Welcome to our 2016/2017 annual report. We hope you enjoy reading about the great work we’ve been doing in the past year and seeing the real difference our services made to the lives of people with cancer and their families. All this was only possible thanks to the efforts of many incredible people, including our supporters, professionals and volunteers. - - - - - Cavendish Cancer Care supports people affected by cancer in South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire where over 14,000 people receive a cancer diagnosis each year. For almost everyone a cancer diagnosis is a life changing event that happens suddenly; as one of the people we’ve supported said, “like a bomb going off in an otherwise happy life”. At Cavendish we recognise that cancer affects every aspect of a person’s life and that the impact of this life-changing diagnosis extends far beyond the patient. We see the person, not the disease, and provide everyone who seeks our help with a tailored package of care to address their particular needs and concerns. We see people of all ages and backgrounds and support people affected by around forty different types of cancer. We provide emotional and practical support, alongside an extensive range of therapies, to offer a place where people can share feelings and thoughts without guilt or fear of upsetting anyone. Therapies we offer include acupuncture, aromatherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy, massage, reflexology, shiatsu and more. We run a Children and Young People’s Service and a Cancer Buddies programme where volunteers who have experience of cancer provide support. difference this has made to their lives. Hearing in November that we had won the Excellence in Health Care and Wellbeing award at the Make A Difference Awards, held by Voluntary Action Sheffield to celebrate their 90th birthday, in recognition of the contribution we make to the people and communities of Sheffield and the surrounding area. These are just three examples, with many more contained in the pages of this report, but all will help us continue to make a real difference to local families facing some of the toughest times they are ever likely to face. The feedback we receive from those who access our service has remained outstanding across the year, with 92% of people we see telling us that Joining Cavendish Cancer Care as Chair of the their overall quality of life is improved by our care, Board of Trustees towards the end of our 25th 88% feeling more in control of their situation and Anniversary was both a pleasure and a privilege. 99% extremely likely to recommend Cavendish The warmth of welcome I received from the wider Cancer Care to friends and family if they are Cavendish team has been second to none. affected by cancer. As someone said to me Without a doubt, it is this warmth of feeling and recently, “coming in to the Cavendish Centre for commitment to people supporting each other that the first time was like someone turning the lights has been a critical factor in our success over the back on again.” last 25 years and it is essential that we retain and build on this if we are to be successful in what As a service that is free of charge to those who comes next for us. As someone who has first use it none of this would be possible without a hand experience of cancer, I know just how robust and sustainable financial framework and important what we do is and, to me, it is essential again I am delighted to report 2016/17 proved to we do all we can to honour our commitment to be be another very successful year. Our core there for all those who would benefit from our revenue has grown by over 28% compared to the support, where and when they need it. previous year, reflecting both the investment we made during 2015/16, and also the strength of As is befitting of an anniversary there has been feeling and support across the region when we much to celebrate. The launch of our capital are clear about the work we need to do, the appeal towards the end of summer that will difference this will make, and the support from provide the funding to allow us to move into our others we need to do this. new Centre towards the end of 2017, and it’s successful completion before the end of the The exceptional performance in our fundraising financial year. Learning in September that we allowed us to continue to invest in our service have now supported over 20,000 people since we delivery, with year on year charitable spend were founded, with countless examples of the increasing by over 10%. This allowed us to both expand our outreach service across Sheffield Our successes across the year have only been Teaching Hospitals and also at the Cavendish possible with the ongoing support and dedication Centre itself. of a much wider group of people and we remain We therefore end the year with much to be excited very grateful for all they do for us. about and in an ideal place to think about what I hope you enjoy reading more about our comes next for us. In February we started work on anniversary year in this report and I look forward a new five year strategy and ambition and I look to welcoming you to our new Centre in 2018. forward to sharing the results of this with you when it is complete next year. Needless to say, with one person every hour diagnosed with cancer across the Sheffield City Region, over 45,000 people already living with and beyond cancer and so many more people affected by their diagnosis, we know there is still so much more we need to Tim Pryor do. Chair of the Board of Trustees “Speaking to Cavendish means there’s always an open door, with a very welcoming, supportive set of people behind it.” detection, survival rates following a cancer diagnosis are now higher than ever, and more people are now living with and beyond their cancer than dying from it, for almost half of all people diagnosed it is the psychological impact of this diagnosis that has the biggest effect on their lives. As someone said to me, ‘the cancer may have left my body, but it never leaves my mind’. Reflecting this, the focus in healthcare systems over recent years has quite rightly shifted towards person-centred care and a holistic view of how cancer affects someone. However, too often, the rhetoric falls short of the reality, and there remain significant inequalities in clinical outcomes depending on where you live and in the quality of In January of this year we were delighted to learn life people can expect when living with cancer. that our Founder and Life President, David Simons, has been awarded an Honorary Degree We know that good cancer care requires of Doctor of Medicine by the University of integration across primary, secondary, tertiary Sheffield. At the time David said: and community settings. But navigating your way through this complex landscape would be a “When I first dreamed up the idea of starting a challenge for anyone, let alone someone facing cancer support charity, I had no idea how much it some of the most difficult times they are ever would grow and what fantastic people would likely to experience. We also know that in the become a part of that dream. I certainly never current financial climate there simply are not the expected to be personally honoured by the resources to meet the level of need that is out University! For me, this whole journey has all there, and with over half of us born after 1960 been about one thing and one thing only: likely to face cancer at some point in their lives, supporting cancer patients and their families ”. this need will only increase in the coming years. “From the start four things were absolutely crucial; That’s why our work has never been more patients and carers would be central to the important or relevant. With 99% of people who organisation, we would not charge, we would use our service telling us they would be highly insist on total professionalism, and we would work likely to recommend us to the next person who in partnership with mainstream cancer care might need us, it is essential we are there to providers. It is a source of constant pleasure to ensure people get the support they need, when me that over the years this philosophy has and where they need it. remained in place” Over the last twelve months we’ve worked hard to What is striking to me as we reach the end of our expand and develop our services, raising the 25th Anniversary year is just how relevant and funds we need to move to a new Centre that current that initial vision remains today. While, gives us the environment the people who access thanks to advances in treatment and early our services deserve, while also growing our outreach and awareness raising work across the single experience of cancer, it is unique for each Sheffield City Region. person going through it, and our challenge But with so much work still to do, we know remains, as it was 25 years ago, to ensure ensuring local families get the best possible everything we do if focussed on the next person support is essential to our donors. We are who needs us. therefore justifiably proud that 81p in every pound we receive goes directly to support frontline services.