Deirdre

It Started With A Cake!

I was asked to contribute a few cakes to support the mother of a friend.  She was part of The Cancer Support Centre Fundraising Team.  The following summer I was in the garden in a gazebo battling the elements selling cakes at the Summer Fayre.

In 2014 I decided to volunteer once my son went to university and my CSC journey soon escalated.  From working on reception once a week I helped with data input into the accounts system and then was asked to take the minutes at the Trustee meetings.

It has been quite a journey, one that has taken me by surprise; resulting in my current role as part time service manager.

You need to adaptable and flexible to work at the Centre.  This was really brought home when Jackie and I were running the Centre from our homes in 2020 during the Pandemic lockdowns. That really was a challenge.

Yes, I still make the cakes, now in far greater numbers, as those of you who know me and buy up all the lemon drizzles before the Fayres officially open!

It is a privilege to work at the Cancer Support Centre. I have made wonderful friends and the clients, volunteers, therapists and staff are all inspirational.  This is far more than a job.

Two years ago I decided to give myself another challenge and trained to become an auricular acupuncture therapist.  This has been a lot of hard work but extremely rewarding; who would have thought having needles stuck in your ears could be so relaxing and help with a variety of symptoms.  I now offer 3 appointments each week as a therapist along with baking and my day job as Service Manager.

Nick

CSC is  a vital link for me in my mental welfare in dealing with cancer and its side effects, without CSC my life would be so much the poorer and the ordeal so much the greater. 

 I have come to find to my great benefit that CSC is akin to that of an oasis in my mind that I can turn to in easing the burden of my fears and one that affords through its dedicated staffing, and through its many therapies and advice guidance, a very much valued kindness, compassion, a listening ear approach and one that is never judgemental. 

When I retired during the Covid pandemic after a long career in IT and business management, my wife and I decided to move to Sutton Coldfield to be closer to our daughter. I had already planned that on retirement I would aim to use my experience to help run a charity. 

After a careful search I found that the Cancer Support Centre best suited my own interests. My mother having passed away from cancer some 25 years earlier, and where she was living, she had no access to such a centre. 

In May 2021 I became a trustee and took over as Chair of Trustees some 9 months later when the previous Chair stepped down. This was ain interesting learning experience for me, having never been a trustee, a chair of trustees or having worked in the medical or cancer area before, although me company director experience helped a great deal. 

This was towards the end of the Covid pandemic and a substantial amount of work was required by all involved to rebuild everything given the enforced closure of face-to-face services, although tremendous efforts were made during the pandemic to support the clients remotely and by online sessions. 

It was clear to me at this point that everyone associated with the Centre were incredibly dedicated and would go out of the way to ensure that the clients are looked after. 

Since then a number of new trustees have joined and they bring with them a range of experiences that mean we have an incredible team and who can help on a wide variety of topics. After all we are a business as well as a charity, so need to make sure we manage it as such. 

Fundraising is always a challenge as we do not receive and government or NHS funding, so a clear focus has been put on this on the last few years, which has involved everyone in working with any external organisation/business that can help us, and which has started to yield results. 

We have also worked hard to raise our profile in the local community and to ensure that anyone who needs our services knows we are there and can help. 

The raising awareness and raising funding go hand in hand. No point raising awareness if we don’t have the funding to support clients, and no point raising funding if we don’t have the clients who need it. This has worked well for us so far and both areas are growing together. 

2 years ago I moved from being a just a trustee, to also being a client after my own diagnosis, so have experience first hand of the difference we make to someone on a cancer journey, and this cements what I already thought of the benefits we offer. 

We are all now working towards increased services, groups and opening hours to ensure that we can offer the very best to those who need us. 

I am looking forward to ensuring that we meet the challenges that will no doubt come our way and to make certain that we are here to help in the long run, no matter what the economy or business environment throws at us. 

If anyone has ever thought of volunteering or becoming a trustee, I can thoroughly recommend it as you will gain a great deal from the experience, as well as using the skills you have learned in work and life to improve the lives of others. 

John

Good evening everyone, 

Thank you so much for inviting me to speak tonight. When I was asked, my first thought was, “What an honour.” 
My second thought was, “Of course I’ll say yes – because my wife is a trustee, and I’ve learned that some decisions are not really optional.” 

