The Haven, Scotland
National Lottery Awards - The Haven, Scotland is one of 10 Lottery-funded projects in the Best Health Project category of this year's National Lottery Awards, in association with FemaleFirst.co.uk
The mental and emotional impact of being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness can be just as great as the physical effects.
The Haven, in Blantyre, provides a free, community-based service in an area of Scotland where access to information and support was previously limited. The project supports families with a range of life-limiting illnesses, helping them to cope with the emotional and physical impact of illness on their daily lives. By supporting a range of illnesses, including cancer and non-malignant conditions such as motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease and muscular sclerosis (MS), clients learn how to cope with their diagnosis and how to face their future with hope.
Lottery funding has been used to employ a specialist nurse, who helps clients understand their illness, designs individual care plans, and gives advice on coping with changes to everyday life. Two counsellors are also employed to help people through the emotional aspects of their illness, and complementary therapists offer treatments such as aromatherapy, reflexology and Indian head massage, which can help reduce stress and improve sleeping patterns. There is also a special children’s counselling service available and a lending library.
With the help of Lottery funding, The Haven has been able to recruit and train more than 50 volunteers who provide informal support to those who use the service.
Staff and volunteers also support visitors in taking part in activities in the wider community, such as getting back into exercise. Kevin, who is 35, used to be extremely active, as a keen footballer and member of the Territorial Army. After being diagnosed with MS, he lost a lot of confidence but since joining The Haven’s Active Steps service he’s started using the local gym and has even become a Haven volunteer helping other people in a similar situation.
To vote visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk or phone 0844 686 9839