News
As part of our commitment to supporting children and young people through their cancer journey, we work closely with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (a group of care professionals who are experts in different areas of cancer treatment) at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children to provide support to young people staying in the Haemotology ward during their treatment.
NICFC Youth Workers currently visit the ward one evening a week and spend several hours chatting and listening to any issues young people have, as well as organising fun activities such as artwork, group discussion and interactive games.
Sometimes spending long periods of time in hospital during treatment can lead to isolation, a lack of social interaction and boredom and all of these can combine to have a negative effect on a young person’s wellbeing. We believe that with our Youth Workers spending time on the ward and encouraging young people to take part in fun activities that this will have a positive effect on their physical health too.
The project is currently being reviewed and it is likely that the number of hours’ support on the ward will be increased. Here’s what one young boy’s mother had to say:
“Just to see the smile on his face when you came in was just fantastic. He hadn’t opened the blinds, turned on his lights or television for a week and I thought we were losing him. Then on the Thursday he came round and said ‘Are Darren and Angela coming tonight?’ You made a huge difference to Matthew and me during his stay in hospital…thank-you.”
For further information on the programme please contact Darren McKinley on 079 1813 1860.
Updated on: 24th October, 2011