Why Cancer Counselling

Dorothy House Hospice Care have teamed up with cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) to offer ‘The Coffee Connection’, a new drop-in group for anyone affected or bereaved by a life-limiting illness. The group meets every Tuesday at the Cheese and Grain in Frome from 10am to 12pm and provides an opportunity for people to come together and share their experiences, supported by trained volunteers and staff members from both charities.

This group forms part of the activities of the East Mendip Alliance, a strategic partnership that brings together relevant voluntary and statutory organisations in the region. The Alliance was formed to facilitate effective partnership working to ensure that everyone in the region has access to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.

Melissa Hillier, Director at WHY, says: ‘We’re delighted to have launched ‘Coffee Connection’ in collaboration with our friends at Dorothy House – our longstanding relationship with the hospice makes this venture an ideal first step in our commitment to working together with all the members of the East Mendip Alliance to take a proactive and holistic approach to supporting those who need our help. We know it can be daunting to attend a new group by yourself, so please feel free to bring a friend or family member with you – you can find us by our table signs. Our volunteers will make you feel welcome and buy you a coffee. Many thanks to the Cheese and Grain for all their support with the group, we’re delighted with how well it’s going so far.”

Lynn Porch, Community Outreach Nurse at Dorothy House Hospice Care says “I’m thrilled that Dorothy House and WHY are working together to deliver The Coffee Connection in the Mendip area.  Our own coffee mornings have run successfully for a number of years and being able to deliver something similar within the Mendip area for local people feels like a positive move to ensure that people feel supported and are able to connect with others.”

The Coffee Connection meets every Tuesday at the Cheese and Grain, Market Yard, Frome, BA11 1BE from 10am to 12pm. It’s aimed at anyone affected by a life limiting illness or bereavement and provides an opportunity to meet with others in similar circumstances, to gain support and speak to representatives of Dorothy House and WHY, who can signpost people to local services as necessary.