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Centre Newsletter
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Despite strong lobbying efforts on the part of Centre supporters and significant local and national publicity, Wandsworth Borough Council finally decided on 31st March 2004 to remove the Centre's grant after 18 years.
Eight other Wandsworth-based charitable organisations including a lunch club for isolated elderly people and the Wandsworth Bereavement Centre were similarly affected.
Since finding out about the proposed removal of the grant in February, we have been urgently been seeking replacement funding from other sources.
We have been successful in getting grants from the Wandsworth Primary Care Trust as well as Macmillan Cancer Relief and a recent art auction raised more than £45,000 for the Centre.
While the Centre's financial situation is certainly looking more positive than it did a few months ago, the need to identify sources of long-term, sustainable funding remains.
Over 70 supporters of The Cancer Resource Centre, including Patron Geraldine James, joined hands across Vauxhall Bridge on 17th February in protest at the funding cuts threatened by Wandsworth Council.
The funding cuts have been triggered by the council's desire to maintain a low council tax and by the threat of central Government capping of Local Authority expenditure. Vauxhall Bridge was chosen because it joins the borough of Wandsworth to Westminster.
Forming a human chain by holding hands symbolised the joined-up care that people with cancer and their carers need in contrast to the lack of joined-up thinking between central and Local Government, leading to services like the Centre's falling through the cracks.
Supporters wore signs with slogans such as "S.O.S. - Save our Services" and "Bridge the Gap". The event generated a lot of media attention and was featured on ITV's "London Tonight" news programme and in the local press. (See Director's Column for more on this)
On 23rd October, the 20th anniversary of The Cancer Resource Centre and Newham-based CYANA (Cancer You Are Not Alone) was marked with a reception hosted by Martin Linton MP at Portcullis House, Westminster.
The evening's aim to raise the profile of community-based cancer organisations amongst key decision makers was achieved as MPs, senior health advisers and professionals and members of the corporate and voluntary sectors mingled with staff and supporters of the two charities.
Simultaneously, a visual presentation gave information about the services provided by the Centre and CYANA and the importance of our work with those affected by cancer.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Ian Gibson MP (Chair of the Commons All Party Group on Cancer), Dr. Judith McNeill (of Macmillan Community Links Department and a member of the Cancer Task Force) and Centre Patron Karol Sikora (Professor of Cancer Medicine at Imperial College).
Special Guest Speaker Melanie Johnson (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health) commented that community-based cancer support organisations have "a huge role to play" in the government's consultation on choice in the NHS, and its commitment to putting the patient first.
Actor Timothy West recently accepted a giant "meal bill" for £9,000 on behalf of the Centre from Nick Greengrass, Manager of Outback Steakhouse in Wandsworth.
Between January and October 2003, a voluntary £1 contribution added to customers' meal bills under the restaurant's "All for Charity Mate!" scheme, raised this outstanding sum for the Centre. Our warmest thanks go to all the staff and customers of Outback Steakhouse.
The sudden news arrived at the beginning of February that Wandsworth Council proposed to remove the Centre's annual grant of £37,200, which we have received for the last 18 years.
In their recent report on our work, the Borough said that we provide a valued service, and that we had again exceeded our targets. The Centre is among nine organisations whose grants are being removed with only a six month notice period.
The reasons given for the proposed grant cut, stated in a letter from the Social Services Department, are that the Borough wants to set a low council tax and is only going to focus on those services that it has a statutory duty to provide.
Councillors have also cited the Government threat to cap local authority expenditure as a trigger for this action.
This decision has very serious implications for the Centre. While the grant represents just over 13% of our budgeted income, it contributes to the charity's core running costs such as staffing, overheads and rent that most funders simply are not willing to pay for.
The grant enables the Centre to raise a further £244,210, or 656% more income, for the provision of cancer support services in this area.
Centre members and supporters living in Wandsworth have been lobbying councillors by letter, email and phone. The Wandsworth Borough News said they had received the largest postbag ever on this topic.
The Centre has also achieved regional and national press coverage and was featured on ITV's "London Tonight" and the BBC regional news, as well as in the local newspapers.
We sent a deputation to the Social Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee at which our Chairman, David Wakefield, spoke powerfully about the Centre's services and the importance of this grant.
However, the Social Services Committee voted to proceed with all the grant cuts.
The meeting of the full Council, at which the final decision will be taken, is scheduled for Wednesday 31st March at 7.30 pm at Wandsworth Town Hall. As many Wandsworth residents as possible are asked to attend this meeting.
We want to show that the local population is totally opposed to saving £3.50 a year on residents' council tax bills, which would result in the loss of so many vital services (including lunch clubs for isolated elderly people, and Wandsworth Bereavement Service, as well as The Cancer Resource Centre).
