Trustees set to transfer funds as Derby’s Annabel’s Angels prepares to hand over the baton

Volunteers running a Derby charity which has raised thousands of pounds to help local people with cancer and their families have decided to call it a day after nearly 10 years. Annabel’s Angels, which was set up in 2014, will transfer its assets over to the Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity at the end of the year after its trustees agreed unanimously to wind down its fundraising activities.

From left to right - Simon Hancox, Rachel Hayward, Jill Matthews

The charity has helped more than 600 families across Derby and Derbyshire over the past nine years by awarding grants to pay for essential items such as transport, white goods, food and clothing following a diagnosis of cancer.

The vast majority of its money was collected through donations and fundraising events such as sponsored cycling and running events, including the annual Derby 10 Mile race.

It currently hands out grants of at least £250 to families who may be struggling to make ends meet following a cancer diagnosis, with the vast majority of its referrals coming from the MacMillan Cancer Information Centres at the Derby Royal Hospital and Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.

The organisations have developed a close working relationship over the years, which is why the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust’s own charity has agreed to take on Annabel’s Angels’ funds to continue its all-important work.

Annabel’s Angels was set up by Derby dad-of-two Simon Hancox following the death of his wife, Annabel, from cancer in December 2012, after he discovered that she had built up a network of friends online and was supporting them through their own cancer journeys.

Along with Annabel’s friends, he used her work as a springboard to help other families, getting friends and relatives involved in launching the charity, which he headed until handing over the reins to current charity chair Rachel Hayward last year.

He said: “I could never have imagined when I started what Annabel’s Angels would go onto achieve and we can all look back on the past nine years with a huge sense of gratitude and awe.

“Cancer has a devastating effect on everyone it touches, including blameless families who are left struggling when their income drops because of a diagnosis, and we know how much impact our grants have made.

“I am hugely indebted to all of our trustees, our volunteers and anyone who has ever donated money or time to Annabel’s Angels. They’ve helped thousands of people realise they are not alone and given them crucial support at a time when they needed it the most.”

The official handover is expected to take place next month, although Simon and members of the charity are hoping to run the Available Car Derby 10 Mile race on November 19, with volunteers handing out bottles of water to runners midway around the course.

Rachel, who also owns Derby bid-writing firm Ask the Chameleon, said: “Running a charity of this nature is incredibly complex and takes up a lot of our volunteers’ time, and while it was an incredibly difficult decision, we felt our hard-working team had taken the charity as far as they could.

“Every penny we have ever raised has gone to our families and we are happy in the knowledge that the funds will continue to meet the demand from more families living with cancer.

“We are delighted and grateful that the team at the Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity have agreed to continue our work and we’re looking forward to coming together one last time at the Available Car Derby 10 Mile Race.”

Jill Matthews, chief officer for the Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity, said the charity’s current assets will be transferred into a new fund, called the Annabel’s Angels Fund, which will start handing out grants next year.

She said: “We are delighted to be continuing Annabel’s legacy and the great work of the charity’s trustees and fundraisers.

“I want to thank everyone involved for their tremendous efforts to support this cause and especially Rachel and Simon for their dedication and compassion for families at some of the most difficult times.”

To donate to the Annabel’s Angels fund please go to the Derby & Burton Hospital Charity website here DBHC – Derby & Burtons Hospital Charity

Annabel’s Angels appoints a New Chair

Annabel’s Angels has announced a new Chair for 2022.

Rachel Hayward from local bid writing consultancy Ask the Chameleon will become Chair of Annabel’s Angels. An experienced bid writer, Rachel has had a long-established relationship with Annabel’s Angels, following an exceptional career in the charity sector in Birmingham and Derby. Appointed as a trustee in 2017, with a focus on securing business sponsorships, the local businesswoman has long been active in the running of the charity.

Rachel said “I am so proud to become Chair.  We have had the toughest 21 months in our history, yet the support we have been shown from local companies, funding bodies and the public has been so inspiring.  We clearly fulfil a need – we are seeing a huge demand in requests for our grants programme. “

“This will continue to be a tough year, but I am convinced that with my fellow trustees and the wonderful communities of Derby and Derbyshire, we can continue to raise funds and provide much needed support to local families undergoing cancer treatment. “

Outgoing Chair Simon Hancox said “My fellow trustees and I are very supportive of Rachel becoming our new lead. She is a natural leader, highly skilled and a huge asset to the charity. With her leadership skills and strong links within the business and voluntary sectors, I feel confident we will rise to the challenge of reaching and supporting more families living with cancer. I feel proud to have served as Chairperson for the past seven years and I’m looking forward to working with our team to further improve our work.”

Operating a grant scheme largely funded by donations from local people, the charity was hit hard by Covid and the restrictions on sporting and social gathering. Experiencing a severe reduction in fundraising, the Charity turned to submitting funding applications to local and national organisations. 

Rachel supported the charity to secure £15,000 in grants from Foundation Derbyshire and the Martin Lewis Coronavirus Emergency Fund. This funding enabled the charity to support 127 families during 2019/2020 – double the previous period.

Annabel’s Angels offers financial assistance to people and families living with all types of cancer, from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and the support is highly personalized. Examples of support awarded to local families include vouchers for groceries, clothing, and adaptations to the home.  Annabel’s Angels works closely with the Royal Derby Hospital, MacMillan Cancer Information Centre, Nottingham Young Lives vs Cancer, and Nottingham Children and Young People’s Specialist Services to support people living with cancer.

“It has been a helping hand at a time when you’re dealing with so many emotional feelings and when a great worry is financial“. Grant beneficiary

Annual report 2020 - 2021

Our annual report for the financial period 2020 - 2021 has been produced and submitted to the Charity Commission. Key findings are as follows:

• 127 families supported / grant applications processed for the financial year against an annual target of 65.

