A COMMUNITY wellbeing project which supports people living with cancer is shortlisted for a prestigious honour in recognition of its inspirational work.

The Macmillan Community Wellbeing Project team at Wirral Council has been nominated by colleagues for a Macmillan Professionals Integration Excellence award.

This category recognises nominees and teams who have improved the co-ordination of services and enabled integration across settings such acute, primary, social and voluntary or through digital services, to provide a seamless experience for people living with cancer.

Many people with cancer often find it difficult to live their lives as fully as they can, but the Macmillan Community Wellbeing team in the Wirral are supporting people to take back control.

The service, which runs from 22 libraries across the area, conducts ‘holistic needs’ assessments and then draws up care plans, which ultimately give people the confidence they need to self-manage.

Team lead, Lucy Holmes said: "The impact of the service is quite wide and varied because people use us in different ways. We've had 700 people on the project in 12 months.

"We've helped some to change their lifestyle before surgery to optimise their outcomes.

"We've helped others to increase their wellbeing and fitness after treatment. We’ve also helped people with their mental health – people who have been in very dark places. Our team does so much – it really is a one stop shop for people with cancer."

One of the project’s major benefits is its unique physical activity programme, which offers all service-users a free, 12-week pass to their local leisure services.

The programme has been enormously successful in supporting healthy lifestyle changes both before and after treatment, where people can choose to use the gym, swim, attend cancer rehabilitation classes or gardening sessions.

Tanya Humphreys, Macmillan's interim head of service in the North West, added: "This is a great example of how Macmillan is working with our partners to support people living with cancer, not just on the Wirral, but right across the region.

"As a charity, we are only able to do this thanks to the generous support of the public as we are almost wholly reliant on public donations to be there for the growing number of people with cancer who need us."