Love Libraries – Library volunteers offer support and advice for those affected by cancer

Supporting the health and wellbeing of the local community is a key role of our public libraries.

People can access a wide range of advice and resources on a range of conditions, whether they themselves are affected or they want to know more to support a friend or family member.

A hugely popular and valued information service is the one offered by Macmillan Cancer Support. Volunteers offer practical, emotional and financial support and signposting at libraries the length and breadth of Scotland, from Arbroath to Wishaw.

Conversations

Annmarie Galbraith, Health Information Partnership Manager at Glasgow Life, which runs the city’s libraries, said:

The Macmillan drop-in service is volunteer-led and for all ages. We have eight drop-in services and they operate every week.

Macmillan is for anyone affected by cancer, like a family member, neighbour or work colleague. About half the people who come in to see us have a cancer diagnosis, about 30% are friends and family. The others vary, sometimes support workers looking for resources, or carers seeking information. About 5-10% have been bereaved and just need someone to talk to.

People think it’s predominantly older people who use it, and it is, but we do get younger people, in their late 20s and early 30s, experiencing terminal cancer. Those are the hardest conversations the volunteers have.

Everyone is welcome to drop in to the libraries offering the service and speak to a volunteer.

Annmarie said:

Volunteers can encourage people to read what’s relevant in the booklets available but they’re really good with emotional support.

Nine times out of ten what people need is for someone to sit and listen in an environment where they don’t need to worry that they are upsetting a loved one, or will make someone cry, or scare someone. Sometimes people are frustrated, which is really natural.

We’ve had the Macmillan service for 14 years but a lot of people still don’t know about it. Macmillan funded Glasgow Life for the first 10 years, we were really lucky, but it’s now sustained by Glasgow Life.

Reassured

In Edinburgh Libraries, Macmillan has been providing a successful, volunteer-led drop-in service for the past seven years.

One user of the Macmillan service said:

I felt reassured and relieved that there was someone local that I could talk to. Although I am computer literate, I couldn’t bear the thought of trawling through different websites for the information that I was provided with.

The Macmillan offering is part of a growing network of Health and Wellbeing Hubs within the city’s libraries. This includes working with communities and services to deliver a one-stop shop for health information.

Services involved include City of Edinburgh Council Welfare Rights Team, Improving the Cancer Journey, Thrive, Social Security Scotland, RNIB, RNID, Hearing Link and Pain Concern.

These welcoming, drop-in hubs allow people to chat to someone face to face while accessing reliable information in an accessible place.

Joyce Dunlop, Macmillan Professional Engagement & Improvement Lead, said:

Cancer can disrupt your whole life. It’s never been more crucial for Macmillan to be there for people with cancer, providing a listening ear and information, advice and support.

Find a Macmillan Information and Support Centre at a library near you.