Wessex Cancer Trust
has announced plans to open a new walk-in cancer support centre in Cosham which
will offer a host of free services and support for people living with or
affected by any type of cancer.
A specialist team at
Wessex Cancer Trust Cancer Support Centre Cosham will offer emotional, physical
and financial support to cancer patients, their families and carers from December.
It will have five individual consulting rooms for private counselling and
complementary therapy sessions, plus a ‘befriender area’ to offer support to
visitors. Other services will include access to financial grants, information
and advice, plus holiday homes and retreats.
The support centre
will be located at 77-79 The High Street and is expected to see in excess of
2,000 people a year from Cosham and the surrounding areas. It will be supported
by a shop at the front of the premises and funds raised by the donated items
will go towards the services offered at the support centre, which costs around
£60,000 to run each year.
Sally Hall, chief
executive of Wessex Cancer Trust, said: “This is great news. Opening a new
cancer support centre and shop in Cosham will help thousands of people each
year.
“Cancer is an
incredibly challenging disease that can have physical, emotional and financial
implications on a person and we will soon be able to help with professional,
free support in a friendly and inviting environment. We look forward to
welcoming those who need our help into the support centre from December.
“The location is perfect as it’s close to Queen Alexandra Hospital but away from the hospital grounds, which we know people prefer. As we rent our accommodation rather than invest unnecessarily in new build premises, this allows us to refurbish the accommodation and move in quickly, so that we can start helping people as soon as possible.”
Portsmouth commercial property consultants Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell was tasked with finding the new premises for Wessex Cancer Trust. Director, Stuart Mitchell, commented: “We were delighted to have been able to help Wessex Cancer Trust in finding a location for a new support centre. The High Street location is a great place for them to be able to deliver the fantastic services they offer as well as combining it with a retail unit to assist with the all-important fundraising the charity does and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
Wessex Cancer Trust
is now looking for volunteer fundraisers, befrienders and shop assistants to
support the Cosham cancer support centre and shop. To find out how you can get
involved, call 023 8067 2200 or visit www.wessexcancer.org.uk
