York Against Cancer is an independent, local charity providing practical help and support for cancer patients and their loved ones across York, North and East Yorkshire.
Established in 1987, the charity has now raised over £20 million. This has been invested in a range of support services, such as our free minibus transport to radiotherapy appointments in Leeds, our respite breaks in Filey and Yapham for cancer patients and their loved ones to stay in free of charge, the funding of world-leading cancer research and medical innovations, and cancer awareness and education initiatives.
In 2023, we opened our cancer support centre, The Leveson Centre, which is fully funded and managed by York Against Cancer. Working closely in partnership with the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we have created a space that provides a comfortable place for cancer patients and their loved ones to visit and access support, and that will positively impact the region’s level of cancer support services for years to come.
The Leveson Centre has thoughtfully been named after one of the charity’s founders, Professor Steve Leveson, a retired Consultant Surgeon. With his wife, Pat, he has supported the charity ever since. Renowned for his skills as a surgeon, researcher, educator and for his genuine compassion, he has changed the lives of thousands of people across North and East Yorkshire.
www.thelevesoncentre.org.uk I 01904 202647 I support@thelevesoncentre.org.uk
The Leveson Centre kitchen
Steve and Pat Leveson
How we can help
The Leveson Centre provides a wide range of holistic support services to complement clinical cancer treatments, helping patients, their friends and families across York, North and East Yorkshire to live with and beyond cancer.
Located next to York Against Cancer's gift shop at the York Community Stadium, Huntington, the space provides a friendly, welcoming 'home-from-home' environment for cancer patients and their loved ones to visit and access support, or just to drop in for a cup of coffee and a chat.
Supporting you - Paul’s story
Paul started coming to The Leveson Centre in June of 2023. Since then, he has met with our Citizen’s Advice advisor, joined our art workshop, and become a regular at our weekly coffee morning. He sat down with us to tell us the difference the Centre has made to him.
“The Leveson Centre has been a god send. It’s helping with my treatment, but it’s not a hospital. When you’re in a hospital, immediately it’s clinical; it’s sterile. Here, it’s just so relaxing and there’s so much on offer.
“What I liked about it was that everyone who was present had cancer of some sort, but it was not really discussed. If you do want to talk about cancer you can talk about it and get other people’s experiences and advice, but there’s no pressure to talk about it. My wife works so I’m at home on my own, so it’s nice to get out and meet other people. Myself and my family were looking at booking an experience in London, and were looking at dates for it, and I said it can’t be a Wednesday because that’s when I go to The Leveson Centre!
“To anyone thinking of coming to The Leveson Centre, I would encourage them to come. It’s not clinical, but it can help regardless of whatever type of cancer you’ve got. There’s all sorts of exercise classes, therapies and everything that can help, and the staff are really friendly.”
Our services
At The Leveson Centre, we offer a range of support services for anyone who has been affected by cancer. We provide one-to-one resources for individuals, and also act as a welcoming community hub for cancer patients and their loved ones to pop in and get involved in various wellbeing activities.
Information and guidance
Our friendly team are here to help with any questions you might have. We work closely with the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and will provide details of who to speak to or where to access further information if it’s not something we offer ourselves.
Young people’s psychology service
Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Rebecca, holds appointments in The Leveson Centre, alongside therapy dog, Luna. Rebecca offers free psychological services for young people with family members going through cancer.
Benefits and welfare support
Cancer patients can book appointments with an advisor from Citizens Advice York, who can help identify the benefits you may be entitled to and help you apply for them. The advisor can also assist with debt, employment issues, family law and more.
Complementary therapy
We offer 6 free sessions of complementary therapy for cancer patients to aid with general wellbeing, reduce stress and ease the side effects of cancer treatment. Choose from a range of therapies such as reiki, hypnotherapy, massage, aromatherapy and more.
Pilates
Led by a qualified instructor, cancer patients can take part in our Pilates class for a full body workout that improves muscle tone, flexibility, strength and balance.
Yoga
Join us in our yoga classes for cancer patients. Run by an expert yoga instructor, these sessions are dedicated to improving your fitness and wellbeing and can be done on either a mat or a chair.
