Support for people living with cancer and their carers
Support for people living with cancer
Macmillan Information & Support Service (Northern Trust)
The Macmillan Information & Support Service will be happy to talk you through local support available including benefits advice, counselling services, complementary therapy, group support, fatigue management and any general enquiries.
Telephone: 028 9442 4000 ext 333079
Email: CancerInformation@northerntrust.hscni.net
Macmillan Support Line (UK Wide)
Telephone: 0808 808 0000
The support line is available 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week.
The support line is available 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week and can provide clinical information and emotional support.
A translation service is available, just state, in English, the language you want to use when you call. A British Sign Language video call can be facilitated when arranged in advance by email or online chat.
Macmillan provide a range of information dedicated to financial support and management. They also have a free will writing service, for more information call 0808 808 0000.
Macmillan Benefits Advice Service
Support with financial concerns including assessing your entitlement to means-tested and non means-tested benefits, one-off payments, insurance & pension’s advice and helping you apply for a Blue Badge.
Telephone: 0300 1233 233 (Option 1)
Email: info@macmillanbenefitsservice.co.uk
When you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with cancer, money may not be one of the first things you think about, however, your income may be reduced if you have to give up work due to illness or to look after someone. Bills may stay the same, or they may increase as you spend more time at home. If you are struggling to cope with the financial effects of cancer it is important to remember that there are a range of different benefits that could help.
This section will provide details of who to contact to get help or more information. With the right advice and support, you should be able to get the help you need with your money worries.
Financial support
Macmillan: Money, finance and insurance
Macmillan provide a range of information dedicated to financial support and management.
They also have a free will writing service, for more information call 0808 808 0000.
AdviceNI
AdviceNI is an independent advice network. A list of its members can be found on the AdviceNI website or you can telephone or email to find out if there is an AdviceNI centre in your area.
Telephone: 028 9064 5919
Email: info@adviceni.net
Website: www.adviceni.net
NI Direct
For benefits information and support in Northern Ireland you can visit www.nidirect.gov.uk.
Community Advice
Your local Community Advice branch can give you financial and welfare advice, including employment rights. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) protects anyone in Northern Ireland who has, or has had, cancer.
This means their employer must not discriminate against them for any reason. If you feel you have been discriminated in work because of your cancer, you can contact your local community advice centre.
| Branch | Contact information |
| Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Services | Telephone: 028 9600 1333 Website: https://midandeastantrimcommunityadviceservices.com/ |
| Community Advice Causeway | 028 7034 4817 |
| Community Advice Antrim & Newtownabbey | Telephone: 028 9590 6505 Website: https://communityadvicean.co.uk/ |
| Step (Mid Ulster) | Cookstown office: 028 8676 1875 Magherafelt office: 028 7963 3079 |
Housing Rights
Housing rights provide advice and support to people in Northern Ireland, to help them live in a safe, affordable and appropriate home.
Website: https://www.housingrights.org.uk/
Housing Advice Helpline: 028 9024 5640
Consumer Council
In Northern Ireland, there are a limited number of energy companies so changing suppliers may not be possible. The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland has information about dealing with fuel bills. You can contact the Consumer Council on 0800 121 6022 or by visiting the Consumer Council website. If you are having trouble paying your bills or are worried about getting into debt, you should contact your energy supplier as soon as possible.
Priority Service Register
If you are living with cancer, you should let your supplier know and they should then place you on the Priority Service Register, which gives you access to free extra services from your supplier. It also ensures your energy will not be cut off if you fall behind on your payments. For more information visit https://www.thepsr.co.uk/.
Help with transport costs
One of the extra costs that cancer patients face is the cost of travel to and from hospital for treatment.
- Depending on what benefits you receive you may be entitled to help with travel costs, for example, bus or train fares to hospital, some petrol costs. For more information speak to your healthcare team, staff at the hospital Cash Office or the Macmillan information and support team (028 9442 4000 ext 333079 / CancerInformation@northerntrust.hscni.net)
- There are special rates for bus, coach and train travel for eligible older people and people with disabilities. Check at your local bus, coach or train station for details, or call Translink on 028 9066 6630 or visit translink.co.uk.
- If you have problems using public transport there may be community transport services in your area that can help. Contact the Macmillan Information & Support Service for more information on 028 9442 4000 ext 333079 / CancerInformation@northerntrust.hscni.net.
- If you are disabled or get the mobility component of certain benefits you may be able to get free road tax and may benefit from the Motability scheme.
Age NI
Age NI provides information and fact sheets for older people on topics such as benefits, community care, wills and housing.
Advice line: 0808 808 7575
Telephone: 028 9024 5729
Website: www.ageni.org
Carers NI
CarersNI offer financial advice and support for carers through its information service and support groups.
Telephone: 028 9043 9843
CarersLine: 0808 808 7777 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm, including Bank Holidays)
Website: www.carersuk.org/northernireland
Social workers
A social worker may be able to give you advice on sources of financial help. The social worker is part of your multi-disciplinary team and is available for you throughout your care at the Northern Trust.
StepChange Debt
StepChange Debt is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, confidential debt advice and no-fee debt solutions. Their online debt counselling service provides instant, anonymous advice, a personalised budget and a realistic recommendation. No commitment is required and the service is free of charge.
Advice line: 0800 138 1111 (Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm & Saturday 9am-2pm)
Website: www.stepchange.org
Physical and emotional support
Are you keen to get back into exercise or start something new? Physical activity programmes are available near you!
Please get in touch with the Information & Support team for more information about what is happening in your area.
