Community support
We know that having a support network can make a significant difference to how you feel you can cope with a diagnosis. Our online and in-person services have been created with you in mind, and we hope they will bring you practical and emotional support.
To find out more about any of the community support listed below, please give us a phone on 01224 859222 or email wellbeing@friendsofanchor.org
You might have seen our 'Confident You' series listed in our Spotlight magazine or on posters in the ANCHOR Unit wards. This series encapsulates three workshops that have all been designed to help boost your confidence and make new friends during or after a cancer diagnosis.
You'll find information about those three workshops on this page - just keep reading for all the details.
"Taking the time to think and focus on my breathing has definitely helped me feel calmer." - Mindfulness graduate feedback
Try mindfulness
Join us for an eight-week course to help build your confidence by improving self-awareness, resilience and reducing stress. Open to patients past and present. Our next course begins on Wednesday, January 29.
Guided by our accredited tutor Louise Martin, the weekly classes are held on Zoom so you can take part from the comfort and privacy of home. Once you’ve graduated from the course, you’ll also be invited to our in-person mindfulness deep dive at one of our wellbeing retreat days.
Mindfulness can be a great resource to alleviate feelings of stress or anxiety that can so often accompany a diagnosis. Our course graduated say the sessions helped them deal with difficult emotions, and improved their sleep quality too!
Find your voice
Keep an eye on this page for more information on our new offering: Find Your Voice.
Whether you’ve sung on stage or only ever sung in the shower, patients are warmly invited to take part in our sessions for all levels.
Watch this space for dates and times for the sessions, which will be held at a city centre location in Aberdeen.
Fancy a dance?
Watch this space for details about our upcoming sessions focused on movement.
Enjoy the science-backed benefits of music and movement in our mood-boosting, stress-reducing classes for patients of all physical and fitness abilities.
Wellbeing retreat days
Our retreat days offer a chance to meet our wellbeing team and fellow patients in a friendly, informal setting. and find out about the complementary therapies and services we offer for you.
Attendees can try out some of the wellbeing services we offer, such as massage and mini manicures at our pop-up nail bar on the day. Our on-the-day programme also includes a mindfulness taster session, deep relaxation, music and movement, and a delicious lunch to be enjoyed with fellow guests.
Our next retreat is on Saturday February 22 at King's Church, Aberdeen, and booking information will be live on this page soon.
Awareness Hours
Our free Awareness Hour talks are open to everyone, whether you're a patient, a family member or simply have an interest in the topic.
Our next Awareness Hour will focus on prostate and testicular cancer, with a date to be confirmed in March - so please check back for the details!
At each event, guests are hosted by our wellbeing team in a relaxed, informal setting, and will hear from specialist staff speakers on a specific topic, with information on signs and symptoms, current treatments and support available for those facing a diagnosis.
Watch this space too for our future Awareness Hour in June, on the topic of blood cancers.
Support Groups
Day | Frequency | Time | Organisation | Contact info | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Young Womens Support Group | Monday | Monthly | 10-11.30am | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Friends of ANCHOR patient community | Daily peer support | Friends of ANCHOR | Tap here to join | ||
Can be OK | Monday | Weekly | Evenings | Can be OK | Search 'Can be OK' on Facebook to join the private group |
CLAN Aberdeen Walking Group | Monday | Monthly | 10.30am-11.30am | CLAN Haven | enquiries@clancancersupport.org 01224 647000 |
Move More Walking Group | Tuesday | Weekly | 10-11:30am | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Breast Reconstruction Support | Tuesday | Monthly | 11am-1pm | CLAN House | enquiries@clancancersupport.org 01224 647000 |
Breast Reconstruction Support | Tuesday | Monthly | 2-4pm | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Myeloma Group | Tuesday | Monthly | 2-4pm | CLAN House | enquiries@clancancersupport.org 01224 647000 |
Buckie & District Cancer Support Group (for anyone affected by cancer) | Wednesday | Monthly | 7pm | Burnside Court, Buckie | |
Breast Cancer Group | Wednesday | Monthly | 2-3:30pm | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Group | Wednesday | Monthly | 2-3:30pm | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Health & Wellbeing Exercise Group | Wednesday | Weekly | 2pm-3pm | CLAN Haven | enquiries@clancancersupport.org 01224 647000 |
Health & Wellbeing Exercise Group | Wednesday | Fortnightly | 5.30pm-6.30pm | CLAN Haven | enquiries@clancancersupport.org 01224 647000 |
Gynaecology Cancer Group | Thursday | Monthly | 2-3:30pm | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Lung Cancer Group | Thursday | Monthly | 2-3:30pm | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Prostate Cancer Group | Thursday | Monthly | 2-3:30pm | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Keith Cancer Links Support Group (for anyone affected by cancer) | Thursday | Monthly | 7:30-9pm | Resource Centre, Midstreet. Keith | keithcancerlinksupport.org.uk 07969 957680 * On hold until 2022 Please reach for phone support until support group resumes |
Head + Neck Cancer Group | Friday | Monthly | 10-11:30am | Maggies | aberdeen@maggies.org 01224 645928 |
Sarcoma Patient Support | Days vary | Monthly | 6.30pm-7.30pm | CLAN Haven | enquiries@clancancersupport.org 01224 647000 |