Service events

We need help at some of the face-to-face services that we run across the UK. These events could be:

• Information Sessions
• Moving Forward Partnership Courses
• Lingerie Evenings
• Younger Womens Forums.

At all of these events we need friendly people who can help to make people feel comfortable when they attend any of our services. You might offer refreshments or sit and chat with someone who has arrived alone. It’s also great to have volunteers present who can talk about the other services that we provide so that our clients can really get the most from us. It’s helpful for us to have someone else around to support anyone who might feel upset.

In addition, for some events we need volunteers who are able to talk about being a volunteer and what this involves. Volunteers at our Younger Women’s Forums are women who have experienced a diagnosis of breast cancer at a young age themselves. For Information Sessions and Partnership courses it is not essential that you have had a personal experience of breast cancer.

‘I found the session very informative, I actually feel reassured about dealing with the future.’
Client who attended an Information Session, 2011

For our Lingerie Evenings we also need volunteers who have had surgery as a result of breast cancer and are willing to model bras and swimwear. We always have two models at our Lingerie Evenings – one who wears a prosthesis and one who has had reconstructive surgery. Often we hear from the people who attend these events that it’s so encouraging to see someone further down the line than themselves who is confident enough to stand in front of a group of people in their underwear!

‘I feel that I have gained a greater understanding as to what is on offer and what I can get in stores for me to feel whole again.’
Client who attended Lingerie Evening,

‘I think it was particularly useful to have “real” models so that you could ask about reconstructions and different types of prostheses.’
Client who attended Lingerie Evening,

Follow-up evaluation calls

After our events we sometimes call people who have consented to us getting in touch, just to see how they feel about our services a few weeks afterwards. It really helps us to understand more about how we affect the lives of people with breast cancer and we get to hear what has been good and sometimes some really helpful ideas about what we might do differently in the future. Volunteers help us with this task by calling people and asking a set list of questions. You don’t need to have had a personal experience of breast cancer to help with this role.