Happy New Year! We hope you had a lovely and restful festive period with your loved ones.
December was a busy month and we want to say a huge thank you for your incredible support. Your time and dedication goes a long way in making sure that our shops run smoothly. Every hour you give takes us a step closer to our mission of beating cancer.
In this newsletter we hear what volunteering means to Henry, an inspirational volunteer from our Horsham East Street shop. We also have some tips for looking after your wellbeing during the winter months. We then have some information on the Investing in Volunteers accreditation, before wrapping up with an introduction to The Rest Is Science podcast and a round-up of the highlights from our 2025 Stand Up To Cancer campaign.
Wishing you all the very best for 2026!
Julie Byard, Director of Trading
Cancer Research UK
Henry has volunteered at the Horsham East Street shop since 2023, bringing kindness and positivity that have made him a much-loved member of the team.
Henry shared what he enjoys about volunteering:
The third Monday in January is often known as ‘Blue Monday’ and dubbed the gloomiest day of the year. However, we know that connecting with those around us is a great way to combat the January blues and many volunteers tell us that volunteering has a positive impact on their mental wellbeing, by providing a chance to meet new people and make new friends.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a Monday or any other day of the week, why not grab a cuppa and have a catch up with a family member, friend or one of your fellow volunteers?
For other ways to look after your wellbeing, take a look at our tips for keeping well in the winter months.
In 2022, Cancer Research UK was proud to achieve the nationally recognised Investing in Volunteers accreditation – a mark of good practice in volunteer management. This accreditation shows our commitment to supporting you and creating an environment where you can thrive.
Now it’s time to renew that accreditation, and your voice is essential. During January, we’re asking as many volunteers as possible to complete a short questionnaire. Your feedback will help the Investing in Volunteers assessment team to understand what it’s like to volunteer with us.
The brand-new The Rest Is Science podcast brings together mathematician and best-selling author Professor Hannah Fry and YouTuber Michael Stevens to explore the wonders of science.
Over the past 50 years, our pioneering work has helped double cancer survival in the UK. With our help, The Rest Is Science explores some of the breakthroughs that are driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer and our ability to beat it.
Following on from the success of our in-store fundraising activity, in December our Stand Up To Cancer campaign continued with an incredible mix of TV shows, celebrity challenges and epic fundraising, where we announced that we had raised over £14.2million since the last live show.
As part of our 2025 campaign – our most ambitious yet – we launched a new online Screening Checker to help people understand which cancer screenings they may be eligible for and provide clear, helpful information. The checker has already been visited over 125,000 times.
We also paid tribute to those who’ve lost their lives to cancer with our Tribute Mile, a beautiful display of over 5,000 lanterns dedicated to loved ones by members of the public.
A moderated discussion forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences and get support.
As one of our shop volunteers you have access to tailored, free and confidential health and wellbeing support.
Find useful information and resources for volunteers and stay up to date with the latest news and updates.
If you received a link to this information by text message it is because you volunteer in one of our shops. If you’re no longer volunteering with us, please email us at volunteering@cancer.org.uk.
