How it all started……

Back in the 1970s a group ladies got together to fund raise in order to provide support and social activities for local people who had cancer. There was nowhere to turn. At this point the Charity was called Dereham Cancer Aftercare and met in the Coachmakers Public House and was supported by the national society, then based in Birmingham.  An advisor came from Birmingham to tell them about the group and so began a mutual sharing of information and support. The group helped local people in the Dereham area and surrounding villages with financial and practical support.

Dereham Cancer Aftercare morphed into a new support group and was then supported by the Dereham Phoenix Hotel where the meetings took place in the function room and, being supported by the Cancer Care Society, took on premises in Quebec Street in Dereham.

The Cancer Care Society was a national society based in Romsey.When the Cancer Care Society became an incorporated organisation, Dereham Cancer Care was formed by the original friends with Jean Wright as Chairman and the premises were moved to Baldings Yard, where it was supported by the late Brian Cross who gave the premises rent free for several years. Dereham Cancer Care was still receiving the backing of the Cancer Care Society at that time.

Then in 2014, Jean Wright, long standing chairman of Dereham Cancer Care, was asked by many of the original members to form a new charity to provide the care where the members needed it, out in the community. And thus Caring Friends for Cancer was born.

Caring Friends make all their caring functions in the clients’ homes and beyond. We are back in the old Phoenix, now The Romany Rye, where the seeds of both charities were sown, meeting each Friday between 10.00am and 1.00pm, where friends get together for a supporting chat and a coffee and to find out about how all our volunteers can help them.

We run excursions to places like Thursford, Cromer Pier Show, Bury St Edmunds, to name but a few. We hold lunches and organise afternoon teas as well as our monthly coffee mornings.

But behind the scenes we provide care and assistance to those less able to manage for themselves. We can get you to hospital for appointments, collect prescriptions, assist with vital equipment. We are a listening ear for the all-important consultant’s appointments. We can help cook a meal if you are alone and unable to.  We also have fully-qualified therapists who provide holistic treatments to aid with coping with cancer. We also help find the answers to the all-important financial questions

We have provided respite breaks for those who would benefit from some time away from the rigours of managing house, treatments, and the general grind of day to day living with late stage cancer.

Sometimes this is the only time that close family members get a chance to talk among themselves so we send very sick people to the Leonard Cheshire Home in Sandringham, where they are nursed by professionals for a few days’ escape.

Support comes in different forms, talking and discussion among clients and carers about their individual situations. Sometimes cancer becomes the “elephant in the room” and the client finds a need to talk to others outside the family or maybe just getting on with life with a network of social activities.

As treatments improve and gather apace, one still needs support and understanding, but also the fellowship of like minded friends. All our volunteers are Police checked so you can rest assured that the people who help you are trustworthy.  If there’s a question you want to ask us, we will try to find the answer.