So here I am – happily and wisely. 

Tonight is a celebration. A celebration of resilience, compassion, and a place that quietly — and sometimes not so quietly – changes lives. 

As I mentioned my wife is a trustee here, but four years ago she walked through the doors of this centre after recovering from breast cancer. Like so many people, she arrived carrying far more than a diagnosis – fear, exhaustion, and the slightly overwhelming realisation that life doesn’t always follow the plan you thought you had. 

What she found here wasn’t just support. It was understanding. It was warmth. And it was people who somehow knew exactly what she needed – even on days when she didn’t. 

More recently, it was my turn. 

I have been involved as a volunteer for a while now. I’m going to let you into a little secret, but you have to promise me it will never leave this room. I am the Cancer Support Centre Santa. It is while I was doing my last Grotto that Jackie and Deidre asked how I was coping and suggested I just give the centre a try. I’ll be honest, I am not one to reach out for support, more a typical bloke that just bottles things up and withdraws. But something about how they spoke to me set me thinking maybe the centre can help me. 

I’ve recovered from prostate cancer, and I came to this centre for counselling and aromatherapy. Now, I’ll be honest – as a man, I thought counselling meant being asked how I felt, and aromatherapy meant… being polite while pretending I understood which smell was “grounding”. 

But what I found was something far more important: space. Space to breathe. Space to talk. Space where no one expected me to be “fine”, “strong”, or “getting on with it”. 

And I learned very quickly that healing doesn’t always come from big, dramatic moments. Sometimes it comes from a conversation. Sometimes from quiet reassurance. And sometimes from lying on a couch thinking, “Actually… this is quite nice.” 

What makes this centre so special isn’t just the services – although they are outstanding. It’s the people. The staff. The volunteers. The therapists. The ones who listen without judgement and support without pressure. 

And yes – there is humour here too. Because when you’re dealing with cancer, laughter isn’t inappropriate – it’s essential. Sometimes it’s the thing that reminds you that you’re still you. 

Tonight is also about gratitude. 

Gratitude to everyone who supports this centre – the donors, the fundraisers, the organisers of evenings like this, and those of you who may have come for a nice night out and suddenly realised you’re also doing something very meaningful. 

Because none of us ever plan to need a cancer support centre. 
But when you do… you are unbelievably grateful it exists. 

This centre supported my wife. 
It supported me. 
And it continues to support countless others – quietly, compassionately, and without fuss. 

So tonight, on behalf of both of us – and on behalf of everyone who has ever walked through those doors feeling scared, overwhelmed, or unsure – thank you. 

Thank you for creating a place where people feel safe. 
Thank you for caring for the whole person, not just the illness. 
And thank you for proving that kindness, empathy, and humanity still sit at the heart of healing. 

Please enjoy the evening, celebrate generously, and keep supporting this incredible place — because what you are doing here truly changes lives. 

Thank you very much, and have a wonderful night. 

Roy

Around 18 years ago I was recruited by Anita Bridges  to help the existing hypnotherapist with relaxation sessions. When I began volunteering this It was felt it wasn’t fair just to come in for one session a week I ended up with an impromptu interview I and began working with clients from then on. 

As well as hypnotherapy I also was carrying out massage work and Reiki sessions. As my qualifications in Reiki increased I started helping Toni run the Reiki courses. I am now the Reiki course instructor/teacher.  

18 years ago the Centre at this time was based in Midland Drive which was right next to a railway line. and We had to time part of the sessions around freight trains running past, which was extremely noisy and lasted for several minutes. 

To get up to the therapy rooms there was a rickety old staircase. 

Some clients couldn’t climb the staircase so we had to convert one of the downstairs rooms for them. 

Quite early on my time with the centre it was felt that it would be useful to have a therapist on the trustees board. The therapist’s felt I was the best person to do the job (or I was the last one to step back!) 

At one stage we were down to just three trustees and I was serving  as chairman of the board. This is around the time that we moved into this wonderful centre. The board of trustees has gone from strength to strength to where we are now. 

