Minds Matter

04/03/2026

Psycho oncology provision for cancer patients and their families boosted by generous donation of £55,000 from The Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association.

The psycho oncology service, provided by Minds Matter from the beautiful and newly opened Mannin Cancer Help Centre, has received a generous donation from The Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association, ensuring the continuity of this essential service throughout 2026.

The psycho oncology service offers assessment, and access to appropriate sessions with a qualified and specialist therapist. The support is available to cancer patients, or their family members when they need it, at any point in their diagnosis or treatment. This might be whilst waiting for test results, waiting for treatment to begin, whilst undergoing treatment, or at any stage where people feel vulnerable and overwhelmed by their or their loved one’s cancer diagnosis. This service is overseen by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and allows access to a range of therapeutic support, according to individual need.

This essential service, which is part funded by Mannin Cancers Support Group, has been bolstered by a generous donation of £55,000 from the Ena Quirk Legacy fund, donated through The Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association. This donation ensures that evidence-based mental health support is easily accessible, alongside other valuable services on offer within the Centre.

Malcolm Clague, Chairman of the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association said “The Association is pleased to be able to provide the additional funding through the Ena Quirk Legacy to enable the support provided by Minds Matter to get up and running for those seeking assistance with their mental well-being through various stages of their cancer journey. Ena Quirk had been a headmistress at the Peel Clothworkers Primary School and considered the well-being of her pupils’ paramount. She would be pleased that her legacy is assisting the provision of such an accessible psycho-oncology service within the Mannin Cancer Help Centre.”

Andrea Chambers, CEO of Minds Matter stated “The roots of our charity, founded in 1983 as The Manx Cancer Help Association, are firmly grounded in offering essential support around mental health and wellbeing for cancer patients and their families. It is an essential service, and we are proud to continue it though Minds Matter, now based at the new Mannin Cancer Help Centre as part of their growing range of support. This donation has been pivotal for us at a time when funding specialist support is always a challenge for charities, and we are extremely grateful to Malcolm Clague and the IOMACA for their ongoing support of our work.”

It is the aim of all the charities involved with the new Mannin Cancer Help Centre to ensure that anyone who visits the inviting and non-clinical space, is able to find the right support, in an easy to access way, at the time when they need it most.

Referrals to Minds Matter can be made via the website here: https://mindsmatter.org.im/

20/02/2026

📣 News update: Changes to our Board of Directors

Following the sad, untimely death of Nigel Simpson, who had been our greatly valued Chair since 2021, the Board met recently to fill this vital role for the organisation.

We are pleased to announce that Lisa Nelson is now the Chair of Isle Listen and the wider charity, which incorporates Minds Matter. Lisa has been on the Board since 2022 and, in her role as Chief Finance and Value Officer at Standard Bank Offshore, she brings valuable skills to the role as well as a real passion for the work we are doing.

Stuart Colligon, who joined the Board in 2025, was appointed Vice Chair. Stuart has many years’ experience in supporting third sector organisations, as well as working closely with the Chamber of Commerce and providing executive coaching in many aspects of the workplace.

Professor Robin Davidson remains as Clinical Advisor to the Board, bringing essential clinical oversight to every element of our work and Sheila Dean, who joined the Board in 2024, contributes valued business and financial experience as well as fundraising expertise.

We are extremely grateful to our directors; they are pivotal members of our team who work with us to safeguard the future of our essential charity. As volunteers, they contribute a broad range of highly professional skills and charities cannot operate without an efficient, supportive and highly professional Board.

17/10/2024

Minds Matter continues to provide essential psychological therapies to those whose lives are affected by a cancer diagnosis, recognising the real stress and anxiety that a diagnosis of cancer can bring to the individual and also their family.

Our service is currently based at the Scholl Wellbeing Centre in the Hospice building but will move to the new Centre being built by Mannin Cancers when it opens in 2025. Charities working in collaboration has never been more important in this challenging climate. The team at the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group work closely with Minds Matter and recently made a generous donation of £20,000 to be used to ensure continuation of psychological support for breast cancer patients ahead of the opening of the amazing new facility taking shape in the grounds of Nobles Hospital.

The opening of the Centre will see a growth in the service and offer easily accessible support at all levels, from those needing a friendly face and a cup of coffee to those who need a much higher level of support from a qualified specialist. We are delighted to be working together with Manx Breast Cancer Support Group and Mannin Cancers Support Group, as well as Hospice Isle of Man to ensure the best services for the people who need them.

