Support groups

Look good and feel better men’s workshop

Our small group workshops last around one and a half to two hours, depending upon which session you are attending. They are relaxed and friendly and are lead by trained experts.

Every session offers an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation, ask questions and focus on yourself and not your cancer.

We aim for lots of learning and a real boost of positivity – please book your place now by completing the form.

Patient voice

Patient Voice is a voluntary group of people who have been affected by cancer.

What they all have in common is a personal experience of cancer and a desire to give something back.

The aims of the group are:

To enable the views and experiences of cancer patients, their family and friends to be heard and used to improve the quality of cancer care in the area
To enhance patient and public involvement in cancer services
To enable patients and carers to have their say on local issues and get involved in developments in cancer care
To influence and shape the necessary changes to cancer care delivery as set out in national and local cancer guidance, policies and agendas.

Patient Voice also provides people affected by cancer with:

A forum in which people of different ages, genders and life experiences can discuss cancer-related issues in confidence with like-minded others.
The ability to influence the provision of care and help raise public awareness of cancer symptoms and prevention.
An opportunity to become actively involved in the Peer Review process and contribute to patient representation, providing the internal validation needed to ensure local standards of cancer care meet national recommendations

Meetings

Patient Voice meetings are held 5-6 times a year and provide an opportunity for patients and professionals to share views on cancer care, discuss new developments and help cancer teams in West Sussex provide the quality of care that people really want and need.

There are currently two groups, meeting at Worthing and St Richard’s Hospitals respectively, each of which is led and supported by the lead cancer nurse.

We share minutes and feedback from these meetings to ensure our patient membership, health professionals and relevant organisations like Macmillan are kept up to date with current issues.

We are also involved in health and cancer symptom awareness events, patient conferences, focus groups and surveys to stay in touch with the views of current patients more widely.

These events are often held in partnership with Macmillan or other charities.

Support and help

Patient Voice is not a support group. Its focus is on improving cancer care for all, and it tries to avoid dwelling on personal problems and difficulties.

However, many members have found that discussion and working together can be a positive experience and have formed valuable friendships through the group.

We work closely with various local cancer patient self-help and support groups and related charities.

Join Patient Voice

For more information on becoming a member of Patient Voice, please contact Christine Scott on 01903 285167.

Wellbeing hubs

Your local Wellbeing service

The Wellbeing service can help you to find local wellbeing information and services.

You can get advice and support on how to make small changes to improve your health and wellbeing, including how to stop smoking, how to become more active or how to make your meals healthier.

The wellbeing hubs are a friendly and impartial service which comes from your local authority and other partners, the majority of our services are completely free to users. As well as using the website, you can find out more about local activities and support services by talking to our friendly Wellbeing Advisors over the phone or in person.

Access your local wellbeing hub

St Barnabas living well service

St Barnabas House provides specialist care free of charge to adults with life-limiting illnesses in the Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield areas.

The Living Well service aims to support you and those close to you to manage the challenges of living with serious, long term and life-limiting conditions. This is achieved by working with you both individually and in a group setting.

Cancerwise

Based in Chichester, Cancerwise provides support services for people dianosed with cancer, their families, children aged 4-17 and carers.

Cancerwise Forthcoming events

Other social support groups

BAME support groups

Resources for BAME patients living with cancer

Telling your child you have cancer (in multiple languages)

LGBTQIA+ support groups

Live through this
LGBTQ+ forum
Shine cancer support
Getting care and planning for the future
Trekstock for young adults with cancer
Cancer research UK
Prostate cancer tests and treatment: a guide for gay and bisexual men
Trans women and prostate cancer
LGBT walnut
Out with prostate cancer

Financial support

NEA action or warm homes

National Energy Action (NEA), the national charity, can assist you to…

Enrol onto the ‘Priority Service Register’ with your energy supplier, which means…
- you will not be disconnected from energy supplies over the winter months
- you may be able to avoid being put on a pre-payment meter
- you’ll be treated more compassionately if you are in debt to your supplier
- you’ll have quarterly meter readings taken
- and be given advance notice if your electricity supply is to be interrupted (essential if you have electrical medical equipment at home).

NEA can also help you with…

Appling for an annual means tested discount of £140 off your electricity bill
Free, impartial advice and support with gas and electricity accounts including fuel debt, switching supplier, understanding bills, rebates, energy efficiency, mould & condensation, energy debt, Trust Fund applications, prepayment meter top up vouchers, water rates
Benefits advice and income maximisation
Signposting to other sources of advice, support, and assistance

Ask your Macmillan Cancer Support Workers to refer you to National Energy Action: