THE Western Trust say its staff are helping children and young people who have a parent or significant adult with cancer, to cope with dramatic changes it can often bring to their lives.

The free programme ‘Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery’ (CLIMB) is open to children aged 5 – 12 years.

The programme helps children understand cancer through art, craft and play. It helps them talk about their fears and gives them the chance to meet other children in the same situation.

It also gives parents and carers time out to meet.

Sessions are held over six weekly 90 minute group sessions on a Thursday evening between 5.30 – 7pm, at the Health and Wellbeing Campus on the Altnagelvin Hospital site.

Caroline Oates, Chemotherapy Unit Manager, Western Trust said: “When an adult in a family has cancer it affects everyone. For children and young people this can be isolating and frightening.

“It can bring dramatic changes to their lives and can affect all aspects of their lives.

“This programme helps children to gain a better understanding of cancer and cancer treatments, helping them identify and help express their feelings and we also teach the children coping mechanisms.

“The programme, which has been developed by Cancer Focus NI is led by specially trained staff and volunteers from the Western Trust.

“The first sessions have already taken place and the feedback from parents and children has been very positive.

“We are delighted that we can offer such a vital service to families in their greatest time of need.”

A parent whose child participated in the programme recently commented: “It’s important to be honest with your children when their Mum or Dad has cancer.

“My best advice to another parent is to tell your children as early as possible.  It’s a weight off your shoulders, when it’s out in the open and the children know.

“My son thought CLIMB was great.  Cancer is no longer a scary word in our house. The visit to the chemo unit really helped the children get a first-hand picture of were treatment takes place.”

Rachel Smith, Family Service Coordinator at Cancer Focus NI said:

“It is so fantastic that the Western Trust has trained and taken on facilitating CLIMB within the Western Trust, it means that more families will have access to support for their children.

“It is overwhelming to be diagnosed with cancer and telling your children can feel like a huge hurdle and the CLIMB programme can help with that challenge.

“The nurses who run it are so busy on the unit, yet they have given time to implement this, it is amazing.”

To book a place for your child/children contact Caroline Oates on 028 7134 5171 extension 216254/216233 or via email: [email protected]