MORE than 400 people affected by cancer have been help by a Wiltshire project.

The Wiltshire Macmillan Citizens Advice service has helped 404 local people affected the disease access more than £1m in benefits and grants last year, according to new statistics.

The project, a partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and Citizens Advice, has been running since 2009, providing welfare benefits advice to people with cancer, their carers and family members.

Since then, the project has helped 2,429 people achieve more than £6.7m in vital financial gains to help with the cost of cancer.

Gary Walker, who manages the service, said: “The team have done a brilliant job; the average financial outcome for each client was over £2,900 in 2016.

“For each £1 of Macmillan funding, the caseworkers were able to access just under £25 for those in need, proving great value for money.”

The service consists of two Macmillan Welfare Benefits Advisers and a support worker, who provide confidential welfare benefits advice and support to help with the costs of cancer.

Previous research by Macmillan showed that cancer has an average monthly cost of £570 for the vast majority (83 per cent) of cancer patients.

The service provides support over the phone and by email, as well as face-to-face support on an appointment basis, and has recently secured further funding from Macmillan until December 2018.

For more information on the service, call 01722 421277 or email macmillan@citizensadvicewiltshire.org.uk

For support, information or if anyone has any questions about cancer, Macmillan Cancer Support can be called free on 0808 808 00 00.