Ahead of the Senedd elections in May 2026, Macmillan Wales is delighted to be hosting roundtable events to learn more about what people with lived experience of cancer in  Wales think Macmillan should include in our Wales Manifesto.

This is a great opportunity for you to help identify key actions that the next Welsh Government could take to improve cancer services in Wales, so we’d love you to join us at whichever of the two events is most convenient for you

NORTH WALES - Save the Date:  Macmillan Cancer Support – Manifesto Roundtables for People with Lived Experience of Cancer

Monday, 30th June 2025 – 2pm til 4pm (lunch will be served from 12.45pm)

Bangor - Bangor University, Dinorwig room, Bangor LL57 2DG

Refreshments will be provided

or

Tuesday, 1^st July 2025 - 2pm til 4pm (lunch will be served from 12.45pm)

Wrexham - Wrexham Ramada, Main Meeting Room, Ellice Way, Wrexham LL13 7YH

Refreshments will be provided

SOUTH  & W EST WALES Save the Date:  Macmillan Cancer Support – Manifesto Roundtables for People with Lived Experience of Cancer

Tuesday, 8th July, 2pm til 4pm (lunch will be served from 12.45pm)

Swansea - Swansea.com Stadium, Plasmarl, Swansea SA1 2FA

Refreshments will be provided

or

Wednesday, 9th July – 2pm til 4pm (lunch will be served from 12.45pm)

Cardiff - University of South Wales, Room 10, 86-88 Adam St, Cardiff CF24 2FN

Refreshments will be provided

For those unable to attend either of the above, a virtual meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams on 15 July between 10.30am and 12noon.

Please RSVP with your chosen event directly to Macmillan via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our sincere apologies but unavoidable circumstances have meant we are unable to go ahead with our event at The John Burns Centre for all groups on 8th July. Instead the date has been moved to Monday 15th September. Further information will be available soon, and our groups will be meeting on the 14th July (S Wales) and 11th (W Wales) as originally planned. 

Dates for 2025 meetings are as follows:

S E Wales; CARDIFF Group, meeting at The Snowdrop Centre. near the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Mondays from 2 - 4pm

14th July, NO MEETING IN AUGUST,  15th Sept at John Burns, 13^th Oct , 10^th Nov , 8^th Dec

WEST WALES; Fridays on-line from 11am - 1pm

11th July, NO MEETING IN AUGUST, 15th September at John Burns, 10th October, 7th November, 5th December

All Wales on-line drop in:

Wednesday September 3rd 7-8pm

Links to other charity’s will be on the Padlet which is coming soon. In the meantime please see below :

Cancer Aid Merthyr

Rowan Tree Cancer Care

Bill Cap - WaterSure Wales tariff | Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (dwrcymru.com)

Short Breaks | 4 Cancer | Days out for families affected by cancer

Last minute – Something To Look Forward (somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk)

https://www.4cancer.org/about-us

Cancer Charity | Jill's Fundraising Journey | England (jillsfundraisingjourney.co.uk)

Group meetings can be a bit like pic n' mix......our personalities whilst all lovely, are also flawed, purely because we're all human beings! We each have good parts and not so good parts, bringing them all together in a room or on a screen can create an eclectic mix, that can be may things, exciting, uplifting, energising, irritating or frustrating, depending on how we feel on a particular day. Our group meetings need to feel safe and protected and for that to happen it's important to establish some housekeeping boundaries, so we can all relate to each other in a respectful way. The following has been put together by group members over the years, and reflects their needs and experiences, it's a kind of group contract. This can be added to as you see fit, it's a moveable feast.  Also as practising  therapists, group facilitators have to abide by the BACP ethical code of conduct, and whilst that might sound a little off putting, it's there to help  keep you  safe and anchored. (bacp.co.uk)

Why the group is there:

• To provide a safe therapeutic space for those with metastatic breast cancer to discuss how their condition is affecting them
• To speak freely and respectfully about personal thoughts and feelings
• To share and receive information
• To offer and receive support from each other
• To connect with those who share a similar experience
• To feel less isolated
• To be seen, heard and understood
• To have a voice; to feel empowered.

Group agreement & group dynamics; our safety contract

• Confidentiality & privacy - especially with video meetings; what’s said in the group stays in the group
• Sharing – being mindful of what you share, taking responsibility for your observations and how they may be interpreted and having an enquiring mind about other opinions that may differ to yours.
• Being supportive of each other and each person’s unique experience
• Being respectful of each other’s thoughts & feelings
• Giving space to everyone who wishes to speak & offering each other the chance to be heard
• Being mindful that not everyone may wish to speak but prefer to listen
• Giving yourself and each other permission to share your vulnerabilities in the knowledge this should feel a safe place to do so
• Trying to be honest and open about how you feel in a respectful manner
• Trying not to be judgmental; every experience needs validating and may differ to yours
• Knowing that crying or releasing emotion is OK; that it’s OK not to be OK! Triggers can be unexpected

Our safety contract; our responsibility to you as facilitators & therapists

• To offer structure - A beginning, middle & end
• To create boundaries - Time, Content, Safety, holding emotion, managing the group content
• Containment: Ebb & flow, light and shade, balance
• Psychological education: Introducing you to the potential for change through conversation, exploration and information
• Self disclosure: When appropriate and only if it’s in your best interests
• Risk: To act on and/or determine whether any disclosures may indicate a possible risk of harm to oneself or others, and to offer appropriate support, both during the group meeting and if necessary afterwards. This may also include sharing information with a GP or health care professional

 I hope the above makes sense. Please email me if you have any questions

Medical Access Cards - 'Loo cards' are available via Macmillan for you to present in shops and restaurants should you need a comfort stop. Mags has ordered these to distribute; please contact her via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like one sent to you.

Travel Insurance has always been an issue with over inflated prices. Our members have kindly shared the following companies:

Information updates will be put on this link regularly, so please check before emailing  should you have any queries.

Zoom codes will still be sent seperately a couple of days before your meeting.

Emails for Carys concerning the S &W Wales groups to be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Emails for Mags concerning any support/information/queries about Macmillan to be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to seeing you soon!