The Fountain Centre is delighted to announce their volunteers have been awarded the ‘Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community’ in recognition of outstanding contribution to the local community.
Longstanding volunteers Penny Tree and Jennifer Korolewicz attended a formal award ceremony at the County Club in Guildford on Saturday 29th April where the Mayor presented them with a commemorative certificate which will take pride of place in the Fountain Centre. Our wonderful outgoing Chairman, Martin Read also received a much deserved award for his services the community.
The Fountain Centre is primarily a volunteer run organisation and the service could not run without them. Over 100 volunteers give three hours per week to enable the centre to support cancer patients and their families and carers from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.
The volunteers who greet the patients and carers on arrival make up a large team who assist with the running of the centre on a daily basis, many of whom have been touched by cancer themselves. They are always on hand to offer refreshments, an empathic listening ear and to guide people around the centre so that their specific needs may be met.
Support is provided through the provision of a Complementary Therapy Service which includes acupuncture, massage, wig service, reflexology, reiki, emotional freedom technique and manual lymphatic drainage among others. We also have a Psychological Support Service, a Children’s and Family Service and an information service. Our Children and Family Counselling Service is unique in England, we believe. This team works with those cancer patients who have school age children or younger – currently about 20% of all patients. Our Ward Therapy Service enables us to reach more inpatients who cannot make it into the Centre.
Head of the Fountain Centre, Anne Pike said “All our services are delivered primarily by volunteers, including fully qualified complementary therapists and counsellors. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do and we are so proud that they have been recognised by the Mayor in this way.”
One Fountain Centre volunteer said, “The Fountain Centre is an amazing place, filled with love, compassion and hope. You are all incredible people and help so many people who are dealing with cancer. I’m proud to be involved.”
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