About Us

We provide, completely free of charge, a wide range of therapies which help people to deal with the physical and emotional side effects of breast cancer. Our specialist nurses and experts in nutrition, exercise and emotional support provide tailor-made programmes for every person who comes through our doors.

Our outreach programme, 'Haven at Home DVD', has been specially developed for people who can't get to our Havens so they can benefit from our unique care in the comfort of their own home.

Our team is committed to improving the lives of people affected by breast cancer. Our staff of clinical experts, experienced fundraisers, communications experts and highly trained therapists work across our Havens in London, Hereford and Leeds and are supported by our administration and reception teams.

Our Trustees ensure that the charity runs efficiently to meet its challenging goals and our Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board provide invaluable guidance and advice. Our Founder, Sara Davenport, remains very involved with the charity.

There are two easy ways access our free Haven programme either by booking a individual appointment with one of our specialist nurses or senior therapists or by coming to one of our Haven Introduction Days. Either way,  there is no need for a referral of any kind - you can just ring us to make book in. We look forward to hearing from you.

The support and information on this website that The Haven provides has been certified by the Information Standard.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Haven:

What makes The Haven unique?

We are leading the way in the field of integrated breast cancer support by offering an in-depth and individually tailored programme of care to people affected by breast cancer through our network of day centres.  We're unique because:

• We provide specialist day centres for people affected by breast cancer and differ from other cancer support day centres in the UK by providing free in-depth programmes of one-to-one support. The breadth and depth of therapies offered as well as the groups and classes are unrivalled anywhere.
• We liaise with the medical profession caring for each person.
• We are a global leader in our field.  Cancer specialists from all over the world visit our Havens to learn about our approach to supporting people who are living with the effects of breast cancer and its treatments. 
• We scientifically research the impact of the therapeutic approaches we provide.

How do we work with the National Health Service providing medical care for breast cancer?

We work in partnership with the NHS by offering an integrated breast cancer service. We do this by liaising by letter with the GPs and hospital Medical and Surgical Consultants of every person who comes to us.

• Whilst people can come to us without a medical referral, we get many referrals from breast cancer consultants and specialist nurses who send their patients to us for specific help e.g. acupuncture for symptom management, counselling and mindfulness for psychological support and stress management.
• We keep in-depth records of our care for every person we treat. By sharing this information with other health care partners, we help to provide seamless care across the entire patient pathway from diagnosis, treatment and beyond.
• We also offer psychological support and information to the friends and family of people who are living with or who have died from breast cancer; a service not always available through the NHS. 

How do we support health care professionals looking after people affected by breast cancer?

• We offer personal and professional support to health care professionals via our website and also via Health Care Professional Away Days. 
• By providing written information, research and online materials, which include DVD and audiovisual material, to inform organisations about integrated breast cancer care.
• By reviewing and updating the evidence base for supportive and complementary therapies to provide a readily available source of information for health care professionals.

How do we participate in national initiatives to improve the lives of people with breast cancer?

• We are active participants in the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative whose aim is to help people live well with and beyond cancer. We have contributed to discussions to help shape future services and had our 'Haven at Home DVD' evaluated in Yorkshire as part of the initiative.
• We continue to work with the Department of Health's Health Improvement Leaders, Macmillan Cancer Support and cancer networks to make our services a formal part of the treatment pathway for breast cancer survivors in the UK. This is done by providing our services through Havens to people who can reach them and also by our outreach programme (taking services to people where possible) or via on our website or the Haven at Home outreach programme.

How do we contribute to the research agenda for breast cancer?

• With the support of our prestigious Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board and through our involvement with the National Cancer Research Institute, the NHS and universities, The Haven is committed to performing and publishing rigorous research to evaluate the benefit of the supportive and integrated therapies we provide for people who come to us.  
• We are committed to finding the most beneficial ways of providing in depth help to people living with breast cancer both nationally and internationally.
• Dr Caroline Hoffman, our Clinical Director and Research Co-ordinator, has sat on the National Cancer Research Institute’s Complementary Therapies Clinical Studies Development Group since its inception and she is now in her third term with Professor George Lewith, University of Southampton, a member of The Haven’s Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board.

What information do we provide for people who cannot reach a Haven?

• The Haven website offers information and support for people living with or affected by breast cancer as well as information about each of the therapeutic services we provide. 
• Much of The Haven’s programme is available on our website for people who cannot reach a Haven in the form of a DVD and audio CD programme called The Haven at Home. 
• This information, along with the lay summaries of our research available on The Haven website, is certified by the Department of Health’s Information Standard. This quality mark indicates the rigorous process we undergo to produce our high-quality information for people with breast cancer.

How do we support the health of the wider community and people with other cancers?

• Whilst we predominantly provide our services to people affected by breast cancer, we do also provide a health and wellbeing seminar programme which is available to people with other cancers as well as to the wider public. 
• This service is led by highly-qualified and experienced specialist nurses who have worked for many years in the NHS in the field of breast cancer, cancer care, palliative care, cancer rehabilitation and integrated cancer care.