger generation
will help to prevent cancers later in life.
CREST has the following volunteers already in place:
- Accountant - controls
all aspects of our financial accounts
- Chairman - officiates
as chairman of CREST Committee meetings
- Complementary Therapist(s)
- have specialised training for the treatment of cancer
patients, this will include a Manual Lymphatic Drainage
specialist
- Fundraisers - have primary
responsibility for fundraising, including the establishment
of Annual Events
- Secretary - assumes
responsibility for all aspects of the Centre’s
administration
- Treasurer - manages
the day to day finances of the charity
- Trustees - makes the
governing decisions on how the charity is run
- Volunteers - work under
the supervision of the Office Manager with ongoing
training
- Web Designer, Recruitment
and PR, Newsletter Editor and daily correspondence
- updates our website and deals with day-to-day
communications including recruitment
All staff and volunteers involved in the Centre will
be required to have the appropriate ongoing training.
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