Getting ready for Moving Forward in-person

Our Moving Forward information hub is packed full of resources to support you as you get ready for your course. You can view recordings of past Speakers Live webinar sessions and access guides. And everything is organised by topic to make it easy to find. Visit the information hub to get started. 

Do I need to bring anything?  

No, just get as much out of the course as you can and participate as much or as little as you like. When you arrive, you will be given your Moving Forward journal to make notes in and look through on the day. 

What can I expect? 

Moving Forward is a 2 week course: 

Week 1: We start by looking back – to help you move forward. It’s a chance for you and the rest of the group to share your concerns and talk about the impact of diagnosis and treatment. 

Week 2: We look at the five ways to wellbeing and consider what you need to move forward. You’ll join a question-and-answer session with a healthcare professional and get support from your Moving Forward journal. 

In this short video, you’ll meet Hedwig, one of the course facilitators. She’ll talk you through what to expect from your Moving Forward course, the subjects you’ll cover, and the benefits you could get from coming along. 

How many people will be at the event? 

We keep our groups small. There's usually no more than 15 people at each course. 

Are the events confidential? 

Yes. The facilitator will help create a safe environment for everyone to be as open as they want to be and we ask all group members to keep the discussions confidential. 

Can I bring someone? 

Our courses are designed as a confidential space exclusively for people who have experienced primary breast cancer. Therefore, we kindly ask that you attend alone.

We offer free, confidential support for anyone close to you through our Helpline and Someone Like Me service.

Is the venue accessible? 

Our groups are in venues with easy road links and bus routes.  

All venues are accessible with: 

• Accessible toilets
• Car parking on-site or close by with disabled spaces
• Located on the ground floor or the first floor via a lift 

If you need more support from us to take part in our services, we’ll do our best to make reasonable adjustments. If you need further assistance, contact us at movingforward@breastcancernow.org or on 03450771893. 

Is there help accessing the service?  

Our services are always free, thanks to our generous supporters. But we know that using one of our services might still cost you money, like travel costs. We’re committed to supporting everyone affected by breast cancer to live well. So, if you need help covering the costs of using our services, we’re here. Please contact accessfund@breastcancernow.org and ask about our access fund. 

What do other people say about Moving Forward?  

Helen, who took part in Moving Forward after treatment for primary breast cancer, shared her experience: 

It’s totally normal if you’re feeling a bit worried about going to the sessions. Just know that you’ll be in a safe environment, and that everything will stay between the people in the group.  

Before Moving Forward, I was struggling. I couldn’t leave the house if it wasn’t for a medical appointment, not even to put the bins out. The truth is, I was panicking – I didn’t know how to move on. Moving Forward started my mental healing process.  

With the support of Moving Forward and my psychologist, I went out into my garden. I forgot about my fears and focused on pruning my trees – it felt so good. These days, I’ve joined a sports scheme and a water Zumba class. I still have bad days, but I can celebrate the little wins.  

I don’t think I could have got to this point without Moving Forward.  

I met people who’d been in the same place. We laughed and cried together, preparing for our new lives. And we got to chat to a breast care nurse about what was on our minds. It was a great support system when I really needed one. I hope you get as much out of Moving Forward as I did. 

And what do our facilitators say?

Lorraine explains how your facilitator will support you:

"I’ve had my own experience of breast cancer. I know what it’s like to struggle with readjusting to ‘normal’ life after treatment.

"It’s our job to help participants like you to get the most out of Moving Forward. In a practical sense, we’re the friendly face who greets you when you arrive. We introduce the course and guide the group through different topics, with support from volunteers who've had breast cancer.

"We’ll also look out for you during the course and do everything we can to help you feel comfortable and safe. And if you need more support, we’ll point you towards some good options.

"And while everyone’s breast cancer experience is unique, lots of us have similar worries. It can be such a relief to talk with other people who’ve had a diagnosis.

"Moving Forward is a space where it’s safe to share your thoughts and feelings with others who understand. I love how much the participants support each other.

"It’s always rewarding to see people change during the course.

"People often arrive at Moving Forward feeling tired and worrying that Moving Forward might not be for them. But by the end they have a new level of energy. They seem much more resilient, often with a new network of friends. They’re determined to use their new tools and knowledge to live well beyond their breast cancer treatment.

Will my employer give me time off to attend?

If you're working, your employer should allow you time to attend. Please contact us if you're experiencing any difficulties, and we can provide you with a letter to give to them

Are there refreshments?

We provide tea, coffee, water and biscuits. If you have any dietary requirements, let us know when you register so we can make sure we cater for them.

Will a healthcare professional be there?

We don’t typically invite healthcare professionals to the groups. The sessions are an opportunity for you to speak openly with people who are in a similar situation.

We may invite them to one of our quarterly expert speaker sessions or ask if they'd like to observe a session so they can promote the service. We’d let you know before through your monthly invitation email.

Occasionally, a member of our services delivery team might also attend a session to see how the group is getting on and to gather any feedback.

I have another question, can you help?

If you have more questions for example, about parking or need venue specific information, please reach out to our Moving Forward team at movingforward@breastcancernow.org or call us on 0345 077 1893.

You can also head to the Moving Forward information hub to find more resources before, during and after the course.