Tea & Therapy launches in Scotland

The Made for Life Foundation has held its inaugural Scottish Tea & Therapy event at Manor House Therapies in Edinburgh.

The collaborative event was a deeply supportive and nurturing wellbeing experience, created for women living with or beyond cancer.

Speakers included wellness expert Iain Bell, Made for Life Scottish ambassador Jo Cooper and Lisa Kerr, manager of Manor House Therapies.

A one-of-a-kind spa that’s part of St Columba’s Hospice Care in Edinburgh, Manor House Therapies is unique in that it uses commercial wellbeing to help fund the hospice environment.

Rest, reconnection and empathy

The half-day event was centred around care, connection and whole-body wellbeing.

“As the spa and wellness industry continues to evolve towards more inclusive and compassionate wellbeing experiences, Tea & Therapy demonstrates the profound role spas and therapists can play. Not only in supporting people physically, but emotionally and socially too,” said Amanda Winwood, founder of SpaFest and the Made for Life Foundation.

The experience blended shared knowledge, therapeutic touch, skincare support and practical wellness education, while creating an environment where women could rest, reconnect and feel understood by others on similar journeys.

Resilience and long-term health

Topics included the neuroscience of touch and the powerful role that mindful facial therapy and nurturing touch can play in supporting people living with cancer.

International wellness and fitness expert Iain Bell delivered an inspiring masterclass focusing on sustainable wellbeing strategies to support resilience and long-term health.

He delved into bone health, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, weight management, alcohol awareness and gut microbiome health.

Guests attending the event, all at different stages of living with cancer, learned about sustainable wellbeing strategies and realistic wellness habits for everyday life.

Lisa Kerr, manager of Manor House Therapies, said: “It was a joy to host this first Scottish Tea & Therapy event at Manor House. It underpins our philosophy of providing inclusivity and a safe space for anyone to enjoy a holistic and nourishing treatment.”

Manor House Therapies runs three treatment rooms and a counselling space next to St Columba’s Hospice Care. Every treatment helps support free hospice services for people across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

The unique new initiative provides an opportunity for the hospice to engage with the community beyond traditional care provision, while raising much-needed funds.

Following the success of the launch event, plans are now underway to host a minimum of four Tea & Therapy events per year in Scotland.

Receive our newsletters directly to your inbox – sign up here