CRT & Macmillan Supporting Wales Together
CRT Together • 17 March 2025

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Our Partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support


At CRT, we are proud to be funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, an organisation dedicated to ensuring that everyone affected by cancer receives the help they need. As our programme continues to grow, we are reaching more individuals and families across our communities, many of whom face significant barriers when trying to access essential cancer support services.


Our mission is to bridge this gap, whether it's practical assistance, financial guidance, or emotional support, we want to ensure that people in these communities know we are here to help. By working together, we can connect individuals with the vital services often already available to them, making it easier for people with cancer and their loved ones to cope without unnecessary stress or isolation.


Why Macmillan has funded this project


Macmillan Cancer Support chose to partner with our programme because they recognise the severe health inequalities that exist in South Wales, particularly in former mining communities.


The statistics speak for themselves:


  • Cancer incidence rates are significantly higher in these regions.
  • Life expectancy is lower compared to the national average.
  • Many individuals in these areas face multiple barriers when trying to access healthcare, support, and financial aid.


Macmillan shares our commitment to reducing these disparities and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has access to the cancer care they deserve. Through this partnership, we are actively working to break down obstacles, provide direct support, and create a stronger, more informed community that knows where to turn for help.



Macmillan highlights our partnership


Recently, Jenny Savage, Digital Content Editor at Macmillan, wrote an article about our partnership, highlighting why this collaboration is so important in the effort to ensure that "Nobody Should Face Cancer Alone" across Wales and the wider UK.


Her piece sheds light on the unique challenges faced by individuals in our communities and how our joint efforts are helping to provide much-needed support.


🔗 Read the full article here


We are incredibly grateful for Macmillan’s continued support and look forward to expanding our impact even further in the months ahead. If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch—we are here for you.


Together, we will make a difference. 💚

Having Someone in Your Corner: Tracy’s Story with CRT Together

by Adam Downey • 9 October 2026
Lifting the everyday burdens. When you are facing a cancer diagnosis, the last thing you need is the added stress of navigating a complex healthcare and benefits system. The physical and emotional toll is heavy enough without having to worry about complex paperwork, transport to hospital appointments, or financial strain. In our latest video case study, we introduce you to Tracy Harris. Tracy recently sat down with us to open up about her bowel cancer diagnosis and the profound impact it has had on her life. Crucially, Tracy’s story highlights exactly why the CRT Together programme delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support was created. More Than Just Signposting When Tracy was diagnosed, our dedicated Link Workers were by her side. At CRT Together, we believe that true advocacy goes far beyond simply handing someone a leaflet or a phone number. We work directly alongside patients, providing 1-2-1, hands-on support tailored to their specific needs. For Tracy, having a Link Worker in her corner meant she could focus her energy where it mattered most: on her treatment and wellbeing. Watch Tracy’s Story We are incredibly grateful to Tracy for her bravery in sharing her journey with us. Hearing directly from the people we support is the most powerful way to understand the true value of non-clinical, practical advocacy. Click the video above to watch Tracy’s full story.

Working with our communities to strengthen practical support

by Adam Downey • 15 December 2025
At CRT Together, a key part of our work is building strong relationships with local organisations so we can better understand what support is available within our communities and how people can be helped at the right time. As part of this ongoing approach, we recently met with Taff Ely Foodbank, which is run by the Trussell Trust, to explore how we can work more closely together. We’re pleased to share that this has led to a strengthened partnership that will help us support people more effectively when they are facing financial pressures. This partnership will support clearer pathways into existing food support services, helping us guide people to the right help when they need it, particularly during periods of cancer treatment, recovery, or other challenging times, when everyday costs can become harder to manage. The CRT Together programme is rooted in working alongside our communities, listening to local need and building partnerships that complement the support already in place. By strengthening these connections, we can help ensure people feel supported, informed and signposted appropriately, without having to navigate complex systems on their own. We’d like to thank Taff Ely Foodbank for taking the time to meet with us, and for the vital work they continue to do within the community. We’re also grateful to our colleagues and partners for their ongoing commitment to supporting people with practical needs alongside emotional and wellbeing support. Are you or a family member impacted by cancer? Get support from a local link worker today by clicking here .

Local Practitioner Offers Free 3D Areola Tattoos to Support Breast Cancer Survivors

by Adam Downey • 12 September 2025
A breast cancer diagnosis changes everything. For many, the journey doesn’t end when treatment finishes, it often leaves lasting scars, both physically and emotionally. One of the final steps in breast reconstruction can be the recreation of an areola, which helps many women feel “complete” again after surgery. Research shows that nipple-areola complex (NAC) tattooing can play a vital role in recovery after breast cancer, helping to restore both physical and emotional wellbeing when reconstruction or surgery has removed the nipple and areola. Unlike surgical nipple reconstruction, 3D tattoos often heal more quickly and can make a real difference to how survivors feel about themselves, improving body image, supporting intimacy, drawing attention away from scars, and helping to restore a sense of wholeness. This support is needed more than ever. A survey by Breast Cancer Now found that 44% of women who had breast cancer said it negatively affected their body image. For many, the emotional fallout of surgery including challenges with identity, confidence and self-esteem, which can be just as difficult to cope with as the physical impact. The fact that nearly half of women report these struggles shows just how widespread the issue is. Now, a local aesthetics practitioner based in Pontypridd is stepping forward to offer her skills to support this vital stage of healing. The psychological and emotional impacts, including loss of identity, lowered self-esteem, mental health stress, are real and longstanding. Chloe’s offer is not just cosmetic, it plays a part in mental wellbeing . Chloe Thomas, who runs Inject Aesthetics , has worked in the aesthetics field for four years. While much of her role has focused on beauty treatments, Chloe wanted to do something that reached deeper than appearance. | “As someone working in aesthetics, I wanted to use my skills to make a real difference beyond beauty treatments. Helping survivors feel more comfortable in their own skin is deeply rewarding and gives my work greater purpose.” Chloe now provides free 3D areola tattoos for breast cancer survivors. This specialist tattooing technique creates the illusion of an areola on flat skin, helping women feel more like themselves again following reconstructive surgery. She explained: | “Breast cancer takes such a toll on both the body and mind. Offering this service helps survivors feel complete again, supporting their healing journey and reminding them of their strength and beauty.” The service is not just cosmetic, it is deeply tied to confidence, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing . For many, having the option of an areola tattoo marks the final step in reclaiming their body and identity after cancer. Chloe hopes her offer will also spark a wider movement within the community: | “I hope it empowers survivors, helps them regain self-esteem, and inspires others in the community to find ways to give back and support those who are healing.” She makes sure every client feels comfortable and supported before their appointment, offering a safe, positive and empowering experience at every stage. If you’d like more information, or support with any other concerns relating to cancer, please get in touch with our CRT Together Link Workers who are here to help by clicking here.