Volunteer Peer Advocates are at the centre of this project in that they are older people who themselves have been affected by cancer and are willing to support others in similar situations. It is well documented that older people affected by cancer experience disadvantage when it comes to treatment and care options at what is already a frightening and bewildering time. We know that volunteer Peer Advocates can help to redress this balance by enabling people to develop a better understanding of treatment and care options, make more informed decisions and ultimately feel more in control of their lives.
Sandwell Advocacy has been working hard to establish the volunteering element of our project to take this forward and recruit volunteers. Juanita Williams (Volunteer Co-ordinator) has been extremely busy developing project specific policies, volunteer handbook, recruitment strategy and volunteer training units, to name a few! Juanita comments “I am proud and excited to be involved in a project such as this. I have now started to process the volunteer enquiries we have generated and very much look forward to preparing them for the role and supporting them to provide such valuable support.”
Juanita Williams at Volunteer Centre Sandwell ‘Make a Difference’ day.
Juanita has been doing a lot of work to promote the project and recruit volunteers and recently took part in ‘Make a Difference’ volunteer recruitment fair organised by Volunteer Centre Sandwell on 1st October 2014. Juanita says “This was a fantastic event which brought together 35 voluntary organisations to promote their volunteer opportunities. I dealt with a number of volunteer enquiries which I am confident will lead to a positive outcome.”
Volunteer Centre Sandwell ‘Make a Difference’ day
Dave Bradshaw, Sandwell Advocacy
Older People Living with Cancer 