Support Services Affiliation Programme

We provide training to volunteers, managers and board members of cancer support services that are affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society. In this section, you can find out more information on setting up a group, affiliating with the Irish Cancer Society and more guidelines for support groups and services.

Find out more about the affiliation process:

• See our Guidelines for Cancer Support Services in Ireland
• Application form - At this time we are not accepting new applications for affiliates.
• Affiliation pack for applicants

Where can I find information about local cancer support centres?

The fourth edition of our Affiliates Directory is now available in PDF booklet format and in our online directory of cancer support groups, services and centres affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society.

The purpose of this directory is to provide information on the availability of cancer support services in Ireland and to promote their use. For ease of use the directory has been divided into six sections:

• Cancer support services provided in Connaught
• Cancer support services provided in Leinster
• Cancer support services provided in Munster
• Cancer support services provided in Ulster
• Cancer support services for Children
• Cancer support services provided by non-affiliated groups

See the online directory for information on support groups, services and centres affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society.

Training and support for affiliated groups

Our Core Skills Training Programme runs on a regional basis annually. 

The overall goal of this training is to ensure that front line workers, whether paid or unpaid, are fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in their performance. This in turn, helps us to achieve our goal of making sure that people affected by cancer in Ireland have access to the highest quality of support available to them, no matter where they live.

Level 2 Core Skills – Dealing with Bad News is a one day workshop that was designed in response to examples of the challenges raised by Cancer Support Services in dealing with bad news.  It is aimed at people who have completed the Core Skills programme and have significant experience of working in a cancer support centre.  It is experiential and reflective and aims to help people understand the importance of empathy, boundaries, appropriate responses and self-care.

Our Cancer Survivorship programmes

Affiliated cancer support groups offer recognised programmes developed and supported by the Irish Cancer Society.

Strides for Life

The Irish Cancer Society’s Strides for Life based on the “Murphy Cardiovascular (METs) Programme” is a 15 week walking programme for cancer survivors. Strides for Life aims to empower cancer survivors to get active and to help improve their overall health and well-being and also can help reduce the risk of recurrence for certain cancer types.

Strides for Life brings a participant through a structured walking programme gradually increasing fitness and training over its course.

The programme aims to bring the individual to a level of fitness where they can help reduce their risk of a recurrence and improve their health and quality of life. It is individualised for each participant’s fitness level and their own personal schedule gradually increasing the workload every week over the 15 weeks.

Prostate Cancer Psychosocial Education Programme

The six session programme aims to enhance the physical and psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life for prostate cancer survivors by identifying and responding to supportive care needs, developing healthy coping strategies and managing lifestyle changes.

The programme provides opportunities for participants to share their experiences and concerns, increase their understanding of the prostate cancer experience and its consequences, explore their attitudes towards prostate cancer and develop their skills in coping with and surviving prostate cancer.

The programme is facilitator-led using an adult learning approach building on the knowledge skills and experiences of the participants, negotiating a group contract around programme topics, group discussion and inputs.  It is only open to men who have had a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Living Life

The Living Life programme is an information and peer-support programme for people who have recently been diagnosed with secondary cancer. The programme offers information, support and the opportunity to meet with other people who are living in a similar situation.

It is an eight session closed group run over 16 weeks for people who have been diagnosed with secondary cancer within twelve months of the first session.

Counselling

Many patients or their families seek support for adjusting to life with cancer, stress reduction, relationship issues, decision making, end-of-life, survivorship and/or grief work. Depending on the circumstances, this can take the form of one to one, couples, or family counselling. 

Find out more

Social media and affiliated partners

The Society is delighted to help with the promotion of events and activities of groups, services and centres currently affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society. We have developed a policy that covers promotion of activities on the Irish Cancer Society's own Facebook page and social media channels.

Read the social media policy here. Learn how to set up your own Facebook page here.

Setting up a support group

Are you living in an area that doesn't have a cancer support service? We can help you by providing information and advice about how to start and maintain a cancer support service.

Find out more in our Guidelines for Cancer Support Services in Ireland.

We also give training to volunteers, managers and board members of cancer support services that are affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society. You can apply to become an affiliated service using the form found here.