Building on the past, looking to the future

Building on the past, looking to the future

February is Cancer Awareness Month so it feels like a fitting time to launch our 40th birthday celebrations. It’s a proud milestone for us, as we remember all the people who have been a part of the Wessex Cancer Trust community since 1981, and the difference they have made to the lives of thousands of local people living with cancer.

Here, we take a look at how our support has grown and evolved over the years, and how we plan to build on our history to ensure we will be here for everyone who needs us in the future.

Looking to the future

Our CEO, Rachel Billsberry-Grass says:

“This last year has been the most challenging in our history because of the disruption caused by Covid. But our staff and volunteers, funders and partners have dug deep, and together we have continued to provide vital services to support local people with cancer and their loved ones.

In particular, the pandemic has shown that charities like ours, which rebuild the mental health of people diagnosed with cancer, are so vital. Being cooped up and unable to see loved ones has made cancer even harder to live with, and exacerbated loneliness and anxiety for many. It’s shown us how important our face-to-face services are, but also how digital support can be a real lifeline.

ActionMan

We’ve survived so far, and now we are aiming to build. Being able to deliver more services remotely will help us to reach people and communities who have not previously used our services and in the future we’ll be making this a priority. One initiative already having an impact is Action Man, our men’s health campaign which will encourage men to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and talk to their GP if they feel concerned. We have a great group of ambassadors ready to share their stories and reach thousands of men through groups, businesses, workplaces and sports clubs.

Wellbeing Co-ordinator

There will also be a greater focus on personalised care plans for our clients – helping people to navigate a way through cancer that works for them personally. We’ve taken the first step in doing that with the recruitment of a brand new role of Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Phil Warner, thanks to the support from the Linbury Trust. Phil will work closely with our therapists, counsellors and befrienders to ensure every client gets a programme of support that meets their needs.

We will be aiming to develop more partnerships. We’ve already had great success working with other partners within local government, the NHS and other charities and we know that collaboration can make us even more effective.

Of course, it has been a turbulent period with our finances and we will work hard to achieve stability and security. We’ve refocused our income generation teams to increase our income, we’re implementing a cost-saving programme and we’re dedicated to increasing our reserves.

This past year in particular has been full of challenges, both for us and our clients. But it has also been a time for reflection and given us opportunities to evolve and grow. Above all, it’s made us even more determined to be here for every local person who needs us, and we’re incredibly excited about the future.”