Carol, one of the Macmillan Buddy volunteers is sharing her experience and inviting us into a usual day as a Macmillan Buddy. Carol also tells us why she signed up to be a Macmillan volunteer and what the role looks like day to day. If you are considering signing up for support from a Macmillan Buddy or signposting someone to this service, this blog will be useful for you to read.
My name is Carol and I’ve been a Telephone Buddy for several years. Before the pandemic, I volunteered at my local Macmillan Centre but, when it became impossible to see patients and families face to face, I applied to be a Telephone Buddy.
The Macmillan Buddy Service provides emotional and practical support to people living with cancer for up to 12 sessions. To receive this support, anyone, including patients, family and friends or health professionals can complete the referral form on the Macmillan website or submit a referral by contacting the Macmillan Support Line on freephone 0808 808 0000.
My Macmillan Volunteer Manager receives these referrals and will ‘match up’ the Buddy to the service user depending on their needs and volunteer availability.
A Buddy is someone who understands what the person living with cancer is going through. I phone my Buddy once a week for 12 sessions and my volunteer manager is always there to offer me support and help signpost to other services.
They often want to chat about concerns they don’t want to worry their family about but often find it easier to talk and offload to their Buddy. Sometimes, they don’t want to talk or vent about their diagnosis, but feel alone and we chat about anything BUT cancer. It’s all about giving them the support they need. The age of a Macmillan Buddy doesn’t matter as there are both young and old people on their cancer journey.
When I receive a Buddy match from my manager, I am given the contact information and a synopsis of their situation. Sometimes the conversations are light but sometimes they can be heavy depending on how the person is feeling.
Let me give an example of a recent emotional one but with a happy ending:
I was recently matched with a lady who felt she couldn't explain to her partner what she was feeling or going through, she was devastated. Not only at her diagnosis but at the lack of understanding and support he gave. I asked if she had actually told him and the answer was no, so I explained that sometimes, we have to be brave and ask for and accept help.
"Strength doesn't come from what we can do. Strength comes from overcoming things we thought we couldn't."
When we said goodbye, that first week, she told me that just getting it off her chest had helped, and she would do her best to involve her husband. By the next call, the person I was supporting had shared her diagnosis with her husband, and that by opening up, it had strengthened their bond, particularly as she had started chemo and he was there for her.
As the calls continued, further support and signposting were suggested including the Macmillan Support Line for a welfare benefit check due to her having to give up her job. I also told her about the Look Good Feel Better service. This involves a group session with a beauty therapist at her local hospital where she would not only meet other ladies on their 'journey ' but receive an amazing goody bag of top brand cosmetics and perfumes. I was delighted when she subsequently told me she'd gone and how much she enjoyed it!
The weeks went by and, although feeling tired, her spirits were lifted, and her husband continued to support her. Our conversation turned to things other than cancer. She'd seen friends, went to a garden centre and she was making an effort to put on her makeup and do her hair.
We got to the final session and there were tears, but they were tears of appreciation for being her Buddy. She said she was going to miss our chats (as would I). I reminded her that the Macmillan Support Line was always there for her and we said goodbye. By the end of the 12 sessions, we really are Buddies having built up a rapport.
Having experienced cancer myself (over 20 years ago!) and losing my husband to cancer, I can truly empathise. However, to be a Buddy, there are no qualifications required, just be a good listener and have access to the Internet. Macmillan will prepare you with online training and, if you’re looking for work, it’s something great to put on your CV. It’s said that Macmillan Volunteers don’t get paid cos they’re priceless!
Recently, I was asked if I would be a Lead Volunteer and take on additional responsibilities. I was flattered and honoured. Now, apart from making my Buddy calls to patients, new Buddy Volunteers who need encouragement and support with signposting to other services are able to contact my manager or me.
Periodically we have Peer Support online meetings which I help facilitate. It’s an opportunity to get to know the other Buddy Volunteers in the area we cover and an opportunity to establish how they’re getting on with their referrals.
I also have the opportunity to call new referrals to check on how they’re getting on with their Buddy.
It’s gratifying when they express their appreciation and look forward to their weekly call and my manager passes on that gratitude to the Buddy.
We would like to thank Carol for taking to time to tell us about her Macmillan Buddy volunteering role and for dedicating so much time to support others. To find more information about the Macmillan Buddies service and how you can submit a referral, please read this blog.
Although there is no current volunteer recruitment for Macmillan Buddies there will be opportunities for this role later in the year. If you would like to become a buddy the opportunity will be advertised on our website under Volunteer With Us section.
You can also click here to see other volunteering opportunities or contact community@macmillan.org.uk if you would like to express your interest in being an Online Community Champion.
