A new support group for men affected by cancer is making a real difference in the local community by offering friendship, conversation and practical support in an informal and welcoming environment.
The group, which takes place every Monday from 2pm–4pm at Hartlepool Rugby Club, was an idea conceived by Dr Nathanael Manley and Alice House Hospice after recognising that many men were not accessing the emotional support available to them.
Speaking about how the idea first developed, Dr Manley explained that the inspiration came following conversations around mental health support for cancer patients and their families.
“Cancer is traumatising, not only for the person diagnosed, but also for carers, loved ones and everyone affected around them.” he said.
“One thing we recognised is that men are generally less likely to seek support. Most of the mental health support services we currently have are accessed by women, which is great because they are getting the help they need. However, we noticed there was a large group of men who weren’t accessing support at all.”
The group was originally planned as a hospice-based programme, but a generous offer from Hartlepool Rugby Club helped shape it into something more informal and accessible.
“Coming to a hospice can be difficult when you have cancer; even the thought of entering a hospice can feel overwhelming,” Dr Manley explained. “So having a more relaxed and familiar environment away from the Hospice felt like a fantastic option.”
Designed to feel welcoming rather than clinical or structured, the sessions combine conversation with light social activities including quizzes, pool, darts and board games.
“The idea is to keep things relaxed and easy-going, giving people a distraction while naturally encouraging conversation.”
“Anything too formal can feel intimidating.”
Each session begins with an opportunity for members to catch up and talk openly about how they are doing, including treatment updates and emotional wellbeing, before moving into social activities.
Dr Manley says the group has grown organically and continues to evolve based on what works best for the men attending.
“Honestly, we’ve kind of made it up as we’ve gone along,” he said. “What we found worked really well was keeping things informal and social.”
The group is open to any man affected by cancer, whether personally diagnosed or supporting someone close to them.
Alice House Hospice is encouraging more people to come along and give it a try.
“I’m really happy with how it’s going so far. What we’d really like now is for more people to come along. It’s all about finding the right people who would benefit from it.”
People can get involved by contacting Alice House Hospice or simply attending on the day.
“If someone just wants to turn up on the day, that’s absolutely fine and they’re more than welcome.” Dr Manley added.
Men’s Group Details
Where: Alice House Hospice at Hartlepool Rugby Club
When: Every Monday, 2pm–4pm
Who is it for? Any man affected by cancer, including patients, carers, family members and loved ones.
For more information or to get involved, please contact Alice House Hospice on 01429 855555 or enquiries@alicehousehospice.co.uk
