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Fear for family support cafe amid cancer diagnosis

Emma Wass,in Consettand
Federica Bedendo,North East and Cumbria
BBC Lucy Jackson-Hind with her one-year old son at the Clart About Sensory Cafe in Consett. Ms Jackson-Hind is sitting on the carpet, side-on to the camera and is talking to the toddler, pictured from behind, standing next to a low table with some toys and books. Ms Jackson-Hind has strawberry blond hair tied back in a ponytail. She is wearing a red Christmas jumper with reindeers and Christmas trees. Her son has short blond, curly hair and is wearing a grey jumper with the words little pudding on the back and grey trousers with images of Christmas puddings.BBC
Lucy Jackson-Hind said visiting the cafe benefitted her mental health

The founder of a cafe offering support for new parents is calling for help to keep it open after her cancer diagnosis.

Lynn Hammel-Randall opened Clart About Sensory Cafe in Consett, County Durham, after her own experience of postnatal depression.

The mother-of-five was diagnosed with breast cancer in August and said trying to juggle everything had been overwhelming.

"You just want to run away and hide, but we know how important the facilities are to the public and the community," the 45-year-old said.

Mrs Hammel-Randall had a mastectomy three weeks ago and is starting chemotherapy after Christmas.

Because of medical appointments she said the not-for-profit cafe had to close on a number of occasions which had an impact on takings.

A head-and-shoulders picture of Lynn Hammel-Randall. She has long brown-red hair and a fringe. She is wearing a black jumper, glasses with a dark rim and a necklace with a cross pendant. She is sat in the cafe and the background is blurred.
Lynn Hammel-Randall opened the cafe eight years ago

"I just want to be able to come back and to be able to do what I'm doing which is helping new mams," she said.

"The realisation that if you help the mam, you help dad and you help the wider family unit and that's just what's important to us, to get back to doing what I love, and to be able to take care of the community again."

Rieke Dickinson lives in Shotley Bridge and is a regular at the cafe.

She said she felt "quite lost" being on her own with two children.

"This was always a place to come and feel safe and to just have an hour of a bit of relaxation," she said.

A head-and-shoulders picture of Rieke Dickinson. She has long brown hair in loose bouncy curls and blue eyes. She is wearing a black top and smiling at the camera. The background is blurred.
Regular visitor Rieke Dickinson said she could relax at the cafe

Lucy Jackson-Hind has been coming to the cafe since May with her one-year-old son and said her visits were good for her mental health.

"I feel happy when I come here - I couldn't imagine if it just went away tomorrow."

Mrs Hammel-Randall, who opened the cafe with her husband Mark eight years ago, and set up a crowdfunder appeal to help pay for the rent and bills.

"The kindness that we've seen has just been phenomenal," she said.

"We've had families reach out who used to come to the cafe eight years ago - we know that we've helped so many families."

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