We are also asking our members and supporters who live in Wandsworth to lobby their local ward councillor prior to 31st March to let them know how great a loss it will be if the Centre had to reduce its services or close.
If the grant is lost despite the strength of our lobbying efforts, we will endeavour to find other ways for our services to be continued, although this may have to be on a reduced basis.
We are currently approaching many potential donors to help us with this situation. We will be meeting with the Wandsworth Primary Care Trust during March about the level of contribution the NHS may be able to make.
Please let us know if you know of people with available funds whose lives have been touched by cancer or with a connection to the local area, who may be able to give a significant donation.
In the meantime, the Centre is running as usual and remains committed to providing its full range of services to our current, as well as our future members. We are still here for those who need us!
Fiona, our Macmillan Information Officer, together with Library Volunteer Pat McLaverty, have reorganised and updated the Centre's leaflets and library. Pat has been a great help sorting and cataloguing the library, covering books and generally keeping it up-to-date.
We are in the process of adding new books, tapes and videos and have had several donations of books from Centre members, either on recommendation or because they have finished with them, which has been fantastic. Thank you to you all!
During our library cataloguing we have found over 50 books missing. Do any of you have any library books in your possession? If so, it would be great to get them back!
Do you have any self-help books you recommend or don't need anymore?
If so, please feel free to donate them to us! Any about specific cancer treatments need to be not more than 4 years old please, as the information might be out-of-date.
Otherwise any biographies, diet or complementary therapy books would be gratefully received.
This conference, organised by the Asian Information and Outreach Project was held in London at the end of November. Attended by 143 delegates from all over the UK, the event brought together health professionals, voluntary sector workers and patients.
From the outset there was a buzz in the air as old friends and new acquaintances chatted over coffee.
The day started with three speakers -- Steve Edwards from Macmillan Cancer Relief and two people recounting their personal experiences as minority ethnic cancer patients -- all were very well received.
Late morning and early afternoon were taken up by workshops covering nine different projects - separated by an excellent multi-cultural lunch.
Two further speakers drew the day to a close with an overview of clinical trials (research) from a clinician and an explanation of the National Cancer Plan from Stephen Waring of the Department of Health.
The positive feedback received from participants is reflected in one delegate's comments, "An excellent conference that you should consider putting on yearly. An opportunity to network and exchange experiences. Well done!"
Zulfika Ahmed, our new Asian Information and Outreach Officer, started at the beginning of November. Zulfika brings a wealth of experience to the post having worked as a Linkworker at St. George's Hospital, Tooting and on Macmillan Cancerline.
Based at the Centre, she is here on Mondays and Tuesdays, and spends Wednesdays in the oncology unit at St. George's. Zulfika will be continuing, and taking forward, the information and support work at the hospital and in the community.
We sadly say goodbye to Emma, one of our Support Officers, who is leaving London to live up north. We wish her well. Replacing Emma in March will be Caroline Setterington.
Understanding and Living with Cancer and Reduce Your Cancer Risk are now available in Bengali and Punjabi, in addition to Gujarati and Urdu. Copies are available from the Centre.
In November our African-Caribbean Outreach Worker, Denise Forde in partnership with the South London Black Elderly Project, held a Cancer Awareness Day in Tooting. Complementary therapies, such as massage and reflexology, were also offered on the day.
Guest speakers were invited along to provide information on identifying the signs and symptoms of cancer, and breast and prostate awareness. There was also information about where to access services which provide support and therapies for those affected by cancer, such as the Centre.
An important focus during the day was the issues surrounding cancer and ethnic minorities. We looked at differing cultural beliefs and perceptions and two Centre clients of African and Caribbean origin came along to share their experiences.
The day was attended by over 60 people who provided very positive feedback at the end of the afternoon.
Many thanks to our Centre staff Fiona, Lara and Victoria, and to Eve Smith from St. George's Hospital and Suresh Rambaran and Caroline Lee Abraham from Cancer Black Care.
A special thanks to Doris and Margaret for their invaluable contribution. Thanks also to Joy and Chenzira from the South London Black Elderly Project for helping to organise the event.
The Creativity Group was started to encourage Centre members in their creative projects.
After eighteen months, we still have only one essential rule - no one has to do anything -- not write a novel, paint a picture, or compose an opera.
However, the projects people in the group have been involved in include creating a website about a rare condition, painting a picture, joining a choir, writing poetry, and making a mandala.
All these projects have happened outside the Centre. We went together to Tate Modern last summer and will be planning more outings soon.
None of our sessions are strictly practical ones, though often a game or exercise evolves out of our sharing our experiences.
The creativity happens because in listening to one another we so often hear ourselves and find out what we are really up to. Then we can make a start.
We are really honest about what engages us and finding out what we really want to do and why often releases energy. The group is a safe and confidential place to explore.
