Useful organisations, support and activities - London/South East
Support groups
This is just a selection of support groups that might be relevant to you, find out more at your local hospital patient/cancer information centre.
Aplastic Anaemia Trust
Local patient support groups held at Macmillan Centre, Cicely Saunders Institute, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ
African and African Caribbean Cancer Support group
The Lake Foundation, Church House Business Centre
1 Church Road
Croydon
CR0 6RT
Abi Begho on 07440 146 645 (Anytime )
Bone marrow transplant support group
Kings College Hospital, 0203 299 5277
Haematology Support Group – Ealing
Ealing Haematology Day Unit, Level 8 South, Ealing Hospital, Uxbridge Road, Southall, London, UB1 3HW
If you would like further information or if you would like to attend, please contact Nerinder Kaur, Clinical Nurse Specialist on 0208 967 5562 or email
Leukaemia CARE - West London Haematology Support Group
Charing Cross Hospital , Fulham Palace Road , London , London, W6 8RF
For further information contact Leukaemia CARE on freephone 08088 010 444.
Lymphoma Association run support groups in North London, North, West Middlesex, South East London and South West London. Visit for full meeting details
MDS UK
King’s College Hospital, Cicely Saunders Institute, Bessemer Road, London, London, SE5 9PJ
Myeloma UK run support groups in Central London and South London London Support Group
Support and information centres
Again this is just a few to get you started, most hospitals have patient/cancer information centres who can let you know about local services. These type of centres usually offer psychological support, complementary therapies, benefits advice, information and support free of charge.
Dimbleby Cancer Care Drop-in Centres
Dimbleby Cancer Care Drop-in Centre – Guy’s Hospital
Ground Floor
Tabard Annexe (formerly New Guy’s House) within Clinical Oncology Outpatients
Guy’s Hospital
Great Maze Pond
London SE1 9RT
Tel: 020 7188 7188 / 5918
St Thomas’ Hospital
Lower Ground Floor
Lambeth Wing (just outside Clinical Oncology)
St Thomas’ Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Tel: 020 7188 5918
Paul’s Cancer Support Centre – London SW11
020 7924 3924
Cherry Lodge Cancer Care
Howard House
23 Union Street
Barnet
Herts
EN5 4HY
South East Cancer Help Centre (SECHC)
2 Purley Road
Surrey
CR8 2HA.
Nina Guha on 0208 668 0974 (Monday- Friday )
Sue’s House – Ilford Cancer and Holistic Centre
Gerald Reading on 0208 5970024
Get involved
After a transplant, many people find that once they’re up to it and on the road to recovery they want to try new activities. Here’s a flavour of things to get involved with:
Art Therapy
Art Therapy group meets at Greenwich community and arts centre
141 Greenwich high road, SE10 8JA.
Viviana Molina Rico on 07552735406 (Monday-Friday 8am-9.30pm)
Mary Ward Centre
Part-time/evening classes in art, music and other creative classes
42 Queen Square, WC1N 3AQ
10 Great Turnstile, WC1V 7JU
Walking for Health
Find local walk schemes in London and the South East
020 7339 8541
Outdoor gyms– these are now available in many London parks, look on your local council website
Greengym Improve your fitness and the environment at the same time. See if you could join or help set up a conservation group near you
Spogo: find sports and fitness activities near you:
Team London
Volunteering opportunities in London
Learn to meditate in half a day
Heruka Centre, 13 Woodstock Rd, Golders Green, NW11 (020 8455 7563 £20, including lunch.
Free/low price complementary therapy
Check your therapist’s qualifications and training and see if they’re registered with Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
London School of Reflexology Reflexology works by applying pressure to reflex points in the feet to remedy blockages in energy flow elsewhere in the body.Cost Between £20 and £30 an hour.London School of Reflexology, Suite 427, 13 Austin Friars, E2 (020 7670 1632/).
London School of Sports Massage
Though it doesn’t offer a regular low-cost service, exam days for trainees take place every six to eight weeks. Exam candidates will perform a massage free of charge on either the upper or lower body on volunteers. London School of Sports Massage, 28 Station Parade, NW2 (020 8452 8855/) Willesden Green tube.
The University of Westminster Polyclinic is a teaching and research clinic for complementary medicines and therapies.The teaching clinics provide low-cost access for the general public to treatments in:
Time to chill
When you’re recovering from transplant, it’s a good idea to avoid crowds and you may not feel up to going to busy places for a while, we’ve listed some morequiet places to go in London. These are taken from the book ‘Quiet London’ by Siobhan Wall.
The London Library
15 miles of bookshelves with open access to a million books – anyone can apply for membership.
14 St James Square, London, SW1Y 4LG
Kensington Roof Gardens
99 Kensington High Street, W8 5SA
Beautiful gardens on 30-metres above the hustle and bustle of Kensington High Street. Phone a few days before your visit as they can be booked out for special events.
Red Cross Garden
Redcross Way, SE1 9HR
(Wheelchair accessible)
This recently restored garden is a hidden gem that includes a mosaic build by local school children.
Gillespie Park Nature Reserve
Islington Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, N5 1pH
Just a few stops north of central London – has meadows full of summer flowers and a pond full of tadpoles.
Spa London, York Hall
5-15 Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PJ
19th century basement of York Hall’s Turkish Baths that has been transformed into a peaceful spa. It’s a not-for profit organisation and very affordable.
Lauderdale House
Highgate Hill, Waterlow Park, Highgate, N6 5HG
Set within beautiful gardens, a great place to go for a quiet afternoon tea and a stroll.
Stephen Lawrence Gallery
Queen Anne Court, University of Greenwich, Old Royal naval College Park Row, SE10 9LS
A small gallery close the Thames, showing a diverse range of art work, with tranquil lawns outside it’s one of the most beautifully situated galleries in London.
St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace
78 Bishopgate EC2N 4AG
This small 700-year old church has been transformed into a centre for peace, reconciliation and meditation. Plus visitors can enter a Middle Eastern Bedouin tent made of woven goat’s hair – a special place for anyone seeking quiet contemplation!