One constant with the centre is the fantastic work we do to help our clients and give them the support they need on their own personal journey. 

Marie

I first heard about the Cancer Support Centre in 2010 when I had a diagnosis of womb cancer and started to find out what help was around. I was soon wrapped up in NHS appointments and treatments and didn’t get up the courage up to visit the centre. Another unknown was too much. When I did finally call in 2011 it was like a calming release and a warm hug and I wished I had known how welcoming and helpful it was going to be. In hindsight I wish I had their help from the time I was diagnosed it stopped me feeling isolated and I met others in the same boat who really understood. 

I had some therapies, attended groups and learnt Reiki with Toni Lester to help manage my after effects of cancer treatments and found my sleep and management of stress improved greatly too. 

Toni suggested with my experience as a director with an NHS, patient care and previous financial and business improvement background I could be an asset to the charity as a voluntary trustee. When a vacancy came up I applied and helped to steer the charity alongside the other Trustees. 

Many challenges and changes were ahead. We increased services and days of operation and launched more self help activities offering training equip clients with techniques they could use at home as well as onsite therapies and groups. Our client base substantially grew year in year. 

I served under two excellent chairs Paul Williams and Alison Burgess and took on the role myself of leading the board with great enthusiasm and hope. We had plans of growth and expansion and offering our expertise in cancer support from local hubs closer to the community. Then Covid with all its challenges and risks for clients with compromised immunity raised its head. We explored what was possible and committed to finding a way to still support clients safely. We couldn’t live with removing all support and closing the doors. We put significant focus on how to deliver some services virtually and also how to operate safely for our clients, staff, therapists and volunteers in person. We developed our approaches within government and health service guidelines. 

We had the challenge that we needed to fund these changes and still pay the bills. This was while fundraising activities were constrained as gatherings at events had to be cancelled and meeting people to fundraise was not possible. We had to move into a  still unfamiliar virtual world. We learnt fast! With Jackie the centre managers support we also applied for as many grants and government covid support options as possible. 

With careful financial management within a smaller budget we changed to a mix of safe part time opening and virtual service we managed to find a balance. We stayed financially stable and maintained a service for both existing and new clients. I was so proud of what the whole team achieved together.  

Post Covid we needed to attract volunteers and recognised that the board also needed strengthening for a new world and my term as chair was coming to an end. I agreed to stay on until we recruited and the new chair and additional trustees were settled. 

While this was underway a new challenge arose of renegotiating the lease. We had a stage where having to find alternative accommodation was a real possibility as the proposed increase was impossible to meet. With the new chair; Trevor Saadi, support from our local MP Andrew Mitchell and a shared desire to continue to work together with St Giles we found a way to agree a short term arrangement which gave all a breathing space to find a longer term solution. 

I have now stepped down from the board but remain an avid supporter and volunteer for the cancer support centre.  It has been a big part of my life for 15years. Reaching its 25 year anniversary the services, loving care and place in the community are continuing to strengthen and offer real support to those affected by cancer. 

Julie

On a sunny Saturday back in 2016 I spotted a sign as we approached the Cancer  

Support Centre promoting their annual Summer Fayre. I was acting as a respite carer for a dear friend by taking her husband out for the day to give her a bit of me time. 

We pulled into the car park and went to see what was on offer. As we made our way through the stalls (stopping of course for some delicious cake as I recall) I saw on a notice board a sign asking for volunteers. 

Having recently retired I was looking for something to fill my days and volunteering here seemed the perfect solution. I applied and was accepted. It was one of the best moves I’ve ever made. 

Following my initial familiarisation and training I became a front desk volunteer. My role was to meet and greet clients and potential new clients to the Centre. I was working alongside other friendly volunteers and quickly adapted to my new role. I loved every minute of it. 

Fate then took a hand as within weeks of joining my late husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The shock was enormous for both of us but I was in the right place to find help and support. 

My husband was assessed and was introduced to support and therapies which complemented his treatment regime with the NHS. Whilst they concentrated on the medical treatment the Centre provided support for his mind, body and spirit to help him through these troubled times. The Centre also supported me as we both faced this battle together. 

This experience gave me a really personal insight into how the Centre works not only for the client but for the family as well. It is truly a place of Sanctuary and Support. 

