Your April UpdateYour April Update
As the evenings get lighter, and the financial year comes to a close, it's the perfect opportunity to reflect on what Team Trading has achieved this year. I'd like to thank you all for going above and beyond to support our joint mission to beat cancer.
A massive well done is due to the North, Mid, South and Superstore Divisions who all hit their budget targets for the last financial year. This includes Donated, Bought in Goods (BIG), Cash and Lottery. Keep up the amazing contributions!
In our last newsletter, we shared the opening of our Aberdeen Superstore - our largest superstore in Scotland! We spoke to Joyce, who volunteers in this store, about what she enjoys about her role.
There are plenty of developments happening across the organisation. Last month we announced the appointment of our new Chair of Council of Trustees. Lord Simon Stevens will replace Sir Leszek Borysiewicz with effect from October 2023.
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month and so it's very timely to update you on the next steps for the £11.3m raised by the Bowelbabe Fund. The Bowelbabe Fund was launched by Deborah James last year before she passed away, and we have the honour of continuing her fantastic legacy!
I'd like to draw your attention to April also being Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month - a new awareness month to highlight the challenges for teenagers and young adults with cancer. Throughout the month, Cancer Research UK will be sharing key information and updates on our work to tackle these challenges so that more 15-24-year-olds can survive cancer with a good quality of life.
Julie Byard, Director of Trading
Cancer Research UK
You're smashing it!
Budget targets met across the UK
The North, Mid, South and Superstore Divisions have all hit budget targets for the last financial year. This includes Donated, BIG, Cash and Lottery. Give yourselves a massive round of applause!
Any money that was made in addition to this up until the end of March will be going above and beyond our target goals, meaning we can ultimately contribute more towards our life-saving research.
Thank you to all of you for your amazing contributions and dedication. We couldn't do it without you.
Our Aberdeen Superstore
Our new Aberdeen Superstore opened for the first time on 2 February. This is the largest and fifth Superstore in Scotland, pulling in a fantastic sum of £7.1k including £6.3k in donated sales on opening day!
Our stores couldn't run without our volunteers. A huge thank you and congratulations to everyone involved with this opening!
Joyce's experience in our Aberdeen store
Joyce first started volunteering in Aberdeen in 2017 at the Rosemount shop. She’s now joined the brand-new volunteer team at the recently opened Superstore.
“At a newly opened shop, every day is a surprise, and no two days are the same! I enjoy getting to meet new people, chatting to customers, and spending time with others in the shop team. The shop manager, Sam and I were at the Rosemount shop together, and when the superstore opened, I couldn't wait to join him! We always have a good laugh and have a lot of fun conversations. There is a wonderful atmosphere in the Aberdeen superstore, and I look forward to coming in to volunteer.”
The Volunteer Hub
What's new on the Volunteer Hub?
We have created some new social media badges and resources for our volunteers. If you would like to see these and find out more visit our Volunteer Hub.
Updates across the organisation
Cancer Research UK announces appointment of new Chair
We recently announced the appointment of Lord Simon Stevens as Chair of Council of Trustees with effect from October 2023. Lord Stevens will take over from Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, who will step down later this year after almost seven years in the role.
Sir Leszek Borysiewicz was appointed as Chair of Cancer Research UK in November 2016 following a distinguished research career and seven-year spell as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
“I am proud of the work that Cancer Research UK has achieved during my time as Chair and look forward to furthering this progress in my last seven months in the role." - Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz
Dame Deborah James’ incredible legacy: The Bowelbabe Fund announces first funded projects
Last year, after stopping treatment and starting to receive palliative care, Dame Deborah James, together with her family, set up the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK – to support causes she cared about.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and partners, the Fund has raised a staggering £11.3m including Gift Aid. It is a true testament to how many lives Deborah lit up.
Now we're going to use the money raised to help people live lives full of joy and purpose. We'll be funding cutting-edge research, into early detection and personalised medicine, as well as raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. Today, we're excited to share with you the first projects we're funding.
We're here to support you
Cancer Chat
A moderated discussion forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences and get support.
Talk to our nurses
If you’ve got questions about cancer, it's easy to call our nurses on freephone Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Volunteer Hub
Stay up to date with the latest news and all things volunteering. You can also access wellbeing support here.
If you received a link to this information by text message it is because you volunteer in one of our shops. If you’d like to stop receiving text messages from Cancer Research UK, or make changes to how we communicate with you, please contact preferences@cancer.org.uk.