Projects so often up until then have been stuck in "if only", "I wish I could" or even the regrets of "I could be but I'm not".
It is exciting when we come up with something that it true for us and the imagination begins to flow. Then up comes the joy and a real feeling of self worth - in fact, serious fun.
The Creativity Group meets one Tuesday morning a month (dates in the Groups and Workshops leaflet). Come and see.
Honor, one of the Support Officers at the Centre who has 25 years experience as an artist, runs the Creativity Group.
On Sunday 23rd May you can indulge yourself at our annual Touch of Health day, taking place at The Vitality Centre (155 Merton Road, SW18).
On offer between 11 am and 4 pm are sessions of aromatherapy massage, Indian head massage, reflexology, and Shiatsu, as well as classes in yoga and Nia (movement with music incorporating tai chi and yoga). Manicures and pedicures can also be booked.
Therapy sessions are £20 each (£15 for Centre members) and classes cost £5. Or treat yourself by choosing the all-inclusive package of a therapy session, a beauty session and a class for £40 (£30 for members).
Therapists from our Home Visiting Service and the Vitality Centre are providing their services for free. All money raised goes to our Home Visiting Service - so please support this event if you can and tell your friends about it too!
Call The Vitality Centre on 020 8871 4677 to book.
Centre members Martin Bannister and Jocasta Lucas are running the Paris Marathon on 4th April to raise funds for the Centre. If you wish to sponsor Martin and Jo, please send a cheque to the Centre, indicating it is for the Paris Marathon.
For the second year, we have 12 guaranteed places for this national challenge event taking place in central London on Sunday 1st August. Many of our team from last year, including two staff, have signed up already. But 7 places are still available.
Starting at Piccadilly, sights you will be running past include St. James's Palace, Trafalgar Square, the Cenotaph, Big Ben, the London Eye and magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral.
Runners will receive a medal and various sports-related vouchers and the opportunity to take part in a friendly and atmospheric event with upwards of 13,000 other runners.
Contact Suzanne at fundraising@cancer-resource-centre.org.uk to receive further details and a race entry form. We can also arrange a corporate entry if you would like to field a team from work.
The Centre has joined forces with The Phone Co-op, the only co-operative telecoms provider in the UK, to offer The Affinity Scheme.
The Phone Co-op provide highly competitive telephone call rates and by registering with them through the Centre, you can dramatically cut your phone bill and, at the same time, we will benefit by receiving a percentage of the value of the calls you make.
To encourage more customers to sign up to this scheme, the Phone Co-op is increasing the Centre's percentage from 6% to 9% on all phone call revenue exceeding that generated in January 2004. This will continue for 12 months.
If you want cheaper calls that also benefit the Centre, please see the enclosed leaflet. For more information please call Clara at the Centre on 020 7924 3924 or check out the News page.
Many pairs of feet enjoyed the attentions of a team of volunteer reflexologists during Reflexology Day on 28th September. To round off the pampering experience, an optional manicure/pedicure proved very popular too. Held at The Vitality Centre, the Day raised £300 for our Home Visiting Service - a big thank you to both volunteers and supporters.
We had a fantastic surprise in November when one of our Home Visiting Service volunteers, Celia Aston, presented a cheque for £4,640 towards the costs of running this Service.
This amazing amount was raised by a Golf Day and a revue at Wimbledon Golf Club. A very big thank you to Celia and to everyone at the Club!
20 volunteers shook buckets at the Fireworks Display organised by Wandsworth Council on 8th November in Battersea Park. Thanks to everyone who helped collect £1,500 for the Centre.
A charity pottery auction held in November by The Putney School of Art and Design raised more than £1,500 for the Centre. The bidding was very competitive and many participants went home with an original work of art. Thanks to Trustee Elisabeth Davies for nominating the Centre as beneficiary of the auction proceeds and for helping with the event organisation.
Elisabeth Davies also arranged for the Centre to benefit from the production of a limited edition Christmas card featuring an angel sculpted from ice. Sales brought in £700. We will be offering a similar exclusively designed card for Christmas 2004 and should be able to accommodate corporate orders this time. If you are interested, please contact Suzanne on 020 7924 3924.
Our annual carol singing, including a stint at Clapham Junction, raised over £500. Thanks to all those who lent their voices.
The Centre can now take online donations via the website, which links to JustGiving.com's secure servers.
After 4½ years fundraising for the Centre, Annette is leaving to pursue other interests. She would like to thank everyone who has helped raise funds over the years - fundraising is very much a team effort!
The Centre thanks Annette for her efforts in developing our trust and company income in an excellent way.
The views expressed in this newsletter should not necessarily be taken as those of The Cancer Resource Centre.
20 - 22 York Road London SW11 3QE
Tel: 020 7924 3924
Email: office@cancer-resource-centre.org.uk
Registered Charity No: 287693