Over time my initial role developed into training new volunteers, helping them to understand the needs of our clients,  enabling them to have the knowledge and confidence to talk empathetically with potential clients arriving at the Centre.  

I have also become involved in outreach work promoting the Centre to spread our message to a wider local audience which I really enjoy. 

It’s an honour and a privilege to be associated with the Centre. Personally I love meeting new people, to listen, to understand, and to help them on their journey just as the Centre helped me and my family. 

Chris

I first found out about CSC by word of mouth in about 2006. I visited with a view to volunteering in some way and found there was soon to be a need for a new treasurer. I was immediately attracted to the centre as it offered help that I thought my mum would have greatly benefitted from when she had a cancer diagnosis some 10 years previously. 

I became a reception volunteer at Midland Drive in order to understand the organisation and I could also do the accounts while manning the desk. On my first day, I opened the door to another prospective volunteer & professionally showed her all around, we were the makings of the new Tuesday afternoon team. 

It was easy to feel the enthusiasm for the Centre, there was lots of laughter and a constant stream of clients, volunteers and  therapists all supported by 2 part time members of staff. The rent was paid by the Municipal Charities and other expenses were small so fundraising was also on a fairly small scale. The first major fundraiser that I recall was when it was decided to celebrate the Centre’s 10th birthday by gathering a team of 100 people to raise £10,000 by taking part in the Sutton Fun Run. 

As a keen walker already I took up running to justify asking for sponsorship. I joined SE Fitness & trained hard but 2 days before the run I fell & broke my wrist so had to walk the route. 12 months later after picking up the training again I ran all 8.5 miles of it crossing the finishing line saying ‘Never again’ and I haven’t. We are so fortunate that now we get many teams willing to run on the Centre’s behalf so the accounts team doesn’t have to do it! 

At this point the Centre was growing and we were fortunate enough to obtain funding for a volunteer co-ordinator and while this role was temporary it became obvious that a managing role had become necessary so one role morphed into the other and fundraising had to step up a notch. Enter the fundraiser, a 12 month position that didn’t quite fund itself in that time so regrettably the decision was made to do away with the post. However the post holder had different thoughts & continued in the role as a volunteer, developing a team around her that took on responsibility for most of the fundraising. 

Around this time with the number of clients growing all the time, it became obvious that the premises were unsuitable, therapy rooms were either accessed through other rooms or up the steep narrow stairs making it difficult to offer everyone the therapies they needed. When the offer of space at Lindridge Road came along everyone involved with the Centre could hardly believe that we were moving into such palatial accommodation in a beautiful setting with its own car parking, all the difficulties faced at Midland drive were resolved at once. With the office now located some distance from the reception desk, the role of volunteers took on a new significance, more training was offered and the volunteers became more skilled at interacting with our clients and dealing with their needs while welcoming them to the Centre. 

For my part, I moved to become an office volunteer taking advantage of new computers that had been installed and enabling us to have an accounting system not just a spreadsheet. 

As the Centre thrived in its new location, increasing the opening times and the amount of services it could offer, a new way of managing the organisation was needed. The Trustees devised a new structure involving both existing staff and those to be recruited. A proud moment for me was when I, along with a Trustee, interviewed and appointed Jackie to join the team in a finance role. 

With a background in charity work she was able to use her knowledge & abilities to bring us up to date with best practice and move forward in a positive direction.  

Of course all this expansion came at a cost and the challenge then as it is now was to fund it. Grant applications have increased in importance over the years and other methods of raising funds have come and gone. At one time we held regular bag-packs and bucket collections at supermarkets. Collecting cans were located around the area and had to be emptied. The decline in the use of cash has seen a reduction in the importance of cans. In recent years we have been fortunate that Supporters of the Centre have taken it upon themselves to organise fund raising events outside of the Centre, this is a very welcome source of income as it frees our staff & volunteers to concentrate on other areas. 