As the Centre edges closer to completion, we will be sharing more of the project on our page.

📷 Pictured left to right, Derek Peters (Mannin Cancers) Julie Stokes (Manx Breast Cancer Support Group) Professor Robin Davidson (Clinical Lead, Minds Matter) Anne Dowds (Manx Breast Cancer Support Group) Andrea Chambers (Minds Matter) Dawn Herbert (Minds Matter) Karen Wagstaffe (Manx Breast Cancer Support Group) Adam Clayton (Minds Matter).

25/12/2022

No matter how you celebrate this time of year, from the entire team at Isle Listen and Minds Matter, we send you our warmest wishes for the festive season ❄️💚

23/12/2022

From all of us, we send you our warmest wishes for the festive season and from today, our team will be taking a well-deserved short break to enjoy this time of year 🎄🎆 We will reopen again on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their ongoing support of our charity 💚 Without your incredibly generous support, we would not have been able to achieve all that we have, and to have helped as many people as we have this year.

We’re looking forward to achieving much more in 2023!

‼️ We realise that this time of year is not an easy time for many, so whilst Isle Listen and Minds Matter are not crisis services, if you or someone you know does require urgent help during this festive period you should contact the Police (999), A&E or the Crisis Response and Home Treatment Team on 642860.

25/10/2022

MUCH-NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR MANX BRAIN TUMOUR SUFFERERS

Naseems Manx Brain Tumour Charity and mental health charitable organisation Minds Matter (formerly Manx Cancer Help), announce collaboration to provide much-needed mental health support to brain tumour suffers and their families on the Island.

A brain tumour diagnosis is a life-changing event, and following a diagnosis, a suffer and their family can feel anxious and overwhelmed. According to The Brain Tumour Charity in the UK, 9 in 10 people say their emotional and mental health had been affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. As with any mental health condition, left untreated, it can lead to the unnecessary escalation to a more serious mental health problem such as depression.

Funded by the Manx Lottery Trust, this collaboration will provide essential early mental health intervention and prevention support following a brain tumour diagnosis. Naseem’s and Minds Matter were also encouraged by Manx Care’s CEO Teresa Cope’s recent acknowledgement of the need for greater investment in mental health early intervention across our Island.

Established in 2009, Naseem’s Manx Brain Tumour Charity has raised over £250,000 for Isle of Man residents impacted by a brain tumour. As well as research and purchasing medical equipment, the Charity have been able to give recipients and their families financial support to assist them following the significance of a brain tumour diagnosis.

The referral process is very straightforward and should a brain tumour sufferer or a member of their family feel they would benefit from mental health support, or in need of financial support following a diagnosis, a referral can be made by contacting Naseem’s Charity at [email protected].

08/09/2022

All of us at Minds Matter are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, a remarkable woman that served her country with unmatched resilience, dignity and grace. An inspiration to all whose lives she touched during her 96 years and our sincere sympathies extend to The Royal Family at this very sad time.

01/04/2022

We are delighted to be working closely with Manx Care to reduce waiting times for psychological therapies for children, young people and adults. We have long been aware of the difficulties faced by people trying to access mental health support, either for themselves or for their children.

We're beginning to reduce waiting lists for psychological therapies for children, young people and adults, in partnership with Minds Matter and Isle Listen.
More info here👇
https://www.gov.im/news/2022/apr/01/manx-care-confirms-waiting-list-reduction-plans-across-the-mental-health-specialisms/

08/03/2022

This we’re celebrating and thanking the amazing women that continue to make it possible for us to deliver our services, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our Island community ❤️

04/02/2022

HELP SUPPORT US BY NOMINATING US IN YOUR The Great Manx Run REGISTRATION! 🇮🇲🏃

The is a community running event with the specific aim of bringing the community together and supporting local causes. The event has something for runners of all abilities with the choice of a 1-mile fun run, a half-marathon, a full marathon, or a marathon relay (with a team of up to four).

Choose us as your nominated cause, and we will receive 50% of your registration fee to help us provide our vital specialist psychological support to people with long-term conditions of all ages, and their families ❤️

Sign-up now ✍️ www.greatmanxrun.im