Spiritual Concerns

For in-patient (hospital) support: The Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care Service (Sparc) seeks to support people of all religious beliefs and those with none. No appointment is necessary, the service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Normal working hours are 8.30am – 4.30pm, Monday to Sunday. A chaplain is also available outside these hours for urgent calls and referrals. The Chaplaincy team are based at Royal Stoke and will attend both hospitals to offer support and care. You can speak to a chaplain or religious leader even if you’re not religious. You may wish to be visited by someone from your own belief community. Alternatively, the Chaplaincy team are very happy to contact someone on your behalf. You can contact the SPARC Team for RSUH & County by asking a member of ward staff or by calling 01782 676400. In an emergency you can contact switchboard on 01782 715444 and ask for the Chaplain on-call.

Telephone: 01782 676400

Email: admin.chaplaincy@uhnm.nhs.uk

Website: www.uhnm.nhs.uk/our-services/spiritual-pastoral-and-religious-care-service/

For those who find strength in organised faith – you may find comfort in speaking to your religious leader or members of your place of worship, who may provide a listening ear and guidance.

Support is available in many ways – we have listed below various organisations that may help.

Life after Cancer brings people together who have finished cancer treatment to form support groups, with an aim to increase their physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing. The support they receive reduces the risk of serious mental distress and helps them to build a positive life after their cancer experience.

Email: Hello@life-aftercancer.co.uk  

Website: www.life-aftercancer.co.uk

The Cancer Voices Community brings together individual people with personal experience of cancer, which they are willing to share to help achieve change. In partnership with Macmillan, cancer voices share their diverse lived experience to influence our work. When you are part of cancer voices, you can get involved in a variety of projects, discussions, and events.

Telephone: 0808 808 00 00  

Email: contact@macmillan.org.uk   

Website: www.macmillan.org.uk/volunteering/share-our-experience/cancer-voices

Mission Remission is the hub for cancer survivors – They share hundreds of inspirational stories and practical strategies to move forward after cancer. Mission Remission is a small grassroot community-run charity. They help people by running an online platform, with over 15,000 community members. They also run local support groups, online discussions, a book club, and an early diagnosis campaign, Something’s Not Right.  

Website: www.mission-remission.com

St Vincent de Paul have over 10,000 volunteer members, motivated by faith; they visit vulnerable or isolated people across England and Wales and offer them friendship and practical support. Befriending Volunteers are not qualified to undertake responsibilities within the remit of trained professionals, such as care workers.

Telephone: 0207 703 3030

Email: info@svp.org.uk

Website: www.svp.org.uk

Helping to connect younger adults in their 20s,30s and 40s. A cancer diagnosis is always hard but as a young adult, you can face unique challenges. Shine offers tailored information and peer support face to face, support groups, workshops & online networks. Visit the website and look at the videos which include the psychological effects of cancer, how to support a loved one, and the strategies for coping with anxiety. Their podcasts feature cancer survivors and their experience with anxiety, depression and PTSD and how they coped with the emotional trauma cancer brought into their lives.

Telephone: 07804 479413

Email: westmids@shinecancersupport.org / hi@shinecancersupport.org

Website: www.shinecancersupport.org

Penny Brohn UK offer care, support and understanding. As experts in cancer health and wellbeing, they can help you feel better in mind, body, heart and soul with a range of lifestyle strategies and simple self-care tools to improve your quality of life and support better outcomes. They know that cancer affects so much more than your body which is why they promote an integrated and personalised approach to cancer support for you.

Telephone: 0303 3000 118  

Email: clientsupport@pennybrohn.org.uk                                                                                                   

Website: www.pennybrohn.org.uk

The Macmillan Support Line is a free and confidential phone service for people living and affected by cancer. Please call: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm). Macmillan Cancer Support provide services for people living with cancer at every stage of their cancer experience. They provide emotional, practical, physical, and financial support.

Telephone: 0808 808 00 00

Email: contact@macmillan.org.uk

Website: www.macmillan.org.uk

The Dove Service is the only grief support charity in Stoke-on-Trent & North Staffordshire, providing services to people within the community from the age of 4+ who are experiencing issues relating to bereavement, loss or life-changing illness. The Dove service offer counselling and other support to people of all ages who have experienced a bereavement, significant loss, life changing or limiting illness. They also work with people who are trying to cope with anticipatory grief, i.e. you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Telephone: 01782 914455

Email: Email from the website

Website: www.thedoveservice.org.uk

The online HOPE programme is a course designed to support people in developing techniques & strategies to manage aspects of living with cancer. The programme is a 6-week self-management course. It has been co-designed alongside people living with cancer, and is based on positive psychology, mindfulness & cognitive behavioural therapy. Patients will be asked to commit a minimum of 2 hours per week, at a time to suit them. They will need to have access to the internet via smartphone, tablet or PC. They will be able to work through the weekly materials in their own time at their own pace.

