The centre offers holistic care in a friendly, informal and non-clinical environment. It is open to patients; carers; family members and friends. Staff and volunteers provide a welcoming atmosphere along with practical advice, emotional support or simply a listening ear, at any stage for those living with cancer.

A team of volunteers support the work of the centre and help provide a programme of complementary therapies; group activities and workshops; including physical activity; creative workshops; drop-in coffee mornings and support groups. The support includes:

  • Information giving
  • Complementary therapies – massage, acupuncture, pranic healing, reiki, reflexology, , hypnotherapy
  • Emotional support – counselling, listening ear, life coaching and neurolinguistic programming (NLP)
  • Art group
  • Yoga and pilates
  • Walking for Health
  • Image workshops – Look good feel better, Head Wrappers, Colour me Beautiful
  • Support groups – breast, lungs, haematology
  • Course – mindfulness, HOPE
  • Welfare benefit advice
  • Access to a comprehensive range of cancer support information
  • A computer for free guided internet access

It is sometimes possible for volunteer therapists to visit the hospital if patients are unable to come to the centre to provide therapies such as light hand massage, reiki or a listening ear.

Complementary therapies

We offer a range of complementary therapies at the centre, see details below about all the therapies on offer.

Gentle massage can be used to relax and relieve muscle tension. It can help to relieve everyday anxiety, stress, help sleep and promote a sense of well-being.

Acupuncture works to help maintain the body’s flow of energy and restore a healthy balance. It can help to provide short-term relief for some symptoms and may also help improve sleep, reduce stress and boost energy levels.

A simple, yet powerful system of non-touch energy treatment that uses prana to balance and harmonize the body’s energy processes. It can help to reduce stress and increase energy levels.

Many people use hypnotherapy to help them make positive lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking, or to encourage positive emotions, such as calmness and relaxation. It can also be useful in reducing some side effects of cancer treatment such as nausea.

Reflexology is a form of foot massage related to acupressure and may alleviate and improve symptoms of treatment. It can also help alleviate everyday anxiety, reduce stress and improve sleep.

Reiki is a non-intrusive energy therapy where the therapist uses light touch on or just above the body. Benefits may include deep relaxation and a sense of calm and peace.

Emotional support

We offer a short term confidential counselling service to help you find ways of coping. Counselling can give you the time and space to find solutions to difficulties and a way through a crisis and beyond.

This is an opportunity for patients, family or carers to express their fears and concerns to someone outside their family and friends circle. There is always someone at the centre you can talk to. Once a week we have a skilled volunteer from the Brigitte Trust.

Life coaching will give you the opportunity to look at areas of your life and see if there are things that you can do to improve them. You will be guided on setting new goals and ways to achieve them.

A number of support groups are run at the centre. These can provide peer support, information and help you feel less isolated.

General points for all therapies

All therapies are offered as complementary to clinical and medical treatment and should not be considered as an alternative method of treatment.All new users of the centre will be required to register and will be given the opportunity to discuss their support needs with the manager, or an appointed volunteer.

If the new user is a cancer patient, then the centre may undertake to seek assurances from the patient’s clinical team before commencing ‘hands on’ therapy.

Everyone will be required to complete a health questionnaire before commencing ‘hands on’ therapy.

How many sessions can I have?

Once registered at the centre, you are entitled to six hands on 1:1 sessions of any complementary therapy or combination of therapies. It may be possible to have further sessions if agreed by the manager when we would ask for a voluntary donation if circumstance allow.

Where will the treatment take place?

All therapy/treatment sessions take place in our dedicated therapy rooms at the centre.

We have adjustable couches, which can be lowered to assist those with mobility difficulties. They can also be adjusted to a semi sitting position for those who prefer not to lie flat. Please discuss this with your therapist.