The Haven Breast Cancer Support Centre
in Fulham, London
a visit in 2013
I have had the most enriching and stimulating day today on the Health Professionals Away Dayat the Haven Breast Cancer Centre in Fulham. After all our hot sunny weather the day started with a down pour of rain.... but the centre is close to the Fulham Broadway District Line station....so not too much walking in the rain..! Worth a note for football fans, the centre is close to Chelsea FC stadium..... Once the street entered I could see that that centre was developed from an old chapel... the entrance tucked away from the street.... One thing that you will noticed from my report is that you are going to be surrounded by art and artistic design to help create the a most wonderful Haven Heaven of a place to come to......to find wisdom, care, support, guidance to practical support and guidance to find inner strength to empower those on the challenging journey cancer, its treatments and its side effects brings....
I am taking you through my experience has I gazed on the centre for the first time ever and was struck by its beauty and the thoughtful way it is designed.
This is the first step in view of the centre..... and here are views as I pan around to catch all the beauty of every corner and crevice of this wonderful space....
Look at the wonderful view back to the street of the front door with its wonderful design and the capture of rainbow colours through the stain glass pattern and form.....of that wonderful round window over the door...
Have you forgot the rainy grey day outside....? Well I sure did! - as indeed the visitors, that is those on the cancer journey will surely do as they step inside from the grey, dark overwhelming world of diagnosis and treatment with all its worries, anxieties and fears.....!
Yes it is like stepping into an Haven Heaven...
Here is a closer look at the design of the door and the wonderful window above..
There is a main sitting area surrounded by lots of features and corners to spend time reading, talking and most of all being listened to ....and finding the information you need...The ambiance is clearly designed with an intent to calm and soothe... You cannot help but let yourself go and be comforted, held and yet stimulated, energized by all around you ...
Look....! even this water feature is so full of colour to heal and balance those chakras that have been placed in disarray with the disease and treatment... Water and colour to ease away the "dis - ease " and move the visitor/patient into this temple of healing with the intention to regain balance and harmony... The chairs chosen for comfort, for letting go and relaxing...the colours harmonizing and peaceful...
This place is so full of visual stimulus to soothe ... and inspire.... look at this amazing wall art...
Peoples soul put in their art and form to share with others ... the artistry filled with a desire to help those in need that come to the centre for help ....and guidance .....and healing...!
Practical information sharing through an array of books to gain strength and support from... with lovely seating areas to sit quietly and absorb the knowledge and wisdom of others that have been touched by cancer .....or have sought to understand and empower others..
Internet access to help to reach out for more information to empower or share with others in the world that are on the turbulent journey of breast cancer... Finding all ways to smooth the journey and find the inner goddess of intuition that can lead to a deeper understanding of inner self..
Pleasing shapes and forms to catch the eye ......
Then as we climb the stairs to the workshop room you find little nooks and crannies filled with flowers. Then a look at the wall shows that the flowers painted on the walls bear names of those that have been helped or passed with the journey ... a beautiful memorial to their spirit that was comforted in this centre...
Then the workshop room...where we spent a morning listening to presenters of the centres work, finding out more about nutrition and herbal medicine. All before we shared a healthy prepared lunch by volunteers who cater for the visitor/patients.
The centre piece of the workshop room is that wonderful stain glass window.... and I was not the only one that felt that there was something magical about that design and colour.... others on the day felt they were being drawn into its pattern and form.... it felt healing and restorative....
When the sun shines through it casts its colours on the floor so enhancing any workshops that are held there.... yes, the vibrant colours are important they are bringing with them a vibration for healing, for balancing and exploring the rainbow colours of our aura and the energy centres of our chakras....
There had been a competition from art students to design the window and the Islamic centre won with this one..... there is something very magical and special about this for sure.,..
Take more in of this with me....
And here is a look at one of the therapy/consulting rooms
How wonderful is that ... and there are many for the visitors to use....
On this Health Professional Away Day ...the nurses, doctors and volunteers in attendance were given tastier therapies to feel and experience for themselves.... there were some pretty spaced out, relaxed people in the afternoon session....!!
Here are some of the group that were enjoying the day as much as me....
We have all had the most amazing day....and learnt so much.....
The day is strongly recommended by me for all GPs Hospital doctors, managers & nurses, to see what there is out there beyond the NHS over demanded stressed out service that can help patients become empowered and proactive in their quest for wellness... with this..... improve outcomes all round.....
Patients can self refer to the centre but are asked to write to their GP and Oncologist to inform them of their use of the centre...
They are given a plan of counselling, therapies and nutritional advice...
But the courses and workshops are open to patients and health professionals to share and learn together....
Check out on the Haven website more about the healthcare professional away day....
http://www.thehaven.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/away-days-health-professionals
This is what is promoted for you to find out more on how the centre can help your patients with breast cancer cope with their journey...
To quote:
Away days for health professionals
Come and see for yourself why so many people with breast cancer find The Haven so helpful. We run FREE away days for healthcare professionals at our Havens throughout the year. Our nurse specialists will explain:
- how The Haven can help people with breast cancer - for free
- some of the therapies that can help your patients cope with the physical and emotional side-effects of breast cancer treatment, such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, shiatsu, counselling, meditation and more.
- simple meditation and relaxation techniques - which you can apply in your own busy lives.
- healthy eating, from our nutritional therapists
You will also enjoy a delicious healthy lunch in our Haven cafe and receive a certificate of attendance which can count towards your ongoing personal development programme.
I will be sharing more about the day as I take a further look at my pack of information and my notes ...so look out for more posts....
The day is so full of information that will help not only you as the health care professional but for anyone touched by Breast Cancer...
There are a couple of DVD that I am eager to look at from the pack...
This one on Lymphoedema Awareness is bound to be of major help to our ladies in the Monday morning group at the Community Cancer Centre.....
It is so important that centres like this exist in the world....models of holistic care and compassion... and it is good for the centres to network too and cross refer..... Certainly there is a lot our patients at the Community Cancer Centre in Yiewsley can enjoy if they tap into the resources that the Haven have... the workshops and the courses that help all aspects of life... including helping to gain confidence to go back to work when able to....
http://www.thehaven.org.uk/media
Here is the media link for anyone wishing to learn more about the centre and its work.... and help promote the centre....
http://www.thehaven.org.uk/how-you-can-support-us
The link looks at ways to help the centre with fundraising and donations to keep the good work flowing...!
A Haven Heaven absolutely...!
