5 Minutes with… The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre

18 March 2025 — jessica-bailey

We spoke with Caroline McGibney at The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre, in Tunbridge Wells, to learn more about this self-funded charity which offers a supportive space providing information, guidance and complementary therapies for people affected by cancer.

Tell us about your organisation, Caroline? 

 The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre is a volunteer run charity based from a house in Tunbridge Wells.  It started in 2004 and we have no paid staff. 

 What services do you offer people living with cancer? 

We support the emotional side of a cancer diagnosis.  We are a drop-in centre offering teas, coffees and biscuits and someone to chat to as well as complementary therapies: including, reflexology, reiki, acupuncture, massage as well as creative groups.  

Do you have a target demographic who use your services? 

We support cancer sufferers and their close family, friends and carers. 

 How are you funded? 

We are a charity but we are entirely self-funded.  We get our money through various fundraising activities (sponsored events, events we organise, music events) as well as via legacy donations and retiring collections at funerals and support from our local community, including businesses.  

Has anything changed for your organisation since the pandemic? 

Not really, we are back operating as normal as before the pandemic now except that we still temperature check all our visitors on arrival, particularly when there seems to be a lot of covid or other viruses around in the local community.  Otherwise, we have increased our social media presence as a means for communication with the wider public, but that is as much moving with the times as a pandemic driven thing. 

What is the most rewarding thing about the work you do? 

It is incredibly rewarding and humbling to be able to support people during some of the most vulnerable times in their life.  To see people gradually relax, lose some anxiety and find hope within their difficult treatment and ongoing tough news is a privilege.   

What would you say to those who are considering getting in touch with you but are nervous or apprehensive? 

That we understand!  It is a huge thing to walk into a centre that is marked “Cancer” when every cell of your being wants to have nothing to do with cancer.  But we get it; it is really normal be nervous and apprehensive.  Come along and you will be welcomed, however you are as you arrive.  We have plenty of tissues if needed!   

Do you have testimonials from people that have used your services? 

We are currently redoing our website but we have a film that will be on there with interviews from people who have used our services. 

Who works for you? 

We have no paid staff; all our team are volunteers – from the people who do the admin and make the drinks to the therapists that treat our visitors.  Most of our team have either had cancer themselves or supported someone with cancer which means that we can empathise with the emotional rollercoaster that is of a cancer diagnosis. 

What are the values of your organisation? 

The mission of the charity is to ensure that everyone impacted by cancer in our community has the love, care and support they need.  

And finally, can you describe your organisation in 3 words? 

Here and listening. 

To find out more about The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre please visit their website at www.pickeringcancercentre.org.uk. Please consult your cancer team or GP before making any lifestyle changes. Some therapies may not be suitable alongside certain cancer treatments. If you’d like to find other drop-in support centres or complementary therapies near you, please search on Cancer Care Map’s homepage using your postcode.