The British Liver Trust, based in Bournemouth, has received a donation of £41,842 from Bournemouth Freemasons, which will fund the newly established British Liver Trust nurse-led Helpline. A third of callers, so far, had not received the immediate help they required from their GP and needed direction on what to do and who to ask.
The Masonic funding guarantees the British Liver Trust Helpline’s accessibility for the next year. Geoff Tuck from Bournemouth Freemasons said, “We are pleased to be able help provide such a valuable service, which will benefit so many people over the next year.”
The grant from Bournemouth Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons and their families from across England and Wales.
Rebecca, a registered nurse will be handling the calls, looking after the online forum and answering health related email enquiries. She said “My role enables me to truly understand the magnitude of liver disease in the UK. Everyday I answer enquiries from members of the public who want support and help navigating their patient journey.
“I am able to empower them to ask their doctors and specialist nurses questions about their conditions and to provide the key information they need to help understand the process they are going through.”
Quote from Steve – Helpline caller:
“This is really what it is to me, a helpline, or a lifeline service. I found the responses to my anxiety based questioning, to be informative, compassionate and very clear. Rebecca was able to connect with me immediately, empathising with my fear and guiding me through my own journey. Whilst following my direction, the liver health nurse advisor was also mindful to respectfully offer alternative suggestions to some of my thoughts and feelings. At no point did I feel ridiculed or invalid.”
Andrew Langford, CEO, the British Liver Trust said, “We are grateful to Bournemouth Freemasons, supporting us to run our nurse-led Helpline for the next year and enabling us to help even more individuals and professionals."
“We reach over a million people each year, increasing awareness is our biggest mission. Over 90% of liver disease is preventable and we need to send out this message out – this will only be possible with the help of donations big and small to fund our work - and we will make a difference.”
The British Liver Trust Helpline:
Call free on 0800 652 7330 Monday – Friday, between 10am and 3pm
Email helpline@britishlivertrust.org.uk
From left to right: Andrew Langford, CEO British Liver Trust; Audrey Cornelius, Fundraising Manager, British Liver Trust; Geoff Tuck, Bournemouth Freemasons; Liver Health Nurse Advisor; Anna Hardy, Trusts and Foundations fundraiser British Liver Trust.