Meeting of the Parliament 17 September 2019
I am delighted to lead this debate. I thank colleagues who signed the motion and those who will speak in the debate. It is not often that we get to say that we are speaking about a phenomenon, but that is the only way that I can describe Macmillan Cancer Support’s world’s biggest coffee morning. The event is in its 29th year of September fundraising. Since 1990, it has raised more than £200 million for practical, emotional and financial support to thousands of people who are affected by cancer, including in Scotland.
I thank Macmillan Cancer Support and the Scottish Government for their partnership in the transforming cancer care programme. The Scottish Government’s investment of £9 million will be matched by Macmillan to ensure that, by 2023, every cancer patient receives emotional, practical and financial support.
This evening, however, our thoughts are all about our volunteers and fundraisers and the tens of thousands of people who participate in more than 100,000 coffee mornings. The events happen in homes, workplaces, schools, churches and libraries—anywhere a kettle can be plugged in, it seems. I thank my Motherwell and Wishaw colleague Marion Fellows MP for hosting a Macmillan coffee morning last Friday in our office complex. It was a fantastic event that was attended by council colleagues, including North Lanarkshire provost Councillor Jean Jones, as well as tenants from our building, members of the public and friends and family. The event raised £350 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Motherwell and Wishaw constituency has a great tradition of supporting Macmillan coffee mornings and the work of Macmillan Cancer Support. Wishaw Macmillan professionals and practitioners were involved in one of the transforming care after treatment pilot projects, which informed the transforming cancer care programme. I was delighted to meet Macmillan professionals during the pilot and to see how those precious coffee morning pennies were being transformed into world-leading patient cancer journey interventions in my community.
For example, £250 can give five people living with cancer an opportunity to attend a health and wellbeing event; £335 can pay for a Macmillan grant to allow a family affected by cancer to have a holiday to make the most of their precious time and to make memories for the future; £546 can pay for a Macmillan social care worker for a week to help patients, family members and carers to manage the social and practical problems of living with cancer; and £1,023 can pay for a Macmillan nurse for a week to help people living with cancer and their families to receive essential expert medical, practical and emotional support.
I want to highlight a partnership between North Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council services and Macmillan Cancer Support. CultureNL, NL Leisure and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture have joined forces with Macmillan Cancer Support to provide and improve cancer support services in Lanarkshire. That involves providing information and services, particularly in libraries throughout Lanarkshire; developing Macmillan’s physical activity programme, which is called move more; and rolling out new volunteering opportunities.
I take this opportunity to thank the Macmillan volunteers.
There are many opportunities to be a volunteer, and different skills can be used to help people who are dealing with cancer, and their families. People affected by cancer often feel isolated, alone and, crucially, unable to access the right information and support at the right time, but volunteers can improve that situation. Macmillan needs volunteers
“who are warm, supportive and non-judgemental, with great communication skills and a willingness to learn”.
No previous experience is required. People can become cancer information and support services volunteers, who help people to access financial advice, physical activity opportunities and transport for appointments. A gentle movement volunteer works with people affected by cancer using Chinese practices of breathing, physical activity, and mental and spiritual awareness. A move more motivator meets and greets participants, and provides a warm welcome and support to people throughout their journey. People can become gardening volunteers, who provide a warm welcome in Macmillan’s gardening groups and support people to undertake gardening activities and develop valuable skills. Volunteers make a real difference to cancer patients and their families and communities. There are many opportunities for people to help in Macmillan Cancer Support.
Macmillan’s partnership with North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire is delivered in our libraries. I am happy to say that Wishaw and Motherwell libraries in my constituency are supporting the big coffee morning. Wishaw had its event on 5 September and Motherwell’s is yet to come. People in the local community can attend Motherwell library on 26 September and take part in the world’s biggest coffee morning.
Tonight could not pass without thank yous, and I say a huge thank you to the Macmillan professionals and nurse practitioners, who work within or in partnership with the national health service to support cancer patients and their families, and deliver vital support and information. I put on record my thanks—and, I am sure, that of the whole chamber—to each and every person who has organised, participated in or attended a Macmillan coffee morning this September. We should all raise a china cup or a mug in support of them.
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