CLAN’s new Shetland centre set to open in May

The CLAN Cancer Support charity is to open its new centre – including a shop – in Lerwick in May.

The organisation signed a lease on the former veterinary surgery at 39 Commercial Road today and will now carry out refurbishment work.

It will accommodate a drop-in service for support and information, complementary therapies and space for support groups to meet and develop.    

The new centre will also allow the charity to open an onsite charity shop which will help to ensure it can continue to generate funds.

CLAN Cancer Support services manager Claire Fraser said: “It is fantastic for CLAN that we are now in a position to open the centre in Shetland. CLAN receives so much support for its work from across Shetland.

“The new premises will allow us to bring all the services we offer on the island under one roof, which will have a huge impact for our volunteers and service users. Having dedicated premises allows CLAN to develop services in the future to meet the needs of the people in Shetland, and we will be able to offer our services in smart new premises.

“Everyone involved with CLAN is extremely excited about the opening and coming so soon after we moved into our new CLAN House and CLAN Haven, it is a great opportunity to ensure that our clients receive high quality support from us when they need it most.”

“CLAN Haven in Aberdeen is well used and known in Shetland and from our new Commercial Road centre we will ensure there is continuity of support when [users] return home.”

Catherine Hughson, chairwoman of the local steering group, said: “We are delighted to see these premises and a local presence of CLAN in Shetland, this will complement the services already being delivered in Shetland and provide support for families and friends of so many of us that are affected by cancer.”

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which offers support to anyone affected by cancer. Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of Grampian, Orkney and Shetland.