Over 18’s Digital Peer Support Programme 2022
If you’re aged 18-27 (or will be by 28 November 2022), this is a chance for you to meet other young people who have cancer. We have eight different online sessions for you to choose from across three weeks – and they’re all absolutely free.
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You are viewing: Sessesion, dates and times
Apply by 11:59pm, 7 November Session dates and times
Although our programme will involve some fun activities like online gaming, arts and crafts and cooking, our overall aim is to give you the chance to meet with and get to know other young people who know what cancer and treatment is like.
Here is the programme! All extra resources needed for the activities will be provided by us free of charge.
Choose however many of the following sessions you would like to join:
- Monday 28 November, 7-9pm: Getting to know you…(we would recommend joining this in addition to any other sessions you pick)
- Wednesday 30 November, 7-9pm: Tie Dye Arts and Crafts
- Friday 2 December, 7-8.30pm: Relaxation/Mindfulness with guest facilitator
- Monday 5 December, 7-9pm: The Great Digital Bake-off
- Wednesday 7 December, 7-8.30pm: Using your strengths to power your future (careers workshop) with guest facilitator
- Friday 9 December, 7-9pm: Among Us Gaming session
- Monday 12 December, 7-9pm: Gingerbread House Making
- Monday 19 December, 7-8.30pm: Open drop-in session – we will shape this one around suggestions from you throughout the programme, so keep an eye out for more info!
Apply by 11:59pm on Monday 7 November
Join the support programme
Apply nowWho can sign up?
If you want to join our Over 18’s Digital Peer Support Programme, you must:
- have been diagnosed with cancer (or still on active treatment) on or after your 13th birthday
- be aged between 18 and 27 by 28 November 2022
- be on active treatment currently
OR
- be no more than 2 years post-treatment (due to the pandemic we will consider extending this, however if you are 3 or more years post-treatment we won’t accept your application)
Some young people may be undergoing therapies for non-cancerous conditions, such as aplastic anaemia and fibromatosis, which bear similarities with cancer treatment.
These applications will be considered on an individual basis provided they meet the wider criteria.
If you know another young person who meets this eligibility criteria, why not let them know about the event too?
If you’re under 18
We ran our 2022 under 18’s digital programme as part of our Find Your Sense Of Tumour (FYSOT) event over the summer. However please keep an eye out for more under 18’s online opportunities in 2023!
And if you’d like more information about the programme, please read our Frequently Asked Questions.
Honestly, I’m a bit fed up of digital, why should I join this?
You may think online events just aren’t your thing - or feel burnt out by constant screen-time during the pandemic - we can relate! Our approach is shaped by young people and has three key elements:
- Our group sizes are manageable and small, which will enable staff and other young people to get to know each other.
- Our activities are varied and don’t require any pre-existing skills or experience.
- Our sessions are inclusive of all young people.
Apply today
What next?
After we’ve received your registration/consent form we will check you meet the criteria with the key hospital contact you have listed in the form. We’ll then be back in touch to let you know if your place has been confirmed.
If you want to know more about signing up please email us at: [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
If you’ll be aged 18-27 by 28 November, you can apply now! Fill in the registration and consent form by 11:59pm on Monday 7 November.
Any device with a camera and microphone that can access the Microsoft Teams app, and a working WiFi connection. All sessions will be run through MS Teams and any additional resources will be provided by us free of charge. Further information about how the sessions will be run is included in the Over 18s Digital Peer Support Terms and Conditions attached to the registration/consent form.
In line with our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2022-24, we want to make sure that the programme is as inclusive and accessible as possible. We welcome, value and respect everyone no matter what your identity or background, and we want you to be able to be yourself throughout all our sessions. If there is anything we can do to make this programme and the application process more inclusive for you, please email [email protected] and let us know.
Regardless of the overall total for each session, you will be put into in a breakout room with no more than 10 young people. Each breakout room will be individually staffed by experienced workers who will create a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
We are keen to open this event out to all young people who meet the criteria above, including those who have been recently diagnosed. We understand that during treatment it is hard to predict how you may feel on any given day. Do not worry about having to cancel at any point - if we’ve sent you some resources, just keep them for when you are feeling better and we will hopefully see you at any other sessions you have signed up to!
No, not at all. We are keen for you to be able to pick and choose the sessions you want to come to. Although it’s not a requirement, we would encourage young people who are interested in the programme to consider the ‘Getting to know you’ session in addition to any others you choose. If you can’t make this don’t worry, as we’ll continue to provide introductions and ‘getting to know you’ elements at all subsequent sessions to ensure all young people feel welcome and at ease from the off.
Some of the sessions will involve ingredients being sent out. Our registration form therefore contains both allergy and dietary requirement questions, so please answer this in as much detail as you can, and we will ensure we adhere to these requests.
No, the whole programme is entirely free of charge and you will be sent all resources in advance of the start date.
Virtually all young people who sign up will not know each other prior to the programme starting - so while you may feel nervous about joining, lots of other young people will feel the same way. We will aim to put everyone at their ease, so that everyone can relax and get to know each other quickly.
We need to be certain that young people are who they say they are. This is to ensure the safety of the group as well as making sure all young people fit the criteria above. The verification will be a simple process – more information on this is contained in the registration form.
Places are limited, however we will try our best to ensure all young people who meet the criteria are given a place.
If we are significantly oversubscribed, we will prioritise young people who are still on active treatment and those within a year of a bone marrow/stem cell transplant (as they aren’t eligible to attend our in-person events such as FYSOT) and those from areas in which we don’t have Teenage Cancer Trust funded staff such as nurses and Youth Support Coordinators. We will be back with more of these events in 2023 too!