Manchester’s Library Service has been awarded a lottery grant of almost £400,000 that will guarantee the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service at Manchester Libraries for a further 3 years.
The Big Lottery Fund has granted a total of £389,240 to continue the support service that for the last three years has helped more than 500 people affected by cancer and reached more than 2,500 people to help raise awareness across the city.
The grant means that the library service can provide necessary outreach workers, information officers, educational events and train the invaluable volunteers that work from community libraries.
One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and currently more than 2 million people live with the disease in the UK . The fact is that most people at some point in their life will come into contact with cancer - so a readily available education and support network is vital.
Through the Macmillan support service residents can benefit from tailored information that fits their needs, improving their knowledge of the illness and better equipping them to deal with their own illness or the illness of a loved one.
Information points can be found in libraries across the city that provide extensive advice, information literature and support from trained outreach workers. This can range from information about claiming benefits to potential side effects of the illness and treatments.
The main sites include: Gorton, Longsight, Wythenshawe Forum and North City Library with smaller information points at Crumpsall, Miles Platting, Fallowfield, Chorlton and Withington Libraries.
Our Information and Support Workers provide a confidential appointment service or you can drop-in to Forum Library on Tuesdays, North City Library on alternate Wednesdays, Longsight Library on Wednesdays or Gorton Library on Thursdays to have a chat.
For further guidance about drop-in sessions or information about your nearest advice centre, just visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/macmillan
Councillor Glynn Evans, Executive Member for Adult Services, said: "The Macmillan Cancer Support Service is an indispensable facility that provides crucial advice to cancer patients and their families on their doorstep - its continuation is a great asset to Manchester 's support network.
"The fact that 2 million people live with a form of cancer is an indicator of how important the service is and it is crucial there is somewhere Manchester residents can visit to talk openly about the disease. It goes without saying how grateful we are to the Big Lottery Fund who has kindly provided further funding for this vital service."
For the last three years Macmillan Cancer Support provided funding for the service and will now move their grant and spread their support to another organisation.
Audrey Bradford, Macmillan General Manager said: "The Macmillan Manchester Libraries Information Service has proved its worth many times over during the last three years with the support and help it's given to local people affected by cancer in some way or another.
"I am delighted that the successful bid to the Lottery fund means that the service will continue to raise awareness of cancer and the support that is available for at least another three years."