In August 2007 we assisted Comfort Mante, a service user from the Cancer Resource Centre (Now the Paul D'Auria Cancer Support Centre), to develop an African/Caribbean cancer support group in South West London. Comfort wanted to start the group because of her own experience of cancer, and the need for appropriate culturally sensitive support. She also lives in the borough of Wandsworth where 10% of the population are African Caribbean, and are increasingly affected by cancer.

Prior to our involvement, attempts at starting the group had been unsuccessful, but after advising Comfort and Centre staff, in December 2008, 9 African Caribbean cancer patients attended the group's first official meeting at the centre.

We continue to support Comfort and the group on a voluntary basis. There are now have over 20 members.

The African Caribbean Support group is open to patients and their carers, many of whom are keen to raise cancer awareness in their own communities. In response to group members requests, we organised a number of community cancer awareness raising events, that have been sponsored by the Centre with the aid of a Macmillan Cancer Support grant. Activities have included the following;