Macmillan Jersey Reports Record Demand for Cancer Wellbeing Support

What changed

Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey says demand for counselling, emotional support and complementary therapy reached record levels in 2025.

• Counselling and higher-level emotional-support sessions rose from 407 in 2021 to 835 in 2025, up 105%.
• Complementary therapy sessions increased from 405 to 965, up 138%.
• The charity delivered 4,253 support sessions, while 308 people used its drop-in centre without a referral.

Why it matters

The figures show cancer support in Jersey reaching beyond appointments and treatment. People affected by cancer are seeking help with emotional, practical, financial and wellbeing needs, and the charity is trying to identify those needs earlier through holistic assessments introduced after a pilot.

That changes the shape of support. A person can now receive an individual care plan that considers more than their physical health, rather than waiting for problems to become harder to manage. In my view, the sharp rise in sessions is both a sign that these services matter and a warning that demand may keep stretching the system.

Macmillan Jersey raised £963,090 in 2025 and invested £890,352 in its work. Across its five-year strategy, it generated £4.38m and invested £3.44m in services for Islanders affected by cancer.

Its next strategy, covering 2026 to 2030, will expand emotional, wellbeing and group support, including services for people living with and beyond cancer. The report does not establish why demand rose or whether future capacity will be sufficient, but the direction is clear: support needs are growing, and the charity is planning around that reality.