Statement on Cancer Care Society

I was made aware recently, from press coverage and from representations from Assembly Members, that the Cancer Care Society was to close its operations in Wales. The Society runs a transport and befriending service from its 2 bases in Merthyr and Mountain Ash and also operates drop in centres in the same towns. I was told at that point that some of its operations in England were also to close and that funding difficulties were to blame for all of this.

As this followed close on the heels of the problems surrounding the Children’s Society, I was deeply concerned about a further example of an English-based charity withdrawing from Wales. I knew too that the services were highly valued in the areas they serve.

I arranged a meeting on 22 January with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action to discuss the situation. I asked them to convene urgently a meeting of all interested parties to see if a way could be found to save all or part of these services. That meeting took place in Merthyr the following day, 23 January,  and involved the WCVA, the Local Authorities, the Local Health Groups , a range of voluntary groups and Assembly officials. The Chief Executive of the Cancer Care Society and one of the Trustees attended the first half of the meeting.

The following points emerged

 It is probable that the Society will have to close all its operations not just those in Wales.
 Cancer Care are in no position to review their decision because of these overall financial problems. They have offered their utmost co-operation to help with any locally based solution


 There is a tremendous will amongst the statutory and voluntary sector to produce such a local solution and a committee has been established to drive this forward.

The National Assembly cannot core fund such operations. However, in recognition of the vital nature of these services and to give time for a local solution to be found I have agreed to provide one-off bridging funding to allow services to continue after the 28 February withdrawal by Cancer Care. This money will be provided against a rescue plan to be produced by the local rescue committee which gives a reasonable prospect of a long term solution to the problem. A further meeting will be held on 14 February to discuss this plan.

I am grateful to the WCVA for organising this local action and I am grateful to all those services who met at such short notice to help with this. With this goodwill, I am hopeful that we can save as many of the existing services as possible, though there can be no guarantees at this stage.