Maggie’s unveils new Pearson partnership scheme for families

A brand new scheme has been unveiled at Maggie’s and visitors to the Oldham centre will now be able to get an hour of free advice on future planning.

The aim is to give cancer patients assurance and help on all aspects of planning a financial future.

Visitors to the centre will be able to make an appointment to have an hour-long session with a qualified legal adviser.

Now more than ever, extra care and support for cancer patients is needed and despite the lockdown, Maggie’s remains open to provide a helping hand for those that need it.

“Basically, people can come with their friends, families or loved ones and have a brew and a chat about their financial future with experts,” said Trish Morgan, Maggies' Centre Head.

“It’s a great way of getting peace of mind and control over one aspect of their lives.

“With the recent lockdown this is obviously also available online should people prefer, or of course our centre is always open.”

The aim is to enhance the already successful wills clinics and benefits drop-in at the centre.

The new service is being provided by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, who nominated Maggie’s as their charity of the year in 2020.

“Our aim here is to provide a holistic service for visitors to Maggie’s and their loved ones," said solicitor Joanne Jones, head of Private Client care at Pearson.

"It’s a real wrap around plan to help people relax and know that whatever happens they and their families are taken care of.

“It’s about making sure you futureproof your loved ones, it about more than making a will, it’s about inheritance planning, estate planning, trusts, lasting powers of attorney, care home discussions and much more, we will just be there to listen and advise."

Zoe Johnson, a colleague of Joanne, has personal experience of the effects cancer can have on a family and was keen to help out and run some sessions.

Zoe said: “Maggie’s is an inspirational place and it’s an honour to be involved.

"As our charity of the year we have been unable to really get stuck in and physically help in the centre due to coronavirus.

"However, now as more people are visiting we felt the time was right to give some much needed advice.

"Cancer can have a devastating effect on families and I really want to be able to sit down with people and reassure them that a few simple planning options might be available to them that make all the difference."

Centre Head Trish added: “We’re hugely grateful to the team at Pearson for so generously offering their time and expertise to support our visitors in this way.

"We know it will be much appreciated and make the biggest difference to the people that walk through our doors here each day.”

Anyone visiting Maggie’s Oldham can make an appointment.

For more information, or to make an appointment, contact the centre on 0161 989 0550 or email: oldham@maggies.org

To find out more about Maggie’s Oldham please visit the centre at the Royal Oldham Hospital, the Sir Norman Stoller Building, Royal Oldham Hospital, OL1 2JH or get in touch on: oldham@maggies.org

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