A CELEBRATORY cake was cut to mark a partnership between the Poole Marie Curie fundraising group and Poole libraries.

In a bid to raise awareness and funds for the cancer charity, the group decided Borough of Poole’s 10 libraries were a good place to heighten their profile.

“Our local group enjoy raising funds, but raising awareness is also a vital part of our role in the local community,” said Val Sawdy, chairman of the group.

“Not many people know that here in Dorset the Marie Curie team of 88 nurses and health care assistants care for more than 800 people in their own homes every year.

“The library is the place for information and so we got in touch to ask if they could support us in spreading the word about Marie Curie’s new support helpline and nursing services here in Poole.

“The library service was delighted to help and we are looking forward to working with them.”

End of life care provided by Marie Curie in Dorset enables patients to stay at home and one of the first ventures of the partnership was to ensure that those cared for know about the libraries' home delivery service.

During the year-long partnership the libraries across the town will provide space for information points for the charity and rooms for nurses to meet for training and supervision.

“This is a first for us but we are pleased to help such a locally well supported organisation like Marie Curie,” said Sue Wills, library service manager.

“The focus of our information offer is on libraries' role in supporting people and to access information and services online in critical areas such as health and this will help us do that in a much more dynamic and exciting way.”

To help the group reach their goal of £40,000 the library has offered to display the charity’s daffodil boxes in March and host tea parties to promote the Blooming Great Tea Party week next June. There will also be an autumn event for people to meet nurses and volunteers.

For more information about the group visit mariecurie.org.uk/inyourarea or contact community fundraiser for Dorset, Amy Llewellyn on 07515 190352. The Marie Cure Support Line is on 0800 090 2309.