THE Tavistock Triangle drop-in cancer support centre is looking for volunteers to join their small, friendly and professional team.

The Triangle Centre, based on Plymouth Road, is staffed by experienced cancer nurses, therapists and trained volunteers. They help cancer patients and their families navigate through their treatment and recovery.

The centre’s team is seeking volunteers to join this dedicated team of nurses and therapists, to work on alternate Fridays at the centre from 8.45am to 3.30pm.

Volunteers support the team by providing a warm and friendly welcome to users, offering refreshments and a listening ear for anyone attending the Triangle Centre.

The centre will provide training to enable volunteers to work in this challenging but rewarding area.

They help cancer patients and their families navigate through their treatment and recovery.

The nurses, therapists and volunteers help people navigate through treatment and recovery from cancer by providing:

• Time and privacy to explore what matters to you

• Explanation and aims of treatments

• Help to understand information given to you from the hospital and other health care professionals and help with making sense of the options offered

• Strategies for coping with side effects

• Emotional and practical support for carers

• Referral for complementary therapies, benefits advice and

• counselling

• Access to recovery packages for those living with and beyond cancer

• Advice on talking to children when an adult has cancer

• Support with the impact of a cancer diagnosis and treatment upon relationships, sexuality and intimacy

• Information and support when treatment is no longer wanted or is possible

• Liaison with GPs, hospital teams and other agencies in your local area

• Opportunity to meet other patients and carers

They also offer complementary therapies and counselling. The complementary therapies can be a valuable aid to relaxation for those times when those using the centre may feel overwhelmed. They are available to patients and carers alike. Staff will be able to advise which therapy would be most appropriate for each individual.

Counselling is available for patients, carers and family members in a supportive and confidential environment.

All Triangle Centre counsellors have experience of working with cancer and are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Users will be offered ways to express and explore the feelings and issues they may be facing.

If you would like to volunteer or discuss anything further, send an email to Sue Hackworth on [email protected]

If you would like to contact the centre about anything else, call 01822 615935. No appointment is necessary to pop into the centre on a Friday from 10am to 4pm.