Maggie's support moves to its new permanent centre funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation

ON Monday, 28 June 2021, Maggie's moved its programme of support to its brand new purpose built centre, funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation, within the grounds of the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Wirral.

In 2014 Maggie's opened an interim centre here with the anticipation that the centre would support 3,000 visits a year. In 2019 the interim centre supported more than 17,000 visits, and, despite the Pandemic, the centre supported people 12,000 times in 2020.

The new centre, Maggie's Wirral at the Steve Morgan Foundation Building, will provide more space, allowing Maggie's professional staff to deliver more of the charity's core programme, courses and support groups. The library and private rooms will offer individual, 1 to 1 and family support space away from the openness of the centre, opening the doors to more people who are not ready for group support.

Kathy Wright, Centre Head at Maggie's said:- "Our new centre has given us more space which means, when possible, our professional staff will be able to deliver more of our core programme, courses and support groups. It's wonderful to have a permanent centre here on the Wirral and we're excited to be able to start supporting more people with cancer in the surroundings of a truly uplifting and inspirational building."

The centre, designed by Dennis Swain of HB Architects and funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation, is open to see people alongside digital support. Support by professional staff is available face to face in the centre or by phone, email or online to help people with stress, fear and anxiety as well as money worries and questions about treatment.

Steve Morgan, CBE, chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said:- "This is a very proud moment for everyone involved in the project. It is 1 of our largest capital projects to date, but our involvement has g 1 far beyond funding. We've been responsible for the planning, design, project management as well as the entire funding, which is almost unheard of for a foundation. My wife Sally 1st introduced the foundation to Maggie's, and we have watched with pride as the building has come to life. It has been a real team effort by our team. The sad reality it that cancer affects so many people's lives and the work undertaken by the Maggie's Centres has never been more needed. We know what a difference this will make to so many people."

Liz Bishop, Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Wirral said:- "It is wonderful to know people being treated at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre; Wirral will now be supported, at the new permanent Maggie's. We have seen how beneficial Maggie's professional, practical, emotional and psychological support has been since the interim centre was built on site and we know the new centre will provide support to many more people at what is possibly the hardest time of their lives."

There are 18,000 new cancer diagnosis' every year in Merseyside and Cheshire alone, Maggie's Wirral at the Steve Morgan Foundation Building is hoping to be everyone's home of cancer care across Wirral, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales, not only for new diagnosis' but for people living with and beyond cancer, along with their family and friends.

A 2nd Maggie's, also funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation will be built in the grounds of the new Royal Liverpool Hospital in the City Centre and supporting patients of the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - Liverpool. The site for Maggie's at the Royal Liverpool has been agreed, but the design work hasn't yet begun. Maggie's and the Steve Morgan Foundation hope to start construction at the earliest opportunity, likely, 2022.

Maggie's centre visitor Cassie is living with secondary breast cancer, she said:- "The experience of cancer has taken my future from me and my future with my family. My children need me to be a mum, so I don't get to be a cancer patient apart from the days I attend appointments. My treatment days are very long, and this is when I spend most of my time at Maggie's, it's my safe haven. Maggie's has been a godsend for me and the friendships I've made at Maggie's, have really helped over the last few years. I know the days would be much tougher without a Maggie's Centre here . A new centre with more space was definitely needed and now it's a reality. It can now provide the support for my family and I in the future and for so many more people for a long time to come."

Maggie's Wirral will offer a variety of support which will also include tailored specialist help, advice on eating well, stress management and help with money worries. Maggie's relies almost entirely on voluntary donations to ensure it can support as many people living with cancer as possible.

To find out more about Maggie's Wirral the programme of support offered or to get involved with fundraising visit:- Maggies.Org, or contact Sasha, by calling:- 01513344301, or sending her an email to:- Sasha.Mathias@MaggiesCentres.Org.
 

