OUR AFFILIATE GROUPS

Alongside our Yes to Life Wigwam Cancer Support Groups, we also support individuals and communities who wish to establish their own peer-led cancer support groups.

Affiliate Wigwam Groups are peer-led, non-professional support groups, created and run by people with lived experience of cancer. They share the core values and ethos of Yes to Life, offering mutual support, shared understanding and connection, rather than advice, treatment or therapy.

These Affiliate Wigwam Groups are independent and self-led. While they are not run or managed by Yes to Life, we offer connection, guidance and support to help foster safe, compassionate peer-support spaces. Groups operate autonomously and are facilitated by individuals within their local or online communities.

Current Affiliate Wigwam Groups

• Online, Cornwall
  Horizon Support Group
  2nd Monday of the month | 5.00–6.30pm
  Facilitators: Heather & Tony George
• Stroud, Gloucester
  4th Wednesday of the month
  Facilitator: Philip Booth
• Hamilton, Scotland
  Last Thursday of the month
  Facilitator: Carol-Anne Kennedy

How Affiliate Wigwam Groups work

Affiliate Wigwam Groups are guided by the following key principles:

• Groups are peer-led, non-professional, independent and self-led
• Yes to Life offers support, connection and shared learning, not oversight or day-to-day management
• Facilitators take responsibility for the running of their own groups

Use of the Yes to Life name and/or logo is conditional upon the group operating in alignment with:

• The Wigwam Group Agreement
• The values and ethos of Yes to Life

These clear boundaries are in place to protect participants, facilitators and the charity, while allowing groups the autonomy to develop in ways that best serve their communities.

Interested in setting up an Affiliate Wigwam Group?

If you are considering starting your own peer-led cancer support group and would like to explore becoming an Affiliate Wigwam Group, we welcome you to get in touch to find out more about our values, agreements and support pathways.

Becoming an Affiliate Wigwam Facilitator

Why become a Wigwam Facilitator?

As a Facilitator of an Affiliate Wigwam Cancer Support Group, you become part of the wider Wigwam community and the Yes to Life family, while leading a group that is independent and rooted in your local or online community.

Facilitating a Wigwam Group is not only about supporting others — it is also an investment in your own personal growth, connection and wellbeing. Many Facilitators value the opportunity to deepen their listening skills, develop confidence in holding group space, and grow through shared human experience.

As an Affiliate Facilitator, you will:

• Take part in an induction programme offering training and guidance including safeguarding awareness
• Receive ongoing support and guidance
• Be part of a peer-to-peer facilitator network

By becoming an Affiliate Wigwam Facilitator, you contribute to the mission of Yes to Life — increasing access to compassionate, peer-led support for people in the UK and beyond who are taking an integrative approach to cancer care. Our longer-term vision is a connected network of affiliated Wigwam Groups offering choice, community and support across the country.

What does the role involve?

Affiliate Wigwam Facilitators establish and run their own independent Wigwam Cancer Support Group, affiliated with Yes to Life. This is a key peer role focused on bringing people together, encouraging sharing, listening and mutual learning.

Every group is unique, shaped by the individuals within it. At their best, Wigwam Groups offer a lifeline — a sense of belonging, understanding and community for people living with or beyond cancer.

As this is an independent, self-led group, Affiliate Wigwam Facilitators are responsible for inviting and building their own group membership within their local or online community. Yes to Life does not recruit or populate Affiliate Groups, but where appropriate and upon request, we are happy to signpost interested individuals to Affiliate Groups that may be a good fit. We also offer guidance, connection and shared learning to support Facilitators in doing so in a values-aligned way.

To create real impact, we ask that Affiliate Facilitators are able to commit to running regular groups, providing consistency and continuity for participants.

This is a non-professional, peer-led role. Facilitators do not provide advice, treatment recommendations or therapy, and work within clear boundaries set out in the Wigwam Group Agreement.

What qualities are helpful?

We are mindful about who this role is suited to. Helpful qualities include:

• Lived experience of cancer and a personal commitment to your own health and wellbeing
• Experience of, and genuine alignment with, an integrative approach to cancer
• Being a good listener, with natural warmth and empathy
• Comfort working with groups and holding space for shared discussion
• Feeling able to talk openly about cancer, illness and loss
• Organisational skills and a clear understanding of the importance of boundaries

This role is best suited to people who are grounded in their own experience and feel ready to support others through presence rather than expertise.