On Wednesday 18 May, Team Solan held its first cancer support group in the Ferryhill community for two years, at Dean Bank Literary Institute on St Cuthbert’s Terrace, writes Team Solan volunteer, Ian Machin. The event had been delayed twice due to the uncertain timing of lockdown ending and local concerns regarding the level of new Omicron infections.
The event was attended by 25 local residents and supported by the 4Together AAP.
Community awareness
The objective is to increase wider community awareness of the services, equipment, transport, counselling, emotional and wellbeing support available to families with any cancer diagnosis or cancer related bereavement, by the Team Solan cancer charity in the Ferryhill AAP area. The Line Dancer Ladies, who have their session on Wednesdays at 2pm in the Institute were keen to help and support the initiative prior to the first lockdown.
Team Solan had met with the Line Dancers, in February 2020 and had been bowled over by their friendliness, engaging personalities and interest in helping Team Solan raise awareness of their services. We were keen to return at the first opportunity post the lifting of Covid restrictions. We were welcomed to the Institute by Chris Cairns and hosted by Kath Fitzgerald. Many thanks to both, and to our other new friends.
Chris and Kath immediately made us feel at home and helped to set up our tables. After refreshments and introductions, Janice Wayman, Team Solan Business Manager and Sue Whitehead, Warrior Coordinator gave short talks updating attendees on the charity’s activities, and in particular on the support calls service.
Charity shop
Team Solan recently had to close their charity shop in Ferryhill, and Janice explained the reasons. She added that Team Solan continues to grow and is very keen to ensure that anyone that needs support with cancer is aware of the services offered and how to engage with the charity.
Warriors
Sue explained that Team Solan was now able to offer support calls to all Warriors (Team Solan volunteers) monthly, via its team of three coordinators. The calls are to provide emotional, practical support and also identify any changes in Warriors status and any accompanying needs where the charity can help or sign-post Warriors to other organisations with whom Team Solan partners. Team Solan receives many referrals from Macmillan and has a strong relationship with them and with their Joining the Dots service.
One Step at a Time
It also partners with mental health charity, One Step at a Time, based in Spennymoor, any others who provide care support services. We also stayed for the first couple of line dances but kept clear of the dance floor to avoid any accidents – health and safety first! We hope that more community events will follow. All residents are welcome to attend any of our free community coffee morning events. We recognise that everyone’s practical needs can be different.
Based in Spennymoor, operating across the North East and now more widely, we aim to provide timely, face to face help, practical and emotional support, and advice to those in need. This ranges from a taxi to hospital, to a service need or equipment in the home, to counselling and wellbeing support. We are helping more families each year and have plans to expand well-established support groups that meet regularly in our new Support Hub location, behind our Spennymoor charity boutique, as well as awareness raising events in the community.
Pre-pandemic events
Prior to lockdown, Team Solan had started coffee morning events in several Ferryhill AAP areas. We hope to vary this approach, to increase awareness across a wider audience, in order to help many more families. Our next event is in Chilton Sports & Social Club (CSSC) on Friday 24 June, linking with their regular dance event. Other events are being planned and many thanks go to the line dancing ladies who took Team Solan leaflets to help us reach other groups of residents.
In the last two years, whilst support groups were not possible, the charity has been very active in several areas. During April – October 2020, with help from many individuals and organisations, we provided 1,712 care packages in County Durham to 171 vulnerable families in 51 local towns and villages, many in the Ferryhill area. Delayed until fourth quarter of 2021, we re-started regular support calls to Warrior families.
Support Hub
In 2021 after several delays and lots of help from more individuals and organisations, we finally completed the Support Hub behind our charity boutique. It is now fully open to provide support with many activities being scheduled.
We also opened a furniture shop in what was the former M&Co location in Spennymoor but sadly we also had to close the Ferryhill charity boutique.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
