Voluntary organisations and charities play an important role in providing help and support to people who are ill, and their carers. Voluntary organisations offer various kinds of help, but the range includes:
- information
- loans of, and grants for, aids and equipment
- holiday schemes
- financial help
- counselling
- transport
- befriending.
Some local self-help and support groups organise meetings and events where you can meet other people in a similar situation. You may find you can talk with them more openly because they understand what you are going through. Many local groups also give information and some of them have newsletters.
Some groups are concerned with a specific aspect of cancer, such as breast cancer, or stoma care (for people who have had colostomies). Other support groups are specifically for people who are caring for someone with cancer.
Many voluntary organisations and charities, including Cancerbackup, have telephone helplines. Contact details for the voluntary organisations and charities most likely to be able to help you are listed at the end of this section.
To find out what kind of help is available in your area, contact your local Volunteer Bureau or Council for Voluntary Service. Their details should be in your phone book or the Yellow Pages.