positive wellbeing programmes
These will be delivered face to face in Cancer Lifeline. Please contact us if you would prefer to join in online.
fatigue management programme
Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness and lack of energy that everyone will experience at some time during and / or after a cancer diagnosis and its treatments.
The effects of Fatigue will be different for everyone but can cause great difficulty with doing everyday activities that are important to us. Fatigue can make you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and depressed. Fatigue is also now known to be one of the long-term side effects of Covid-19, which is affecting so many of us now too.
In this session you will hear from other people who are maybe experiencing the same feelings and symptoms as you. It will help you to understand the causes of fatigue and will provide some useful advice, tips, and techniques to help you to start to overcome fatigue. Begin to make positive changes to your energy levels, mood, wellbeing, and quality of life.
Date: Tues 11th June & Tues 17th Sept 2024
Time: 2.00 – 3.30pm
Facilitator: Dot Thompson (Occupational Therapist BHSCT)
Vital Nutrition for living well
Are you confused about nutrition? Do you want to make some changes to your diet, but don’t know where to start? If you are looking for simple and straightforward ways to make positive changes to your diet, then our nutritionist Jane McClenaghan is here to help you make sense of healthy eating. Jane will help you to set realistic and achievable goals and guide you on the best foods to add to your shopping basket.
Dates: Thurs Thursday 23rd May 24, Thursday 12th Sept 2024
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Tutor: Jane McClenaghan (Nutritional Therapist)
take Ten sessions
Take Ten…. Is a new Smartphone based app, which teaches you how to manage your emotions, sleep better and reduce stress and anxiety. During this interactive session you will learn and see at first-hand how your body responds to negative thoughts and emotions, but most importantly you will go away with some new tips and tools about how to create a calmer state of wellbeing. (Please bring your own Smartphone. Make sure they are fully charged for the session).
Date: Wed 29th May 2024
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Facilitator: Fintan Connolly
get active - walking group
Walking helps if you experience poor sleep, feel anxious or have a lot on your mind. It also helps you to unwind, relax and be mindful of your surrounding environment. More importantly it helps you to meet up connect with other people.
Our Walking Group walks locally in North Belfast. Once a month we plan to organise one off trips to places of interest such as public parks across the city and others as suggested by group participants. You must attend for three weeks in a row to take part in the outings.
The Walking Group is led by our experienced walking leaders Linda & Liz who have both completed their Walking Leaders Course via Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (BHSCT). Group is designed for people of all walking abilities. (Please note change of day to Wednesday).
Date: Every Wednesday during April – June 2024 (except during holiday closures)
Time: 2.00 – 3.30pm
FEEL GOOD WORKSHOPS
Cancer treatments and side effects can impact on the way you look and feel. This programme offers one-to-one makeup, skin, nail and hair care appointments, taster complementary therapies and stress management.
Sessions for Males and Females are organised separately, to help enhance appearance and self-image during a difficult and challenging time. Please note if you are having your hair trimmed (it is not a full re-style, as time is very limited), please dampen your hair before you leave home. If you plan to have a make-up treatment, come with no make-up applied. Make-up artists provide the make-up. However, if you prefer to bring your own make-up feel free to do so.
Dates: Wed 15th May, Wed 12th June, Wed 18th Sept 2024
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm
yoga & meditation
Yoga helps to keep our bodies, mind and spirit in good health. It supports the body to get back its strength and flexibility after illness. Yoga promotes inner peace and assists the body, mind and emotions in recovery.
These gentle yoga classes will seek to bring more flexibility and strength into our bodies. You will be taught simple techniques of total body relaxation, meditation and breathing. By the end of the six weeks you will feel noticeably different for taking the time out to look after your own wellbeing and recovery.
Dates: Thursday 11th, 18th, 25th April 2024, Thursday 2nd, 9th, 16th May 2024
Priority will be given to members who have NOT participated in the yoga sessions before.
Caring Connections – Supporting Carers
The below programmes are specifically for family members and carers of cancer patients. People who care for others, very often neglect their own needs. This can result in “burn-out” or personal sickness. When we learn to look after ourselves first by identifying our own needs, we can become more effective looking after those we care for.
Note: Bach Flower Remedies, Gentle Movement and Mindfulness will be facilitated by Mary Connolly (Lead Complementary Therapist).
an introduction to colour therapy
This workshop will reveal how colour is so important in our lives and colour affects our mood and overall wellbeing.
We will have a brief overview of the Cosmic Rays and how these colours each have a different vibration & frequency for example; when you see a host of “Golden Daffodils” do you feel depressed or uplifted, ‘beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze’. Come along and explore a bit more…
Light lunch provided.
Date: Wed 17th April 2024
Time: 1pm – 2.30pm
Facilitator: Mary Connolly
crystals - what are they?
This workshop will briefly introduce you to the importance of crystals in our earth and how we can use them to lift the energy in our homes.
Learn how crystals have been used since ancient times for protection and healing. This will be a fun session exploring more about crystals.
Light lunch provided.
Date: Wed 22nd May 2024
Time: 1pm – 2.30pm
Facilitator: Mary Connolly
deep relaxation to calm the mind
We will look at ways to calm our busy mind.
Prepare to lie down in this workshop & travel through the body to reach a state of quiet & safety. ‘In this moment, we lack nothing. All our needs are met’. “Deepak Chopra”.
Light lunch is provided.
Date: Wed 5th June 2024
Time: 1pm – 2.30pm
Facilitator: Mary Connolly
the tapping technique
This is a brief introduction to the ‘Tapping Technique’ to help us take control of our consciousness & emotions, thus helping us to heal on many levels. This is a very successful, non-invasive self-help technique for dealing with anxiety, stress and fear.
Light lunch is provided.
Date: Wed 11th September 2024
Time: 1pm – 2.30pm
Facilitator: Mary Connolly