Cancer patients bags of hope

Round & About

Local charity Giving Bags of Hope is providing handcrafted pouches free to cancer patients

Sew much love goes into the luxurious and practical pouches given to support and comfort patients undergoing cancer treatment. 

The bags are sewn by volunteers using donated fabric. Every care plan is different so the bags are empty initially and filled by the patient with the essentials required to make their treatment day more comfortable.  

Giving Bags of Hope has recently gifted the adorable pouches to 300 local cancer patients in a week made possible through the support of their partners in the cancer care treatment centres, their outlets, talented sewing volunteers, and all those who have donated fabrics.“Every pouch carries a message of care,” said Carol Anne, co-founder of Giving Bags of Hope. “They’re not just practical – they’re also a reminder to patients they are not on this difficult journey alone.” 

Co-founder Lindsey added: “We gifted our first bag to a cancer patient in October 2024 and in the last 10 months we have been building a network of sewists, volunteers and ambassadors as well as a number of retail outlets to act as collection and distribution points throughout Thames Valley and we are delighted to have delivered over 950 through our partners and Cancer Treatment Centres.” 

Bags of Hope are available from Craft Coop in Camberley & Windsor, Artisans Handmade in Newbury and Blue Beetle Ceramics Studio in Thatcham and at hospitals including Wexham Park, Slough, Frimley Park, Camberley, Heatherwood, Ascot; Genesis Care in Windsor, Princess Margaret Hospital in Windsor, Royal Berks in Reading and Newbury Cancer Care.