Southport law firm supports millions of children suffering mental health complications following parents' injuries

A top 100 law firm based in Southport has launched a story book aimed at the 2 and a ˝ million children in the UK thought to be experiencing mental health complications as a result of their parents or carers suffering serious injuries.

According to new research from Fletchers Serious Injury, a staggering 58% of children of the estimated 4.8 million parents or carers living with serious injuries following an accident or medical negligence, experience major changes to their life, often resulting in both short and long-term mental health complications.

Following a parent or carer's injury, the research shows a child could experience upheaval such as missing time in education, moving to a new house to accommodate their parent's condition, changing School, witnessing their parents separate or divorce, or even being forced to take on carer responsibilities.

The research also highlights the emotional upheaval following a change in childcare, specifically for children who find themselves more often in the care of wider family members or neighbours, while their parent or carer recovers from a long term injury; thus impacting on crucial family bonding time.

On top of the worry for their parent or carer, these major life changes can impact the child's mental and emotional health and wellbeing. The data shows that, as a result, many suffer from:- shock, anxiety, anger outbursts and insomnia. Many also develop their own coping strategies to process the impact on their lives. In extreme cases, children are diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

31% of parents and carers living with the effects of a serious injury or medical negligence said there were not sufficient resources available to help their family cope with the challenges they experienced, while a quarter said resources to specifically explain to children what has happened would have helped.

In response, the law firm has created and launched a new children's book, which explores the practical and emotional changes a family might face following a serious injury.

Bracky Builds a New Den' is the tale of a happy dinosaur whose life is turned upside down when their father suffers a serious injury. Aimed at 5 to 8 year old children living in similar circumstances, the book has been developed following a period of analysis and development, which included market research, tailored professional advice from therapists, and 1st hand accounts from families and children who have experienced serious injury.

Adrian Denson, Chief Legal Officer at Fletchers Serious Injury said:- "Sustaining a serious injury is a life-changing experience. Over the years, we've helped thousands of families to rebuild their lives following serious injury and medical negligence, and know how such incidents can affect everything from wellbeing and relationships to career and financial security. Our research showed that while there's lots of information available on how a significant, life changing event can impact children from a scientific point of view, there is very little available to actually guide them through the practical and emotional challenges that will come along the way. That's why we created this story book. Though it seeks to explore many of the different ways young children could react to their parent or carer experiencing a serious injury, it's important to remember that everyone's circumstances are unique. As serious injury specialists, our priority for those affected is to support them with all the associated challenges a serious injury brings, and to extend our service to their wider family and network, too."

Charlotte Beaumont, child psychotherapist and counsellor who supported Fletchers Serious Injury in the creation of Bracky Builds a New Den, said:- "It's understandably a worrying time for a child when their parent or carer experiences a significant injury or medical condition, and it can't be underestimated just how much the practical and emotional challenges can impact their mental health; not just in the short term, but the long term too. When an event like this occurs, children naturally try to make sense of the world around them with the explanations they have available to them. So, it is useful to help children to understand in an age appropriate way what has occurred, and update this as they grow to fit their more sophisticated development. With this book, Fletchers Serious Injury is helping to overcome a very real issue in a sensitive and empathetic way. It can act as a conversation starter with families who find themselves in a similar story, providing them the opportunity to explore the situation from different angles because although the story features a trauma, it also highlights the transition to a 'new normal' and a feeling of hopefulness for what's to come. Having parents and children involved in storytelling can be a lovely way to heal together as a family and discuss what may be possible going forwards, offering empowerment and some sense of control in a situation where that felt lost. We envisage Bracky Builds a New Den will have a positive impact on the families around the country who are dealing with the challenges of serious injury and medical negligence."

An ebook of 'Bracky Builds a New Den' is available for download, where interested parties can also offer a donation to Fletchers Serious Injury's charity partners. There are also a variety of activity and fact sheets for younger and older children to download, to help them cope with the challenges of a parent or carer suffering a serious injury. All these materials are available via the Fletchers Serious Injury website.