Teenagers support peers as part of Centra-backed project


10th May 2010


Centra’s charity partner Action Cancer has announced a major development to its Health Action programme, which involves teenagers and staff at a number of schools being trained to support fellow pupils and teachers who have been affected by cancer – a first for Northern Ireland!

Groups of pupils, teachers and classroom assistants at a number of schools have already been trained as volunteers for the charity’s Listening Ear Service (LES), which provides support to cancer patients and their carers, relatives and close friends. Action Cancer has announced that it plans to train more young people in schools across Northern Ireland as part of its unique health promotion programme Health Action, which is funded by Centra.

Centra retailers throughout Northern Ireland raise funds for Action Cancer’s schools programme and promote the scheme in local communities. Over £600,000 of funding has been donated to Action Cancer since 2003.

Pictured celebrating the roll out of the Listening Ear Service training for schools are Carol-Anne Magennis (17), left, a student at Shimna Integrated College Newcastle, Paul McGroarty (18), from St Mary’s Christian Brothers Grammar School Belfast, right, who have both taken part in the training, along with Elizabeth Boyd, Training and Development Officer, Action Cancer and Catherine English from Centra.