Free writing workshops for sharing cancer stories

A free creative writing workshop is taking place later at Brighton Friends' Meeting House for people who have experience of cancer.

Words from the Waiting Room offers cancer patients, survivors, and supporters a safe environment to express themselves through creative writing.

The project's co-leader, former mental health nurse Deborah Humphrey, said she knew "how writing can help unpick some of our feelings".

A second session will take place at Hastings Town Hall on 1 April.

The workshops involve guided writing prompts designed to help participants express their personal experiences.

Oncology waiting rooms are often associated with stress and uncertainty, but Words from the Waiting Room said it aimed to link them to artistic expression instead, helping people who find it difficult to share their feelings in clinical settings.

Karina Patfield, a recent graduate of the University of Brighton's creative writing MA who co-leads the project with Ms Humphrey, said the pair's "passion" was in helping people without prior writing experience.

They both "believe in the huge value that creative writing has on wellbeing", she said.

Ms Humphrey, who is currently on the post-graduate course, added: "Putting our experience of waiting rooms and writing together seemed a great opportunity to give people a space to explore their own feelings about the oncology waiting room."

The pair are planning to help discuss ways of exhibiting work from the sessions with participants.

The Sussex Cancer Research Centre and the Sussex Cancer Fund are financially supporting Words from the Waiting Room.

"We believe the co-produced art pieces will form a focal point for conversations between researchers and those with experience of cancer and we are honoured to be able to support this work," said Sussex Cancer Research Centre co-director Melanie Flint.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.