Medication isn't the only way to manage persistent pain. Pain Cafés are a non-judgemental, confidential and supportive safe space for people living with chronic pain, providing an environment for people to come together and talk about experiences of pain and how to manage it, We are not defined by our pain! We share ideas, develop new tools, and engage in everyday discussions - rather than relying soley on medication, participants learn practical skillls to enhance their quality of life despite pain. The goal is to empower individuals to live well with pain by equipping them with effective coping strategies. 

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We have created a network of Pain Cafés across Cornwall and Devon to support you in your journey to a better quality of life. Pain Cafés offer a network of in-person, and online communities where people can meet together to share experiences and learn new skills and techniques. We hope for a future in the South West where people with pain can easily access support groups near to them, and online and feel less alone and have more fun and activity in their lives.

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The aim of the Pain Café model is self-management - to help people feel more empowered to manage their pain, experience improved well-being through reduced isolation and psychological distress and greater social engagement. This will reduce their levels of medication, visits to a GP or health service and emergency admissions to hospital (people with chronic pain are hospitalised nearly three times as often as the general population). The Pain Cafe objectives are to provide informal, accessible, safe psychological spaces where people can develop confidence to talk openly about their health, feel supported by their peers and develop techniques to manage their pain and well-being and better respond to others. The social and self-management elements have become key features with many groups creating their own activities and support through connections such as WhatsApp. We have an active facebook page which you are welcome to follow.

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We are thankful for the funding from the Queens Nursing Institute, Exeter University and NHS Kernow. This has allowed us to create fantastic digital support to our work with Tango3 Ltd.

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We meet in over 22 towns across the South West, and have online e-cafes too. You can find out more about Pain Cafés near you by going to our dedicated pain cafe page - www.pain.cafe