From April 2008 to March 2009, CancerCare celebrates its Silver Jubilee - 25 years of supporting local people affected by cancer.

In celebrating our success, we also recognise that significant action is needed now to ensure that we are able to celebrate a further 25 years of successfully meeting the needs of local people in 2033.

Funding Pressure

Whilst the UK Government is beginning to recognise the importance of psychological support in relation to cancer survivorship¹ and the need for organisations like CancerCare², there is still no regular Government funding for CancerCare's work.

Discretionary NHS grants must be sought annually from each relevant Primary Care Trust and make only a very small percentage contribution towards costs.

These costs amount to over £1 million per year for our current comprehensive level of service. We rely heavily on the generosity and goodwill of the local community to keep our work going.

Around 25% of our ongoing income comes from the CancerCare weekly Lottery. The rest comes from community fundraising activities, trusts and foundations, individual and organisational donations, legacies and our charity shops.

Over 86% of funds raised by the organisation are applied directly to the delivery of services to benefit people affected by cancer, with only 6% applied to Management and Administration and around 8% for Fundraising.

¹ Cancer Reform Strategy, December 2007

² National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidance on Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer, March 2004

" It's an opportunity to escape four walls...
to be free of worries and feel safe "