I personally, as a keen gardener and garden visitor, wondered if people would like to visit my garden so one year I invited friends and colleagues to come around on a Sunday afternoon and put on tea and a few cakes. It seemed to go well, the garden coped, so my husband and I decided to do it again, this time getting a feature in the Sutton Observer thus inviting the whole of Sutton to visit! I can’t quite remember when that was but we’ve been doing it ever since – except during Covid . Now we have a regular team of family and friends who help us put it on, we have a regular band of visitors that turn up come rain or shine – we have a marquee so the tea and cakes are still available even if the weather’s unkind and now there are 2 other gardens close to us who join in, last year we raised £3,500 so please consider joining us this year on Sunday 19th July, 2-6pm as we celebrate 25 years of The Cancer Support Centre. 

Just to return to the Covid years. That was an incredibly difficult time for the Centre. The staff and volunteers did an amazing job of keeping in touch with the clients offering them support on line and over the telephone. Fortunately, many funders realised the difficulties that charities faced and we received many grants to enable our work to continue. Unfortunately, in the following years the financial impact of the pandemic hit hard and once again the Centre struggled for funds. So we continue the quest for funds, almost everything the Centre receives is through its own effort, either putting on events, applying for grants or seeking out supporters but it is all done to provide the services to those who need it most. 

Finally, I would like to recognise all the wonderful people I have met over the years through the Cancer Support Centre. I have worked with many Trustees, volunteers and staff, all who have the same aim as me and that is to contribute to providing the best service we can to those affected by cancer. I have learnt a huge amount along the way and I hope the Centre continues to support those who need it for the next 25 years and more. 

Sheila

I’ve been involved with the Cancer Support Centre for 20 years plus.  

I first visited as a client and following my recovery I decided I wanted to be involved in helping others as I found so much value from the help and support I received from therapy sessions and groups/ courses.  

I was offered the opportunity to become a reiki practitioner which has been very rewarding in supporting others with a cancer diagnosis. 

Karen

As a Therapist and Client Advocate, I am proud to say that I have been a member of the  Cancer Support Centre Team  for 14 years.  I consider it a privilege to be able to help support individuals and their families as they face the challenges of cancer.   

My role allows me to witness both resilience and compassion, as we work to provide a welcoming environment and practical assistance. My experience has been profoundly rewarding and strengthens my commitment to making a positive difference to the lives of our clients. 

Over the course of my 14 years at the Centre, I have witnessed many great changes, including our own dedicated area, we have improved the registration process for new clients which has made a significant difference to the way we can support them. We have also expanded our growing number of activity groups to better meet the diverse needs of those who come to us. 

Amanda

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, after the initial shock, I began the conveyor belt of hospital appointments, operations, chemo, radiotherapy and medications. Throughout it all I was regularly told how strong I was: the thing is I didn’t feel particularly strong but was on a road where I went through the motions required, laughing in the face of adversity and all that. 
 
When active treatment finished that’s when I realised the reality was I wasn’t ok. I had become this person with cancer and really had no clue in body and mind who I was now and how to cope going forward. Enter the Cancer Support Centre, from the moment I came through the doors I felt calmer. The assessment to discuss my needs already made me feel physically lighter, I’d been listened to and felt like a comforting arm was now around me supporting me. 
 
Here I am now 4 years on from this. I still feel that comforting arm daily. I am in the enviable position of working in the centre office; I see people daily entering the centre as I did and see their faces lighter as a result of the support given.

I continue to go to yoga and have auricular acupuncture to manage the side effects from my meds. Why? Because the centre taught me the importance of putting myself at the top of the pyramid, you are important and to look after others you must look after you. All too often we forget this: whether we have a diagnosis or are a carer it’s always worth circling back and remembering. We are worth it! 
 
Here we are celebrating 25 years of the Cancer Support Centre and my over riding thoughts are how exciting it is to be part of a charity that is continually striving for improvement. Always looking at how best to help clients coming through the door, be it their first visit or their 50th. I remember in my interview being told the most important person is the client, was this a flippant statement? No, I have seen first hand this really is the case, they are the heart of the Cancer Support Centre as it should be.  
 
If I had a glass of bubbles to hand I would raise my glass to all the therapists, staff, volunteers and trustees; all here steadying the ship and looking forward to new challenges to ensure the Cancer Support Centre continues to excel in the next 25 years!  Cheers! And a huge thank you from me