Telephone: 028 9442 4000 ext 333079
Email: CancerInformation@northerntrust.hscni.net
Fatigue Management Workshops (Northern Trust)
Fatigue is a very common problem for people with cancer.
Our workshops consist of two sessions each lasting 2.5hrs, running every three months in the Ballymena area. They aim to help you to understand what causes fatigue, how it affects you and recognise your own triggers, improve how you manage the demands of everyday life and understand the importance of sleep, exercise and diet in relation to fatigue.
To book a place, contact the Macmillan Information & Support Service on 028 9442 4000 ext 333079.
Skincare & Make-up Workshops
Step by step advice on skincare and makeup application to complete a natural, radiant look. Learn practical tips and techniques, including how to enhance sparse eyebrows or loss of eyelashes, to help you look and feel like you again.
You can book a place on our local workshop, held in Antrim, by calling the Macmillan Information & Support Service on 028 9442 4000 ext 333079.
Look Good Feel Better also host a range of virtual workshops covering hair loss & regrowth, nail care, styling and fitness.
Macmillan Buddy Service (NI)
Going through cancer can be an isolating experience at any time.
Macmillan’s free Buddy service is here for you. Buddies can provide emotional support over the phone or through video call over a 12 week period.
Self-referral available on the Macmillan website www.macmillan.org.uk or contact the Macmillan Information & Support Service on 028 9442 4000 ext 333079.
Charis
Charis is based in the Cookstown area. Their range of services are available to cancer patients as well as their next-of-kin, and include counselling, reflexology, aromatherapy, art therapy, scar therapy & cooking groups. Counselling can be facilitated over the phone as well as in-house.
Telephone: 028 8676 9217
Email: info@chariscancercare.org
Action Cancer
Action Cancer offer a range of support services including peer mentoring phone calls, counselling, life coaching, scar therapy & complementary therapies.
Telephone: 028 9080 3344
Cancer Focus NI
Cancer Focus NI services include; counselling, volunteer drivers, art therapy, bra fitting, singing groups & family support.
Telephone: 028 9066 3281
Cancer Fund for Children
Cancer Fund for Children support for families whose child (age 5-24) has had a cancer diagnosis or families where a parent or sibling has had a cancer diagnosis (children age 5-17). Their services include; emotional support at home, short breaks for the family at Daisy Lodge and group residential trips for children at Narnia lodge.
Telephone: 028 9080 5599
Email: info@cancerfundforchildren.com
Rosie’s Trust
Rosie’s Trust support individuals with a cancer diagnosis who are struggling to care for their pets. Volunteers assist with care such as dog walking, feeding, vet visits, cat and small animal care.
Email: mail@rosiestrust.org
Telephone: 028 9164 1340
Hope House Ireland
Hope House offers a free short stay, in a peaceful setting, for adults with a recent diagnosis of cancer and for those who care for them. The accommodation is available for patients up to one year after treatment, but each case is considered. Located opposite the beach at Browns Bay, Islandmagee.
Telephone: 077 6440 6646
Support for carers
A carer is an individual who provides regular and substantial care on an informal basis. A carer can be any age, including children and young people. You do not have to be the sole carer, a close relative or live with the cared for person. You do not have to be in receipt of Carers Allowance or benefits to be a carer.
Identifying as a carer can be hard until you realise how much care and support you are providing to someone else.
Macmillan: benefits and financial support
Information and advice relating to financial support for carers, can be found in the Benefits and Financial Support section on the Macmillan Cancer Support website.
Northern Trust Carer Hub
The Trust Carer Hub is a central contact where you can be signposted to local support or receive other information.
Telephone: 02827661210
Email: carers.coordinator@northerntrust.hscni.net
Carers’ Co-ordinator
The Trust has a Carers’ Co-ordinator who can help carers in the Northern Trust area by:
- Providing information, advice and support for carers
- Providing resources for carers
- Promoting training to empower and support carers
- Gathering information about the needs of carers
Carers Assessment
A Carers Assessment is an opportunity for you to tell your named worker about the care you provide and how it affects your life.
For more information please see the Carers Assessment Leaflet.
Carers’ Register
As part of the Northern Trust’s commitment to support family carers there is a mailing list/database of family who support or care for a loved one. This database is called the Carers Register. It is simply a contact list that is used to keep you up to date with the support programme and what’s available across the Trust area. If you are a family member who is looking after or supporting a loved one and you would like to be kept informed with what’s available please complete a Carer Connect Card.
Carers Digital
A new dedicated website is available for all carers in the Northern Trust area. Carers Digital is an online resource with two eLearning modules on building resilience as a carer and nutritional advice, access to download the care-coordination app ‘Jointly’ and access to many resources and guides to help in your caring role. Use FREE access code DGTL2770 to create an account.
Cancer Caring Coping
Queen’s University has conducted research which has shown that if you care for someone who’s affected by cancer, be that a family member or a friend, then your health can also be affected. You can experience a range of emotions: you can feel confusion, anger and sadness, and you can feel like your whole world has been turned upside down. You might also experience a range of needs including the need for information and the need for support and care for yourself.
As a result of the research, a group of people who’ve been affected by cancer have developed a website to share with you their views and experiences of what worked for them. What’s important is that you look after yourself. Click on the following link to hear other people’s experience on what worked for them, www.cancercaringcoping.com.
Carers Co-ordinator
Equality Unit, Route Complex, 8e Coleraine Road, Ballymoney, BT53 6BP
028 2766 1210
carers.coordinator@northerntrust.hscni.net
Carers NI
Working as part of Carers UK, Carers NI give expert advice, information and support & connect carers so no-one has to care alone.
Email: advice@carersni.org
