Caring Together Making a Difference

The CARING TOGETHER - MAKING A DIFFERENCE counselling service is available for people living with cancer or other life-limiting illnesses, and those caring for them.

The Caring Together Making a Difference Programme was a Big Lottery Fund  initiative crossing health and social care, the funding of which came to an end in June 2006.  A successful element of the programme, the Counselling Service has now been mainstreamed and is funded by the City of Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust.

Living with Cancer

Living with cancer or any life limiting illness affects people in many different ways. Anxieties can be different for everyone, whether its an anxiety related to your diagnosis, your partners, or that of a family member or carer.

Counselling can be a way of talking through worries and fears with a trained counsellor in a confidential setting. Counselling is offered in your own home if it is difficult for you to come to the centre. However historically most people have preferred to come to the Centre as it gives them the opportunity to get away from their home situation for a while. This time out can be beneficial for some people.

Below is a list of the illnesses that come under the title of life limiting. If you or a family member suffers from any one of these illnesses you are eligible for counselling with Caring Together.

 Cancer
 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
 Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
 Cystic Fibrosis
 HIV /Aids
 Huntingtons Disease
 Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
 Parkinsons Disease
 Renal Failure (end stage)
 Rheumatoid Arthritis

Find Out More

If you wish to find out more about the counselling service, please do not hesitate in contacting the Centre. The address and telephone number can be found here.

Please note that wherever possible access to the service has been fast tracked to offer a prompt response which is generally within a two-week period. However, where possible and appropriate, crisis response is also available.