About Us
In 2023 Cavendish Cancer Care celebrates 30 years of providing cancer support in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. We provide complementary therapies, counselling and wellbeing support to people affected by cancer. Our support is free of charge and operates on a self-referral basis.
Cavendish Cancer Care developed from the work of David Simons, a Sheffield dentist specialising in hypnosis in the management of patients’ pain, anxiety and fears. Through his work David became aware of the increasing number of patients suffering with the effects on cancer and the many different concerns that could accompany a patient’s illness. At the time there was a lack of safe, qualified and experienced support available, which would work in partnership with mainstream cancer care providers.
In 1990 he retired from dentistry and gathered together a small team of professionals from medical, nursing and clinical psychology backgrounds, all with a shared interest in the emotional, physical and psycho-social problems relating to cancer. After much planning and research, a pilot scheme was started where individual and group therapy sessions were undertaken in some rented rooms.
In 1992, the Centre became a registered charity with the support of the Duke of Devonshire, with at its core the provision of treatment to all who need it free of charge. The Duke was kind enough to lend his family name and the Cavendish Centre was born. In 1997 with demand for services outstripping facilities available, a move was made to 27 Wilkinson Street, with Prince Charles performing the official opening.
Today, we are still based from Wilkinson Street (a few doors away at 34, after another move in 2017!) We continue to offer services across Yorkshire and Derbyshire, as Cavendish Cancer Care goes from strength to strength. The Cavendish Cancer Care model of care is recognised by The Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health as a ‘Model of Service Provision’ and our approach has been adopted by other charities all over the UK. We’ve become one of the best known charities in Sheffield and work proudly alongside NHS providers to deliver services to patients in hospitals across Sheffield and Chesterfield.
During the Covid-19 pandemic we pivoted to offer virtual services and we now integrate these into our provision, offering a mix of face to face and virtual services.
