Therapeutic peer support groups for children and young people affected by cancer are set to return to Kendal and Barrow, it has been announced.
CancerCare’s Re-Fresh programme, designed for five to 17-year-olds affected by cancer or bereavement, will relaunch in the spring.
An existing group in Lancaster has been running for several years, and a Morecambe branch for younger children was reinstated earlier this year.
Emma Wareing, youth group leader at CancerCare, said: "These groups provide young people with a safe space where they can have some distance from what may be going on at home.
"They can also meet others with shared experiences and take part in activities that promote wellbeing and emotional health.
"Young people enjoy Re-Fresh because they make new friends and meet a range of different people.
"They have fun and share laughs – things that can sometimes be missing if they are experiencing the impact of cancer or bereavement at home.
"Peer support can reduce isolation, raise self-esteem and promote recovery, and it has the potential to transform mental health."
Re-Fresh offers a supportive environment for children and young people to connect with peers facing similar challenges, while encouraging regular mental health check-ins through therapeutic group activities.
The sessions are peer-led, with participants helping to shape activities and projects.
Children can attend the programme for up to a year, taking part in games, arts and crafts, drama, and other group activities designed to broaden their experiences and support emotional wellbeing.
The Kendal group will begin on April 21, with Barrow sessions starting on April 23.
CancerCare is now accepting referrals for both locations.
Taster sessions are scheduled for March 17 in Kendal and March 19 in Barrow.
The Kendal session will be held at the CancerCare Kendal Centre, and the Barrow session at St Mary’s Community Hub.
Both will run from 5pm to 7pm, with no booking required.
Parents, carers, and professionals can refer a child or young person to the Re-Fresh programme by contacting CancerCare’s Therapy Coordination Team at tct@cancercare.org.uk.
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