The Mulberry Centre held its annual Open Day on Wednesday, 20 September, to welcome anyone interested in their services to come along and see the centre for themselves.

The Mulberry Centre, an independent charity and award-winning cancer information and support centre, situated at West Middlesex University Hospital, is the only centre of its kinda in the local area .

It delivers free services to anyone affected by cancer: to people with a diagnosis, their friends, family, carers and to those bereaved.

Members of the community were able to come along to find out more about the range of services The Mulberry Centre offers and different ways of supporting the charity, either as a volunteer or fundraiser.

They were also able to sample tasters of their complementary therapies from Tai Chi to massage and reflexology.

The Mulberry Centre team welcomed guests including The Worshipful The Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow, Councillor Afzaal Kiani and The Deputy Mayor of Richmond Cllr Fiona Sacks.

Deputy Mayor of Richmond. (Photo Credit: The Mulberry Centre).

The Mulberry Centre's core mission is to provide support and information for people affected by cancer who live in West and Southwest London.

Visitors are offered practical ways of enhancing emotional, psychological, and physical well-being including counselling and support groups, complementary therapies, well-being classes and social activities.

Joy, from Hounslow, who is a client support by the Mulberry Centre said: "I was struggling with thoughts, feelings and lack of energy, I felt as though I was disappearing.

"I joined the Counselling and Carers Group at the Centre. It helps me to see that I matter and that others are struggling too. We can support and listen to each other in a safe place and share ideas."

He added: "I also had some counselling and it was very helpful; the staff are very kind, the other users remind me that I can share and it's okay to be sad, happy, confused and anxious, because The Mulberry Centre is a safe space to be in with others, it's okay to laugh and cry.

"I can sit on my own too and it feels safe when my world feels scary."

Aileen McLeish, chair of trustees for The Mulberry Centre told Nub News that the centre is a safe place for anybody touched by cancer where they can share their experiences and have a community.

She said: "The open days are important so that we can showcase what we do, we get new people coming in who are surprised about what we do and we can open our doors more broadly to the community."

Raj Athwal, Executive Director of The Mulberry Centre said: "I think it's important that there are no postcode boundaries and everyone is able to access our services."

She added: "So many of our services are run by our 125 volunteers and everything is free at the point of access."

To find out more about The Mulberry Centre email: [email protected] or call 0208 321 6300.