There was a real sense of excitement in the room as people affected by cancer travelled from across the UK to join us for the launch of our new involvement strategy. The event was an opportunity to celebrate, connect and look ahead to the future of involvement at Cancer Research UK.
Some attendees were meeting in person for the first time after months of working together online. Others were reconnecting with familiar faces from across the Involvement Network.
Conversations started over coffee, continued through lunch and carried on long after the formal programme had ended.
More than anything, the day was about bringing people together. It was a chance to recognise the contribution of people affected by cancer, celebrate the partnerships that help shape our work and reflect on how involvement continues to make a difference across Cancer Research UK.
Throughout the day, there was a strong feeling of connection and shared purpose.
Attendees took part in discussions, shared their experiences and explored what involvement could look like over the next five years. Staff from across the charity joined the networking session, creating opportunities for new conversations and helping people learn more about the many ways involvement shapes Cancer Research UK's work. The opportunity to meet others was one of the highlights for many attendees.
Whether people had been involved with Cancer Research UK for years or were attending one of their first involvement events, the day created space to learn from one another and build new relationships.
The launch marked the beginning of a new chapter for involvement at Cancer Research UK.
Over the next five years, our involvement strategy will guide how we continue to work in partnership with people affected by cancer. It focuses on creating involvement opportunities that make a meaningful difference, improving people's experiences of involvement, building diversity and inclusion, and strengthening involvement to support our work on cancer and health inequalities.
Throughout the programme, speakers reflected on how far involvement has come and the opportunities ahead. Attendees heard from senior leaders, involvement staff and members of the involvement community, all sharing a common message: people affected by cancer play a vital role in helping shape our work.
For many in the audience, hearing from Chief Executive Michelle Mitchell was a particular highlight, reinforcing the importance of involvement and the value of lived experience across the organisation.
A theme that came through again and again was partnership. Members of the Strategic Advisory Group (pictured above) helped shape elements of the event and joined discussions throughout the day, helping ensure the programme reflected the voices and experiences of people affected by cancer. Feedback from Strategic Advisory Group members highlighted the collaborative spirit that ran through both the planning and delivery of the event, , a feeling of being listened to, valued and part of something bigger.
When attendees were asked to describe their experience, the responses were remarkably consistent.
Words such as inspiring, engaging, uplifting, welcoming and motivating appeared time and again. Many spoke about feeling heard, included and encouraged by what they had seen and experienced.
As we move into the next phase of delivering our involvement strategy, that sense of energy, optimism and partnership will continue to guide us.
The strategy may have brought everyone together, but the day served as a reminder that involvement is ultimately about people - the experiences they share, the relationships they build and the difference they make when they work together.
And that is something worth celebrating.
