Your Teenage Cancer Trust, Youth Support Coordinator (YSC) is there to provide support on and off the unit. They focus on you as an individual and offer support tailored to your needs, this may mean providing distraction, putting you in touch with other young people and giving one to one support when you need someone to talk to. They are also on hand to talk about anything you don't feel comfortable to talk about with a nurse or doctor and generally provide non clinical support to you whenever you need it.
Part of the YSC service includes events, your YSC will organise a range of activities both in and out of hospital throughout the year. when you meet your YSC they will give you a consent form to complete and an events list. Events are free for patients you can attend events during treatment and for two years after treatment has ended. Events are a great way to relax, have fun and meet other young people in a similar situation to yourself. The YSC's also run each ward social media groups, these are closed 'private' groups so please talk to your YSC if you want to join the group.
There are three YSCs in the East Midlands who are based in each of the three Teenage Cancer Trust units;
Lois Ruda is based on Ward 27, Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary and works with patients aged 13-24.
Tom Hill is based on Hogarth Ward, Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at Nottingham City Hospital and works with patients aged 18-24
Rachel Fletcher is based on E39, Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham and works with patients aged 13-18
Local events in the past have included; Meals Out, Look Good Feel Better, Alton Towers, Bowling, Cinema, Food making, Arts and Crafts, Beauty and Haircare and many more. Covid Restrictions may affect some events.
If you are interested in events or have some suggestions for future events please contact your YSC, contact details can be found on our Meet The Team page
