The Royal Free Charity has opened a new support hub at the Royal Free Hospital.

The support hub – located on the lower ground floor of the hospital, near the restaurant – will provide support and information to people affected by long-term conditions, including carers and families.

The hub will offer welfare and benefits advice, resources on local and national services, and a programme of different talks and workshops. The workshops will range from peer education, self-management and healthy eating to relaxation and music and art therapy.

The hub offers a range of activities and support aimed at people living with long-term conditions.

The hub will also run a drop-in service, facilitated by the charity’s trained volunteers, who will offer a friendly ear and provide up-to-date information on further support if needed.

Chris Burghes, chief executive of the Royal Free Charity, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this hub to support people living with long-term conditions. As far as we’re aware this is the first support hub of its kind based in a hospital and we believe will offer something incredibly unique and of real value to people managing a long-term health condition.”

Alison Bowman, head of support hubs for the Royal Free Charity, said: “Our hub at the Royal Free Hospital has been co-designed with people who are affected by long-term health conditions, and they will carry on steering the service that the hubs provide. Our intention is to open another support hub on Barnet High Street later this year.”

(Main image: L-R Lizzy Ward, hub manager and Alison Bowman, head of support hubs)