Coffee morning
Every Wednesday morning, anyone who has been affected by cancer is invited to join us for our weekly coffee morning. Pop along for a cup of coffee and a chat with others going through similar situations, to ask questions and form new connections.
Toppers - what to wear when you’ve got less hair
We offer a beautiful selection of comfortable head coverings for anyone experiencing hair loss following cancer treatment - available by donation. Designed and created in collaboration with York College and York Learning.
Coffee morning
Wellbeing choir
Toppers head coverings
Listen out for the sound of singing coming from The Leveson Centre every Tuesday. Our two wellbeing choirs meet every week, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, getting a quick cup of coffee before practice starts. There is absolutely no need for experience, so whether you’re an avid songbird or secret shower-singer, simply come along and join in the fun!
HOPE Course
The ‘HOPE Course’ (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively) is a 6 week course that helps people manage the day to day impact cancer has on their lives and rediscover their strengths after treatment ends.
Arts and crafts
Get creative in The Leveson Centre with our monthly arts and crafts workshop for cancer patients. So far, our classes have covered watercolour pet portraits, recreating Van Gogh’s flowers, buildings sketched in pen and wash, and so much more. No matter your artistic ability, we’d love to have you.
‘Look Good Feel Better’
We hold monthly ‘Look Good Feel Better’ sessions in The Leveson Centre for cancer patients looking to learn how to manage the physical side effects of cancer and find peer support. Take away a pack of quality makeup and skincare products and gather tips on changes to complexion and more from beauty professionals.
Arts and crafts
Get in touch
Feel Better
To find out more about any of our services or to get information from the team about what support is right for you, call us on 01904 202647, email us on support@thelevesoncentre.org.uk, or pop in at York Community Stadium.
Opening times:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9am-5pm
Thursday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm
www.thelevesoncentre.org.uk
LookGood
Get involved
York Against Cancer
The Leveson Centre is fully funded and managed by York Against Cancer. We rely on your support in order to run and expand our services across the charity in our mission to support as many people affected by cancer as possible.
Volunteer
Join our team of volunteers to help in The Leveson Centre, volunteer at our gift shops and more. Get in touch or visit our website to register your interest.
Donate
By donating to York Against Cancer, you can help to fund the support offered at The Leveson Centre and help us to expand our services. If you would like to donate as a one-off, become a regular giver, or offer a legacy gift, visit our website.
Fundraise
We appreciate every fundraising activity that’s held for York Against Cancer and The Leveson Centre. There are lots of exciting ways to fundraise for us, whether you want to take part in an organised event or create one of your own! Find out more by visiting our website.
Get your business involved
There are a number of options to choose from when it comes to getting your business involved with York Against Cancer and The Leveson Centre. Become a corporate partner, offer workplace volunteering, organise a fundraiser or choose us as your charity of the year. Find out more on our website.
Contact York Against Cancer
To learn more about getting involved, contact York Against Cancer on 01904 764466 or email office@ yorkagainstcancer.org.uk. You can also visit our website on www.yorkagainstcancer.org.uk.
The Leveson Centre is provided by
York Against Cancer is a local charity helping people in York, North and East Yorkshire affected by cancer. We provide a range of support services for cancer patients and their loved ones, including a free minibus that takes people from York to St. James’s Hospital in Leeds for radiotherapy appointments, free short breaks in our two luxury respite properties to help people recuperate from cancer treatment, an award-winning Mobile Chemotherapy Unit, free, tailored exercise classes for cancer patients and our cancer support centre, The Leveson Centre.
We also fund pioneering research at the Jack Birch Unit at the University of York, which has been internationally recognised for its groundbreaking research into bladder cancer. Since starting in 1987, the charity has raised over £20 million to support people in York and across the region. Our aims today are the same as they were when the charity was founded - to support as many people affected by cancer as possible.
www.yorkagainstcancer.org.uk
www.thelevesoncentre.org.uk
York Community Stadium, Kathryn Avenue, York, YO32 9AF Call us 01904 202647 Email us support@thelevesoncentre.org.uk
Connect with us
working in partnership with 01904 764466 office@yorkagainstcancer.org.uk
