I’m not sure whether people are aware that Macmillan are holding three separate conferences next month called ‘Together we make a difference’. There will be workshop sessions (Living with Cancer, Young people affected by cancer, cancer and family relationships, work and cancer, getting your message heard, starting up a self help or support group, adding oomph to your user group, what do carers need and working with other organisations. You have the choice of attending 3 workshops.
They are being held in Manchester (14 November), London (24 November) and Bristol (28 November). If people are interested contact either 0800 500 800 or email <script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%74%6f%67%65%74%68%65%72%40%6d%61%63%6d%69%6c%6c%61%6e%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%22%3e%74%6f%67%65%74%68%65%72%40%6d%61%63%6d%69%6c%6c%61%6e%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script>
I am a user representative with Macmillan and all the above conferences are free - there may also be help with travel expenses and the possibility of overnight accommodation. The London conference is also offered creche facilities.
If you have any probs let me know as I was on the steering group to look at the content for this year’s conference and I can probably contact a couple of other people if you are having difficulties.
We looked at quite a few other venues in London and they were either too expensive or the access to them wasn’t ideal. Most people can access The Hilton at Gatwick Airport quite easily whether it’s by train or car. The train goes right into the airport terminal and it’s only a short walk from there.
We all said the same initially - why Gatwick! But once it was explained to us it did make sense.
Don’t want to make a big deal of this…the point is that lots of people in the south east or Midlands find it easy to travel to London but not to Gatwick Airport!
I live in Cambridgeshire and don’t particularly have a problem with travelling to Gatwick as it’s quite easy when you look into it. I am getting the train down to King’s Cross and then another train direct to Gatwick. As I said unfortunately the venues in London itself were felt to be too prohibitive in cost.
I suppose they are never going to be able to meet everyone’s needs and at least they have tried to spread it around by holding one in Bristol and Manchester as well. I think if I lived in Scotland or Wales I might well ask why they don’t hold them there as well.