Guest Blog: Supporting The Cancer Journey Through Emotional and Wellbeing Support

Written by: Abbi Olla, Digital Communications Officer at Aurora Wellbeing Services

Over the last year, we have worked with, the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance to support its Cancer Innovations Awards, an initiative aimed at promoting innovation in cancer care. Aurora Wellbeing Services was selected as a finalist in the most recent round. Twelve months on from the project’s start, we are looking at their progress and achievements.

Aurora Wellbeing Services support people affected by cancer and long-term conditions, as well as their families and carers. With centres in Doncaster, Mexborough, and Worksop, we offer counselling, beauty holistic therapies, wellbeing workshops, and practical advice to help people feel supported through an extremely difficult time. We successfully deliver key services such as free cancer support, a 3-tiered emotional wellbeing approach, and client-led wellbeing workshops that help reduce health inequalities and support emotional resilience.

Through the award scheme grant funding, we launched the Aurora Online Support Hub — a free, accessible resource on our website. Created by our counsellor Claire Mitchell Wall, the hub offers reliable information, practical tools, and emotional support that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

The hub was developed in response to low uptake of in-person and live online wellbeing sessions. We realised that many of our clients were struggling to attend due to fatigue, fluctuating health, or treatment schedules. It became clear we needed a more flexible solution — one that fits around people’s lives without compromising on the quality of support.

The Online Support Hub includes carefully curated content across five key areas:

• Sleep
• Managing Stress
• Relaxation
• Mindfulness
• Fatigue

Inside, you’ll find guided breathing exercises, sleep stories, meditation recordings, and even calming colouring pages created by our Heritage team. Everything is designed to be simple, gentle, and easy to use, especially for those navigating the challenges of cancer treatment.

Since launching in March 2025, the Hub has received over 450 page views and continues to grow in reach. Claire regularly shares it during counselling sessions, and it’s included in our Holistic Needs Assessment support packs. A patient fed back – “It would be really helpful to have access to the Online Support Hub during longer hospital stays for treatment — it’s the kind of resource that should be shared with patients as soon as they arrive,” , showcasing the need for innovation digital tool like the Support Hub.

Each resource links back to our in-person services, encouraging people to explore counselling, therapies, and wellbeing sessions at their nearest Aurora centre.

What’s next?

We’re planning to expand the hub with new content on nutrition and physical activity, making it an even more useful tool for those looking to support their wellbeing from home.

Explore the Aurora Online Support Hub

Contact us. We’re here to make sure no one faces cancer alone.