£1.87 million of funding to support cancer charities  

9 Dec 2022

The Community Foundation has announced the allocation of nearly £2m in funding through the Cancer Support Fund, established by The Department of Health last year.

This is the final round of awards made by the Cancer Charities Support Fund, part of a package of funding made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support carers, cancer charities and mental health organisations.
A total of £1.87m will be provided to nine organisations working across Northern Ireland to support those affected by cancer and to raise awareness of the disease.

Permanent Secretary Peter May said:

“The Cancer Charities Support Fund aims to enable cancer charities to provide a wide range of support services for cancer patients throughout Northern Ireland, covering key areas in the cancer pathway, from pre-diagnosis through to palliative and end of life care.

“The money provides vital support to organisations whose work makes such a difference to the lives of those living with cancer, as well as their families and communities.

“These services are key support mechanisms towards the implementation of the Cancer Recovery Plan and the Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland 2022-2032, and important in working towards the Department’s aim of building cancer service capacity in communities.”

Mr May was speaking during a visit to Marie Curie in Belfast. The charity has been awarded £191,939 in the latest round of funding. The money will be used to support the Marie Curie Nurse Practitioner Service and the Psychological Support Service for people affected by cancer. Marie Curie is the largest charitable provider of end-of-life care in Northern Ireland, offering home-based nursing across all five Health and Social Care Trusts and hospice services in the Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas.

Roisin Wood, CEO, Community Foundation NI commented;  
“We are delighted to work with the Department of Health to deliver essential funding to charities who provide front-line care and support services to cancer patients and their families in Northern Ireland.

“Working closely with the Department and people with lived experience of the illness, both those with cancer and their families, it is clear that this group of people in our society are a priority for support.

There have certainly been challenges over Covid period such as increased shielding and the effects of isolation, and we hope that this fund has helped mitigate the circumstances of those affected. Our priority through this fund will is to ensure services reach individuals and families who are most in need of support.”