About

SECF Solas Cancer Support Centre Mission

To support people affected by cancer, their families and carers in Waterford and the South East.

What We Do:

1. To provide the highest quality cancer support services to the people of Waterford and the South East. These support services include counselling, relaxation therapies and group support services which are provided at the Solas Cancer Support Centre. We provide those affected by cancer, their families and carers with a safe place; a place to talk things over, to relax and express emotions.

2. To advocate at national level – with Government and HSE – to ensure that the cancer services in the South East region of Ireland are world class and are accessible to all.

3. To promote awareness and educate people about cancer. We partner with other organisations around cancer prevention, the early diagnosis of cancer, recovery from cancer and health and wellbeing. We promote a change of mindset around cancer – to help all of us to talk more freely about cancer, to live with it and encourage the whole community to support people living with cancer and their families and carers.

Our Core Values

Our Core Values are unique to the Solas Cancer Support Centre Brand. They form an integral part of the “essence” of what the Solas Cancer Support Centre is. They each describe what the experience of interaction with the Solas Cancer Support Centre should be. They are a benchmark for every facet of day-to-day interactions with:

Clients of the Centre
The Community we serve – the people of the South East
Colleagues of the Solas Cancer Support Centre – our Volunteers, Service Providers, Staff and Supporters

Our Core Values

Click to read more about our core values

01. Excellence

Progressive
Leading
Advocate
Independent

To be progressive and continue to strive for excellence in everything we do.
To be a leading expert in our field.
To advocate for early diagnosis and cancer prevention.
To act with the freedom given by being independent of political influence and support.

02. Empowerment

Empathetic
Compassionate
Comforting
Inspiring

To empower our clients, through the therapeutic, educational and mindfulness programmes to continue to have healthy and fulfilling lives.
To be empathetic to our clients, staff, volunteers and suppliers.
To be compassionate in all our dealings with our clients, staff, volunteers and suppliers.
To offer unconditional comfort and support to our clients.

03. Trustworthiness

Ethical
Reliable
Professional
Transparent
Confidential

To treat all our clients information with confidentiality.
To be ethical and honest in all our dealings and communications.
To be reliable and accessible to those we deal with.
To conduct ourselves professionally, responsibly and with integrity.
To conduct all our dealings transparently.

04. Community

Living
Family
Partnership
Teamwork

To be a community based resource for the people of the South East.
To treat the relationships within the centre and with our clients as a partnership
To be proactive in the community in promoting our core values and objectives.

05. Respect

Welcoming
Listening
Responsive
Positive

To focus on listening to our clients and all stakeholders.
To have a welcoming, open and accessible service to the people of the South East.
To be a person centered organisation.
To embrace diversity and the cultural backgrounds of our clients.
To be flexible and responsive to the individuals needs and requirements of our clients.

Caring for Our Clients

In 2023, 814 new clients engaged with the Solas Cancer Support Centre and we supported over 1,225 clients in total.

During this year we provided over 8,700 one to one supports to clients which included:

Complimentary Therapies 4,937
Counselling 2,950
Art Therapy and Play Therapy 876

Over 247 Group Support sessions were held during 2022 with clients availing of these group activities which include our Art Group, Crochet Group, Bereavement Group, Meditation, Yoga, Mindfulness, Men’s Support Group and a range of information sessions.

Solas Cancer Support Centre running costs for 2023

Cost of providing services to Clients	€771,010
Administration	€270,910
Total expenditure	€1,041,920
Income	€684,361
Grant Income	€201,187
Total Income	€885,548
Deficit (Income less expenditure)	– €156,372

The total amount of salaries paid by the Solas Cancer Support Centre in 2023 was €247,291 to 2 full time and 5 part time staff members.

Our Team

Today, the Solas Cancer Support Centre is supported by over 70 volunteers who help us with Client Services and fundraising activities.

Over 30 counsellors & therapists who support our Clients and their needs at the Centre or as part of our Outreach service.
6 community employment scheme workers who help with the day to day running of the Centre and the maintenance of our gardens.
1 part time staff & 3 full time staff member in the roles of Centre Manager, Client Services Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, Accounts Administrator and Administrator.

Board of Directors

The South Eastern Cancer Foundation/Solas Cancer Support Centre is a registered charity and a registered company limited by guarantee. It is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees ( also known as directors or board members) made up of professionals including legal, medical, business, community, communication, financial and of service users. No fees or expenses are paid to directors of the Solas Cancer Support Centre.