Newcastle Hospitals Charity is providing nearly £8,000 to a North East charity to offer a counselling service to children between the ages of 11 and 18-years-old who have a relative being treated for cancer.
The money is going to Coping with Cancer North East, with up to 60 children expected to benefit from the service.
Previously within Newcastle Hospitals, families in this particular situation were unable to get talking therapies for their kids, but it’s hoped the funding will change this.
Whilst the children affected don’t have cancer themselves, they are profoundly affected by a parent or sibling going through either a cancer diagnosis, treatment, pathway, end of life pathway or bereavement.
This can have a serious effect on their lives if early and appropriate support is not given, which may lead to post traumatic stress issues for many.
While families struggle to manage through cancer, the practical impact of nobody being available to listen to their concerns, less money and lack of transport compounds the emotional impact of anger, grief, guilt and worry for many siblings and children of parents with cancer.
The young people affected are going through a lot of changes in their lives and having cancer in the family is sometimes the final straw for many to be able to cope.
Coping with Cancer North East has a team of specially trained counsellors with a specific lead person for counselling children who have the skills and competencies to work with the age range between 11 and 18-years-old.
The charity is proposing to offer a two-day clinic each week, with appointments either at Newcastle Hospitals’ Freeman Macmillan Centre for ease of location or at Coping with Cancer’s hub at Annitsford in North Tyneside, with plenty of free parking and refreshments for all.
Both offer private counselling rooms and the young people will be offered up to eight hourly 1-2-1 sessions after an introductory session with parents/legal guardians present.
Coping with Cancer North East is fully insured with the appropriate safeguarding and DBS processes in place.
All of its counsellors have significant experience and are registered with the British Association of Clinical Psychotherapists (BACP) and it’s also registered as an organisation to work within the best practice quality standards including full clinical supervision in-house.
The charity has been running for more than four decades, starting in 1982, offering free counselling to individuals affected by a cancer diagnosis. It includes the individual with the diagnosis or their family, friends and carers. Counselling is offered at any stage of the diagnosis.
Maggie Bailey, Coping with Cancer North East’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that Newcastle Hospitals Charity has funded us £7,979 in support of a six-month pilot project offering counselling for children affected by cancer in the family.
“There is no current support for children or siblings aged c11 – 18 years old who are significantly affected by cancer in their family but who do not have cancer themselves.
“This funding will provide a talking therapy/counselling service for up to 60 children which we know will make a big difference for them by developing coping strategies that will help them long after this project has ended.
“Thank you, Newcastle Hospitals Charity.”
Fay Darville, Engagement and Impact Manager for Newcastle Hospitals Charity, said: “We’re really pleased to be partnering once again with Coping with Cancer North East on this pilot, a charity who’ve supported people affected by cancer in the North East for over 40 years.
“We know a cancer diagnosis can impact a whole family and we hope that this offer of person-centred counselling for those young people who have a relative undergoing treatment will have a positive impact on their lives at what is a very difficult time.”
