Tea and Talk success inspires introduction of NHS support groups

A Saint Francis Hospice support group has inspired two national organisations to set up groups for people affected by cancer in the South East of England.

The hospice has been running Tea and Talk which meets at the Toby Carvery in Brentwood every month, to support people living with cancer, their carers and loved ones.

The group was visited by representatives from East of England Cancer Alliances and Macmillan Education for South East of England to find out more about how it is helping people. 

“Tea and Talk gives people affected by cancer an opportunity to meet other people in a similar position and offers practical information and support,” Karen Freeman from Saint Francis Hospice who is the project Lead for Tea and Talk

“Both organisations heard about the group supporting local people with cancer and they are planning to use our model to set up additional groups in the South East of England.

“Emma Harnett from Macmillan and Ayse Casey from NHS England spent time observing the interaction and the speakers and then spoke to the attendees about the group to find out what it was about the meeting that made the group so important to them.”

Now Emma and Ayse have joined forces to take their projects forwards together and already have an agreement from the Toby Carvery in Harlow to run a monthly group. 

“We are so proud of the recognition that our group has received by other organisations and hope that this may be the start of a new network of local groups being set up to support people with cancer,” said Karen.

“It was a real pleasure to visit the support group run by Saint Francis Hospice and I will definitely come and visit again,” said Emma Harnett, Macmillan Education lead for Herts and West Essex. "I look forward to setting up a similar model in Harlow.”

Ayse added, “It’s a fantastic thing the hospice does and I really hope that working with Emma will mean we can replicate it across the East of England.”

Tea and Talk which meets at Toby Carvery, Shenfield Common, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, CM15 8DZ and on Zoom on the first Monday of each month (unless this is a bank holiday as we will meet the following week instead) from 10am to 12pm.

For more information, please call OrangeLine on 01708 758649.