Support at LJMU for those impacted by Cancer
One in two people will be impacted by cancer in their lifetime. In the UK, approximately 400,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year.
Creating a supportive culture for those impacted by cancer
As more people of working age are being diagnosed, LJMU wants to ensure the university has a supportive culture for those impacted by cancer.
Cancer Support UK estimates that there are 1 million people across the UK of working age who have had a diagnosis, and another 750k who are of working age caring for a loved one.
Unfortunately, people all around us are impacted in some way, but the stigma of cancer means this is often sitting below the surface, unknown to those around them and a cause of stress, anxiety and the consequences that follow.
Cancer Support Ambassadors
As part of the university’s support in this area, LJMU has introduced 20 trained Cancer Support Ambassadors across the university to support LJMU staff and students affected by cancer, directly or indirectly.
The role of a Cancer Support Ambassador is to listen, offer emotional support and signpost to relevant resources.
Anyone impacted by cancer in some way can request to connect with an ambassador who can support with informal, one-to-one conversations on the phone, in-person or online.
Ambassadors are active and compassionate listeners who uphold confidentiality and are trained to support those affected by making sense of what they are facing and feeling less isolated or alone.
To connect with an ambassador, fill in the referral form on the LJMU Cancer Support Ambassadors webpage.
Training for Line Managers
The university has also partnered with Cancer Support UK to develop a number of workshops for line managers, which will be piloted across the next couple of months. The workshop ‘Communicating about Cancer’ is designed to increase knowledge of cancer, cancer types, treatments and side effects. It will give a deeper understanding of the emotional impact of cancer as well as the physical effects. The first workshop is scheduled to take place on 26 February 10am to 12pm. Places are limited. Further communication and details on how to book onto the workshop will be sent out to line managers across LJMU in the coming days.
Cancer Café events on campus
The Cancer Support Ambassador Network also hosts events each semester. These are friendly, safe spaces with relevant guest speakers aimed to contribute to breaking down any perceived stigma associated with talking about cancer.
The next Cancer Café event is on Wednesday 25 February, 2 to 3pm, Student Life Building 203 with guest speaker, Kai Philpott who is an LJMU student in Sport and Exercise Sciences and a member of the Youth Advisory Group at the Teenage Cancer Trust.
