Exciting Pear Tree Fund Partnership Announced

The Pear Tree Fund is joining forces with Big C Cancer Charity to increase the range of help and support available to local people with life-changing illnesses once its new resource centre opens. 

Big C offers support for those affected by cancer across Norfolk and Waveney, and will provide training and financial help when the Pear Tree Centre in Halesworth becomes operational later this year. It will also arrange peer support staff to work at the centre, who will be able to share their own experiences of living with cancer or offer a listening ear or advice.

The partnership will give people living in north east Suffolk and south Norfolk the chance to get expert advice closer to home to help them or their loves ones living with cancer or undergoing treatment. 

Ted Edwards, co-chair of the Pear Tree Centre project, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Big C. The charity plays a significant role in helping to improve the lives of people with cancer in Norfolk and Waveney, and also has extensive experience of running drop-in centres for patients and their families. 

“We are really looking forward to working with them once the Pear Tree Centre opens to improve the support which is available when local people need it the most.”

Dr Chris Bushby, chief executive at Big C said: “Since 1980, Big C has been committed to improving cancer care for local people. As a local charity, we are proud to invest in and provide support at the Pear Tree Centre, which will greatly enhance the help available to those affected by cancer in north east Suffolk and south Norfolk.”

The Pear Tree Fund, which was formerly known as Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund, is building the £880,000 Pear Tree Centre on land next to Cutlers Hill Surgery. Once complete, it will offer family services and advice on finance and benefits, as well as help understanding a diagnosis and coping with bereavement. 

The centre will include space for local support groups to meet, a counselling room, small library and a comfortable area where people can relax and chat informally. A therapy room where patients can receive complementary treatments, such as Reiki and massage, will also be available, along with a landscaped garden to help promote wellbeing.

To find out more about the centre and how you could support the charity, visit peartreefund.org