Welcome fellow carers. Here is the brief October update from my London cancer carer forum. The forum is aimed at those caring for someone with cancer, we welcome to hear experiences, connect and grow the network. The forum runs every last wednesday evening of the month.

Caring for someone should be identified and recognised, especially if you need support. Caring is part of the community and carers themselves should be part of that community.

So for our October meeting we were delighted to be joined by Anton Morgan-Thorne who is Macmillan Engagement Manager for London, Southeast and East of England.

Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better cancer care.

Macmillan are developing a new strategy on engaging with the community. It is important that those caring for someone with cancer also have a say and be part of that community.

Andy talked about what Macmillan can offer those affected by cancer and how this can help cancer carers. Macmillan talked about welfare rights advisor, macmillan information centres and support that can help carers such as Holistic Needs Assessment of their loved one.

So it was great to also hear from Rachel Waddon who is Macmillan’s new communities’ manager. Rachel talked about the Macmillan London Cancer community. The LCC has been around for some years, but has not had anyone to support the community until now. Rachel is doing a survey with the London Cancer community members to get an understanding of what the members of the network would like from it so that they will co-designing it together. Rachel wants to develop a really strong foundation for the London Cancer Community to grow.

If you want to help build a strong London Cancer community please access the link to join the network – London Cancer Community (smartsurvey.co.uk)

Below is the link to read the most recent newsletter – https://sway.office.com/sxyM6iF0ddG5S3vc?ref=Link

Our group will look to be part of this community to help provide a platform for carers to be heard and involved. This include feeding into policy, telling stories and helping to build a stronger foundation for carers to be included.

If you are caring for someone with cancer, feel free to check out Macmillan’s online carer forum.

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/carers-only-forum