A North Shields charity supporting people affected by cancer has been awarded £15,000 from Certas Energy’s Community Bloom Fund to create an accessible therapy room in the back garden of its Nile Street base.
Live Well with Cancer was one of four finalists competing for the grant and secured the funding following a public vote.
The money will be used to build an accessible therapy room where people who can’t manage stairs can finally get one to one support, reiki, complementary therapies and counselling. The funding will also give the charity’s upstairs kitchenette running water for the first time.
Maureen Elliott established Live Well with Cancer in 2019 after a 30-year career as a clinical nurse specialist. The charity has grown quickly ever since and between January and August this year, recorded 4,326 attendances at its support groups, creative and movement sessions. Maureen says this new garden room will allow them to support around 10 per cent more people, who up until now haven’t been able to access their facilities.
Maureen Elliott said:
“We still can’t quite believe we’ve won! To have our community get behind us in such an incredible way so we have access to this £15,000 of funding is absolutely overwhelming. We’re incredibly grateful to Certas Energy for giving us this opportunity.”
The new room will take up around half of the small back yard, alongside seating, planting boxes and twinkly lights. It will offer a calm, quiet space away from the noise of a busy centre.
Marueen added:
“Winning the Certas Energy Community Bloom Fund will be genuinely life-changing for our service users. It means we can finally transform our back garden into a beautiful, accessible therapy space. This isn’t simply about creating a room, it’s about removing barriers and making sure everyone in our community feels they have a place where they belong.”
Niki Holt, Marketing Director at Certas Energy, said:
“It has been so heartwarming to see the votes flood in for the Live Well with Cancer team. The community they have created here is extraordinary and a testament to the exceptional care the team gives. We’re delighted to congratulate Maureen and everyone at the charity, and we can’t wait to see the new space come to life.”
Votes for Live Well With Cancer came in from far and wide with service users, past and present spreading the word. Many service users shared news of the shortlisting with friends and family far beyond the North East, with votes coming in from America, Australia and New Zealand.
Maureen added:
“The most special thing about this award is that it was our community who made it happen. People voted, shared our posts, encouraged their friends and family to get behind us, and now that support is going to turn into a physical space that will benefit our community for years to come.”
The charity hopes to open the new space early next year, subject to planning permission, and looks forward to inviting supporters and service users to attend a grand opening once the project has been completed.
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