On Wednesday 18 March, MCO attended the Macmillan & Cancer Alliance Networking Event at the Pavilions in Harrogate. The event brought together a wide range of organisations to share information about the support services available across Harrogate and the surrounding rural district.

Organised by Jackie Rowbottom, Macmillan Integrated Personalised Care Programme Lead at the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital, the event welcomed over 20 community organisations. Alongside information stands, attendees also benefited from a series of spotlight talks throughout the morning.

Professionals from across the healthcare and community sector were in attendance, including representatives from Community Nursing, Palliative Care, Community Rehabilitation Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, the Acute Frailty Unit, GP practices, Cancer Screening teams, and Cancer Surgery services. The breadth of expertise in the room highlighted the strength of collaborative working across the region.

For MCO, attending events like this is an important way to stay connected with local services and better understand the support available to those in our community. It also ensures that rural voices are heard and represented, helping us to advocate effectively and remain involved in shaping future service provision.

Hayley and Jude represented MCO on the day, making valuable connections and contributing to conversations focused on improving access to local services. Key themes included reducing social isolation, supporting independence within communities, addressing the unique challenges faced by farming communities, and strengthening local community hubs through better networking.

Reflecting on the day, Hayley shared:

“Our focus at MCO is about helping people live their best lives. We’re a trusted charity and a safe space for people in our community to come to for friendship and support six days a week.

As you can imagine, we’re asked all sorts, and over the years our fantastic team has built up an extensive knowledge base, along with trusted professional relationships and the expertise to handle even the most sensitive enquiries.

While we might not always have all the answers, we’ll always do our best to find them. That’s why it’s so important for us to attend networking events like this. We’ll continue to connect, collaborate and advocate for our rural community so we can support people as effectively as possible long into the future.”

MCO remains committed to strengthening partnerships and ensuring that individuals and families across our rural communities can access the support they need, when they need it.

 

 

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