A pop-up hub that provides vital support to those living with long-term conditions including cancer is set to take its services online thanks to its work during the pandemic.

The ground-breaking Cancer Information Hub brings together a host of the city’s best loved good causes including Age UK Sheffield, Sheffield Clinical Commission Group (CCG), Cavendish Cancer Care and the Weston Park Cancer Charity to provide much needed information to residents across Sheffield.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the stall, commissioned by the Sheffield CCG, was open every weekday to offer support and help people to feel comfortable in accessing information and have meaningful conversations about cancer.

Despite the outbreak, the hub continued its tireless work by signposting to services that help with mental health through COVID-19, information about foodbanks, mutual aid support groups, and the uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Between lockdowns from 2 September and 28 December, the hub was able to open following strict risk assessments to ensure safe working practices were in place for both staff and visitors. In those 50 days, 273 people visited the hub and were given guidance and support.

Since then, the team started work on a Virtual Information Hub which will be an online resources tool to help people who find it hard to access the information from the Moor Market, for example those who are isolating at home or cannot easily reach the city centre.

It is intended for local Sheffield people and the aim is to signpost to local and national organisations that can offer crucial support. Work will continue work on its development into 2022.

The hub was finally able to open in March this year and has continued its face-to-face approach.

Louise Metcalfe, primary lead nurse for cancer and who spearheaded the hub back in 2017 when it first successfully opened – said: “The hub continues to offer a drop-in front door approach which offers information on early diagnosis of cancer and continues to support people living with and beyond cancer.

“The hub supports other voluntary sector services providing information on cancer and other long-term conditions.”

The Sheffield Cancer Information Hub has now reopened from 10am until 2pm every weekday at units 56 and 58 of The Moor Market.

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