Working together to improve Carer identification and support
The Macmillan information and support centre joined forces with The Derbyshire Carers Association through the H-Connect project, becoming a pilot site, the aim of the project is to improve the recognition, involvement and support of Carers and the vital role they play.
All staff undertook the “Carers awareness training”, with one member of the team becoming a Carers Champion.
The team then committed to two pledges, the first being to consistently seek Carers out and provide prompt, relevant, up to date resources and sign posting were appropriate, collecting data to evidence this. The second was to act on the outcome of a recent Carers survey conducted by the centre, which highlighted the interest locally from adults supporting someone with cancer to have a support group.
The Carers support group “You Matter Too” (UM2), was started in March 2025 and has met monthly throughout the year, with supportive sessions from Derbyshire Carers Association, clinical psychology on sleep and resilience tools, physio team on exercise and fatigue management, and therapy laughter yoga.
The group was also fortunate enough to secure funding as part of the H-Connect project, through The Department of Health and Social Cares (DHSC) Accelerating Reform Fund. As a result, the UM2 group was able to secure some funding to support the cost of outside speakers which allowed for an art session and a sound bath.
As part of the project a video was developed with two Carers that captures the experience of caring for someone diagnosed with cancer, which has proven to be a valuable resource.
A presentation was also developed and used within the Call for Carers learning and development programme and other learning sessions that incorporated the video to share with Healthcare Professionals, with the aim to increase awareness of the value of unpaid Carers supporting people diagnosed with cancer and the support services within the Macmillan Information and Support Centre.
In collaboration with Derbyshire carers the Centre held an open event during Carers week, inviting stakeholders to have stands within the centre to share information on how they could support Carers, these stands were from the welfare benefit team, Ashgate hospice, Weston Park Cancer Charity/ Cavendish centre, Hospital at Home, Dementia Care Service and The Hospital Carer Liaison Officer. There was also a café area created for the event where Carers could come together and talk. The event supported 33 Carers and relatives across Derbyshire.
With one family saying that
“it’s been wonderful to have all of this, together in one place, to help us.”
The centre continues to promote Carers support through its social media and via the Carers section on the centre App. It also continues to work closely with Derbyshire Carers Association coordinating monthly drop-in sessions in oncology clinic within the unit.
As a result of all this The Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Chesterfield Royal Hospital has been awarded the Carer Friendly Award and is the first of the pilot sites to achieve this award!
