Craft and Chat patient group special

How crafting as a group plays a big part in our wellbeing

“I’m grateful to the medical professionals who have saved our lives – but this group is your sanity, your reassurance.”

The Craft and Chat group was set up back in 2016 by the Trust’s Macmillan Cancer Information Centre for cancer survivors, those actively having treatment and for carers. Fellow patients and staff have benefitted from the group’s creativity ever since.

The group meets weekly on a Friday at the Butterwick Hospice over cups of tea and biscuits. They craft and knit many handmade items that actively support patients with cancer, and also sell their creations to help raise valuable funds to keep the group going.

Sue Doyle, who is her husband’s carer, said: “The group is a safe space for us all to meet together to chat about living with and recovering from cancer. It’s been invaluable to better understand what my husband has been going through and how I can support him better.

“The ladies in the group have become friends, and as such we help each other through difficult days – we support each other’s wellbeing. I’d also always wanted to learn to make jewellery and was shown how to get started by another member of our group.”

Lucy Cornwell said: “I joined for the friendship. I was young when I had cancer, I didn’t really know anyone who had been through the same experience. It’s so important to have that shared experience, to be able to make sense of what you’ve been through together.

“But it’s also great that, in looking after my own wellbeing by being a part of this group, I’m also actively creating items that support others who are currently going through a similar situation.”

Over the past few weeks the group have been busy creating items for one of their annual Christmas hospital stalls – and will be selling their crafty items during December.

New group member Wendy Clarke, who joined in November, said: “It’s all well and good having friends and family around you. But coming here, where other people have said ‘Oh yes, I know what you mean – I know what you’re going through’ is a completely different kind of moral support.

“I’m grateful to the medical professionals who have saved our lives – but this group is your sanity, your reassurance.”

Macmillan information and survivorship manager, Alan Chandler said: “Not every lady comes to us with a particular craft – but we always say you can help to stuff a cushion and it’s a great place for people to learn what they may have an interest in.

“I think it’s really important for people’s wellbeing to lean into and find groups associated with your hobby. I know doing something you love, alongside likeminded individuals, has been a great support to our amazing group members.”

IMAGE L- R: Wendy Clarke, Freda Hood, Lucy Cornwell, Linda Davison (Macmillan cancer information centre volunteer), Sue Doyle and Ali Parsons (Macmillan cancer support worker)