Orange Foundation Secures £19,800 National Lottery Funding to support people affected by cancer across Preston

The Orange Foundation has secured £19,800 from the National Lottery Community Fund to launch two new initiatives supporting people affected by cancer across Preston. The funding was awarded through the Awards for All England programme.

The funding will enable the charity to deliver a new project called Connected Conversations: Supporting People Affected by Cancer. It will provide free emotional wellbeing support to cancer patients, survivors, family members and carers across Preston while introducing them to additional support provided by the Orange Foundation.

Over the next 12 months, the project will deliver a series of monthly community support sessions and two professionally led Walk & Talk therapy programmes designed to reduce isolation, improve mental wellbeing and help people navigate the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis

The programme consists of two distinct but complementary initiatives:

Community Cancer Support Drop-In Sessions

Working with Preston-based charity CancerHelp, monthly facilitated coffee-morning drop-in sessions that provide a welcoming, supportive environment where people affected by cancer can share experiences, access professional guidance, and build meaningful peer support networks.

These will start in October and will run alternate months at CancerHelp’s Vine House in Preston and Croston House in Garstang. The first session will be on 27^th October at Croston House.

Walk & Talk Therapy Programmes

Delivered in partnership with Katie Biggs of Therapy Walks Counselling, the project will provide four six-week Walk & Talk therapy programmes, offering professionally facilitated counselling and therapeutic conversations outdoors. By combining the benefits of physical activity, nature and emotional support, the sessions will help participants build resilience, improve confidence and connect with others facing similar challenges.

These will start on 2nd March 2027.

The project has been developed in response to the growing recognition that the impact of cancer extends far beyond physical treatment. Patients, survivors, carers and family members often experience anxiety, loneliness and emotional challenges following a cancer diagnosis. Connected Conversations aims to ensure support is available in local communities and accessible to those who may not want traditional counselling.

Michael Gregory, Founder of the Orange Foundation, said: “Connected Conversations is about ensuring nobody has to face the emotional impact of cancer alone. By bringing people together in supportive community settings, we hope to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and help people build lasting connections during what can be an incredibly difficult period in their lives.

“This National Lottery funding will allow us to provide professional therapeutic support and create safe spaces where people can connect with others who truly understand what they’re going through. We are incredibly grateful to National Lottery players for making these services possible.”

The project is expected to support over 40 people across Preston during its first year while strengthening collaboration between local charities, counselling professionals and community organisations.

For more information regarding the sessions, please visit cancerhelppreston.website or therapy-walks.co.uk