Respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease and lung cancer impose a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system. Moreover, people with long-term conditions tend to experience functional impairment, social isolation and lower quality of life. To help people with long-term respiratory disease to manage their condition, the charity Asthma + Lung UK offers community-based support groups that are run locally by nurses and volunteers. However, reviving these ‘Breathe Easy’ support groups after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been challenging.

This article describes how a respiratory nurse specialist successfully relaunched a local Breathe Easy support group in Nottinghamshire, England. It explains how the group provides its members with peer support, helps them to better understand their condition and empowers them to self-manage it more effectively. Initial outcomes indicate that a nurse-led community-based support group is feasible and can be effective in supporting people with long-term respiratory conditions.