Macmillan Prevention and Re-enablement project: A reflection on 2018

We would like to send a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has been involved in the Macmillan Prevention and Re-enablement project throughout 2018! We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of your journey into activity and living well after cancer.

Whether you joined us at one of our Macmillan Wellbeing Days this year; spoke to us at a community event; got in touch about accessing 5 activities for free through our Macmillan Taster Token scheme, or received one of our tailored activity packs, we hope your interaction with us has supported and inspired you to become more active, have fun and feel better!

In 2018, the project saw:

93 attendances to our Macmillan Wellbeing Days in North Bristol, South Bristol and Central and East Bristol.

88% of people have since engaged in, or plan to engage in activity as a result of attending a Macmillan Wellbeing Day in 2018. Activities include walking; line dancing and Qi Gong.

64% of people witnessed seeing benefits to their physical health since engaging in activity. Benefits include managing stress, anxiety, low mood and depression (56%); improving sleep and appetite (31%) and building muscle strength and maintaining a healthy weight (25%).

Upon attending our North Bristol Macmillan Wellbeing, one participant stated,

I feel very optimistic and uplifted that so much is available and my condition doesn’t have to hold me back.”

12 Bristol-based activity professionals attend cancer awareness training to help them better support participants, who are living with and beyond cancer into their sessions. One professional remarked, “I feel I can definitely support people better than before today’s session and know where I can get advice to help or where to steer people to for help”

67 people aged 55+ from the BAME community attended our Cancer Wellbeing workshops organised in partnership with Bristol and Avon Chinese Women’s Group and Dhek Bhal. Following one of the workshops, one participant commented:“The event was excellent, informative and well prepared. The information provided by the speakers was valuable and useful, especially the benefits of physical activity for cancer and cancer prevention.”

If you would like to find out how you can get involved with the Macmillan Prevention and Re-enablement project in 2019, please contact our Macmillan team on 0117 353 3042 or email macmillansupport@linkagenetwork.org.uk.