BARNSLEY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST - MACMILLAN 'HOPE COURSE' FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER OR AFTER TREATMENT

What is HOPE?

HOPE is a licensed programme developed by Coventry University and Macmillan Cancer Support to help people who have had/or have cancer to get on with their lives. It is an interactive, group based, self management support course, which runs for 6 weeks , with each weekly session lasting 2.5 hours. It is for groups of between 6 and 12 and is free to attend.

The sessions are run by trained HOPE facilitators who are either health or social care professionals or trained volunteers who have had a cancer experience.

Who is it for?

Adults, aged 18 and over, who are coming to the end of treatment/surgery or have recently completed it. Anyone living with and beyond cancer.

How will the course benefit you?

The course concentrates on focusing and rediscovering your inner strengths and resilience to help you cope emotionally, psychologically and practically. Time is spent in facilitated discussions, group activities, information sharing and tools for you to try at home in between each session. The course deals with:

• Goal setting and action planning
• Looking for solutions to problems
• Stress management (e.g. mindfulness and relaxation)
• Fatigue management
• Identifying your strengths
• Becoming more positive, grateful and appreciating life more
• Healthy lifestyles (e.g. eating more healthily and physical activity)
• Prioritising the important things in life
• Fear of cancer recurrence
• Body image and sexuality and intimacy
• Communication skills

If attending a 6-week programme may be difficult for you to commit to, some areas also run a shortened HOPE programmes such as a Two-Day condensed HOPE course or Take Control which is a single 3 hour workshop that aims to support you with some essential skills and coping mechanisms to help you self-manage.

What do I do next?

For more information on HOPE courses in your area, please email:

ServiceOpsLearning@macmillan.org.uk