Women living with and beyond cancer came together for an uplifting afternoon of support, confidence building and connection at the first Look Good Feel Better (LGFG) workshop to be held in rural County Durham.

Kindly hosted by No. 17 Café in Dipton, the workshop on Friday 3 July was the result of several years of planning between the Joining the Dots team and Look Good Feel Better, helping to bring this valuable service closer to local communities.

The group included women at different stages of their cancer journey, from those currently undergoing treatment to others who had completed it.

Each participant had their own goals, from learning how to care for changes to their skin and nails, to rebuilding confidence in their appearance by applying make-up and recreating eyebrows lost through treatment.

Working in partnership with the beauty industry, Look Good Feel Better provided each participant with a generous goody bag of skincare and beauty products.

Guided by trained volunteers, everyone worked through a step-by-step skincare and make-up session, learning practical techniques they could continue to use at home.

The workshop was about much more than make-up. It created a welcoming, supportive space where women could share experiences, enjoy time together and focus on themselves in a positive environment.

One particularly moving moment came when a participant looked in the mirror after recreating her eyebrows and said:

"I've not seen myself with eyebrows for such a long time."

Another participant smiled and joked:

"We really are learning to join the dots here!"

Feedback from the event has been overwhelmingly positive, with one attendee saying:

"All the volunteers were cheerful, friendly and welcoming. They created an environment where people were comfortable and it made for a really nice, positive, upbeat afternoon.

"I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was keen to attend a session that was much closer to home. Sessions in a hospice environment felt daunting, and travelling into the city for hospital appointments can be stressful.

"The afternoon was really upbeat and positive. The bag of products was amazing, and it was lovely for us all to open them together. Everyone relaxed throughout the session with supportive, good-humoured volunteers.

"Everyone left feeling better about the way they looked, and it was wonderful to spend time with people in similar situations while focusing on something positive rather than treatment. Thank you very much for the session, the support and the gift bag. Amazing."

Following the success of the first workshop, further Look Good Feel Better sessions will take place at No. 17 Café, Dipton, from 4pm to 6pm on:

  • Friday 28 August
  • Friday 16 October
  • Friday 11 December

The workshops offer a welcoming opportunity for women affected by cancer to learn practical skills, meet others with shared experiences and leave feeling more confident and empowered.