Telephone: 0808 808 00 00

Email: contact@macmillan.org.uk

Website: www.macmillan.org.uk

Cancer Coach support groups are available to those that have completed their treatment but still experience low mood, anxiety and worry. If you have you finished cancer treatment and you’re struggling to adapt to your new normal / or feel unsupported when tackling the emotional challenges of post-treatment life – the Cancer Coach 6 week course take’s place online or via the telephone from the comfort of your own home. Sign up for free on the website. Cancer Coach groups are suitable for people who have previously had a stage 1-3 cancer diagnosis.

Telephone: 020 3983 7616

Email: hello@cancersupportuk.org

Website: www.cancersupportuk.org

If you may prefer to talk to someone who is not religious. Humanists UK have volunteers who can offer non-religious pastoral support. Humanists UK is committed to ensuring that all people with non-religious beliefs have access to pastoral support, just as religious people have access to such support.

It does this through its pastoral arm, Humanist Care.

Telephone: 020 7324 3060 

Email: info@humanists.uk

Website: www. humanists.uk/community/humanist-pastoral-support/

The Macmillan Buddy service provides a lifeline for people with cancer, offering them weekly support from someone who understands what they're going through. The Macmillan Buddy service provides emotional and practical support for people living with cancer across the UK. The service is delivered by volunteers, who undergo comprehensive training and are fully supported by our staff and lead volunteers. In each case, support is usually provided for a total of up to 8 sessions, and in a number of different languages. The service is offered over the telephone only.

Telephone: 0808 808 00 00 

Email: contact@macmillan.org.uk  

Website: www.macmillan.org.uk

The Silver Line Helpline run by Age UK is a free, 24-hour telephone service for older people across the UK. They offer friendship, conversation, and support for people aged 55 or over, especially those who may be experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Whether you’d like to exchange a quick “good morning” with someone, fancy a chat about how your day has gone, or need a trusted listening ear to share your thoughts and feelings with, they are there to talk.

Telephone: 0800 4 70 80 90

Email: info@thesilverline.org.uk

Website: www.thesilverline.org.uk

Companionship over the phone: Free emotional befriending service offered via telephone calls. Available for carers and loved ones. Companionship volunteers focus on what's important to you and those close to you. They will listen to how you're feeling without judgment. *Please note: Companion volunteers are available to support anyone with a terminal illness aged 18 or over and their family.

Telephone: 0800 090 2309       

Email: support@mariecurie.org.uk

Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children from a month old and from any cause. TCF has no religious affiliation and offers support to bereaved families irrespective of the age of the child (from a month old), cause of death, ethnic, social or political background.

Telephone: 0345 123 2304 helpline

Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk

Website: www.tcf.org.uk

Hospices provide nursing and medical care for anyone with a terminal illness or life-limiting condition, as well as emotional, psychological, spiritual and practical support. You may feel worried about being referred to a hospice, as some people connect it to dying, but a hospice can support you at any stage of your terminal illness at home and  – the focus being on quality of life. Many hospices offer support to family and loved ones. We have listed 2 local hospices below – for more information on hospices in Staffordshire or wider area,  contact the UHNM Macmillan Cancer Support and Information Centre on 01782 676333.

Embrace is a domiciliary care agency that provide funded care packages to people who have a palliative care diagnosis to support them with their daily living needs. Carers support patients with personal care, meal preparation, medication and light housework. Katherine House additionally has a family support team; a service offering psychological support to all Katharine House Hospice patients, their families and carers. KHH can offer between (6 -12) 1:1 counselling session free of charge.

Telephone: 01785 270832     

Email: PatientPathwayTeam@khhospice.org.uk  

Website: www.khhospice.org.uk

Dougie Mac provides all hospice services free of charge to adults, young adults and children living with a life-limiting illnesses in Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire and the surrounding villages; and also offers supportive care for their families and carers. Dougie Mac have a team of trained social workers who can guide and support patients and their families in a variety of ways, including individual support and advice, coping with change, helping with benefits advice and other financial resources, arranging practical support, comforting family, friends and children of patients, liaising with and referring to other organisations, and choice and decision making.

Telephone: 01782 344300      

Email: post@dmhospice.org.uk

Website: www.dougiemac.org.uk/

Sue Ryder supports people through the most difficult times of their lives. Whether that’s a terminal illness, the death of someone close to them or a neurological condition. They also offer support for adults and young carers; as a young carer, they offer advice and information on who you can talk to for support, balancing your care duties with your own life and your rights as a young carer. Sign up to receive free weekly grief support emails to help you or someone you love, learn to live with grief. Online Bereavement Support.

Telephone: 0808 164 4572

Email: supportercare@sueryder.org

Website: www.sueryder.org/how-we-can-help/online-bereavement-support

Cancer Care Map is a simple, online resource that aims to help you find cancer support services in your local area wherever you are in the UK

Website: www.cancercaremap.org

Staffordshire Connects is a website with an online directory which connects you to help and support in your local community. It is easy to use and can offer details of care and support services, befriending groups, organisations, local activities, events, clubs and community groups.

Telephone: 0300 303 0621

Email: staffordshire.connects@staffordshire.gov.uk

Website: www.staffordshireconnects.info