• Fundraising income performance £38,885 compared to an amount of £40,784 in 2019-20.

• £31,099 was spent on items / services purchased for families during 2020-21 against a figure of £17,441 in 2019-20.

As always, we are very grateful to all who choose to donate and who continue to support Annabel’s Angels, but for this period we are especially grateful to the following organisations for their significant grant funding during the financial year 2020-21:  

• Foundation Derbyshire

• Martin Lewis Coronavirus Fund

As always, we extend our gratitude to all who have supported Annabel’s Angels during this period. It has been another extremely busy year for the charity, and 2021-2022 looks to be even busier.

To read the report in full click here

Foundation Derbyshire Success

Funding Success from Foundation Derbyshire

Annabel’s Angels is overjoyed to share the news that £4,500 has been secured in a bid from the National Emergencies Trust via Foundation Derbyshire. This will expand the existing bursary scheme for cancer patients in Derby / Derbyshire, taking into consideration the increased hardship due to Covid19 lockdown measures.

Simon Hancox, Chair of Annabel’s Angels said:
“Our applications for financial support from families living with cancer in Derby / Derbyshire have increased since the onset of Covid19. Families already feeling the stretch financially due to living with a cancer diagnosis are facing additional financial concerns due to Covid19. Family members have lost their jobs, working reduced hours or have been placed on furlough leave meaning the family income is significantly reduced at a time when every penny counts. The lockdown also prevents the charity and its supporters from organising and participating in local, regional and national fundraising events, all of which are vital for our self-sufficient, volunteer-led charity to continue the work we do. Our business partners have also put fundraising on hold, and we anticipate that we will have incurred a loss of 30% of our usual annual fundraising each month that this pandemic creates a lockdown.”

The additional £4,500 from Foundation Derbyshire will help Annabel’s Angels reach and support an additional 15/20 families. Recent examples of items funded by the Charity are as follows:
.Grocery / clothing vouchers;
.Provision of white goods;
.Cleaning / gardening services;
.Childcare services (while a parent is undergoing treatment);
.Fuel vouchers (to enable patients to attend hospital based treatment)

Many thanks to the team at Foundation Derbyshire in awarding this grant to help us continue to do our work at a time of increased pressure and uncertainty for so many.

To find out more about Foundation Derbyshire visit https://foundationderbyshire.org

Annabel's Angels Annual report 2018 - 2019

Annual report -

2018/19

Annabel’s Angels is pleased to share its annual report for the period 2018 - 2019. The charity has seen a 40% increase in public fundraising donations compared to 2017 - 2018, and an increase of 12% in the number of families supported compared to the previous year. Sincere thanks to all supporters for making 2018 - 2019 a highly successful year. To read the report in full please click here

A Summer of fundraising

It's been such a busy Spring & Summer that we've struggled to find the time for updates. Our grant applications continue to roll in at a steady rate - we're currently averaging around five applications a month. Recent examples of funded items include:

• clothing / grocery vouchers
• childcare fees
• family breaks
• travel costs

Applications come in from all people of all backgrounds - children, adults, all areas across Derby, all types of cancer. Our support is person-centred based on the needs of the individual.

The past four months have been very busy in terms of fundraising. We've seen fundraising gigs, quiz nights, bucket collections, bag packing events, sponsored cycling, sponsored running, sponsored swims, triathlons, trekking, funeral collections, cake sales and much more which have raised thousands of pounds to support local families living with cancer. We're amazed and humbled at the generosity of those who organise and support these fundraising activities. At a time where time is incredibly precious for us all, our supporters go out of their way and take it upon themselves to set goals and organise events to help us reach more families living with cancer. Without these acts of heroism from these incredible people we simply wouldn't be able to continue offering support to those in need. 

A huge thank you to all

Simon x 

Annual Report 2016 - 17

Annabel's Angels is pleased to share its Annual Report for the period 01/04/2016 - 31/03/2017. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the charity over the last twelve months. Our supporters help us in many different ways, including:

• conversations with friends and colleagues to raise our awareness;
• sharing their skills and experiences to help review the way we operate;
• take on a wide range of fundraising initiatives to raise money for our public grants scheme.

As always, we are incredibly grateful, humbled and thankful for these wonderful offers of support. 

Key headlines from our Annual Report are as follows:

• Annabel’s Angels increased its annual fundraising income by 12.5% from £17,940 in 2015 to £20,139 in 2016;
• Grant programme expenditure increased from £8402 in 2015 to £13821 in 2016;
• The number of families supported has increased from 22 at April 2016 to 56 at the end of March 2017 (this has since risen to 76 at the time of writing);
• The charity supported 34 individuals living with 23 separate cancer types over the last twelve months.

You can access the full report by clicking here. We do hope you enjoy reading it. 

You will also find a copy of our externally verified accounts here.  

Please feel free to share any comments with the team by emailing simon@annabelsangels.co.uk 

Join us - we're recruiting

Trustee Vacancies

Annabel’s Angels was launched as a Registered Charitable Trust in April 2014. The charity supports people living with cancer in Derby by funding grant requests for items/services to improve quality of life for the family. The charity consists of a team of volunteer trustees; it is funded purely by public donations.

After 3 very successful years we are now at the exciting stage where we are looking to recruit new trustees who can add the following experience to help plan and oversee the continued growth of the charity:

• Digital Media (improving reach on social media)

• Marketing (improving our brand)

• Business Partnerships (forging productive mutually beneficial relationships)

• Event Planning (planning small & large scale public events)

Trustees are expected to attend six meetings a year, usually 6:30pm-8:30pm on a weekday evening in Derby. Trustees are also expected to participate in email-based discussions between meetings and be available to support the activity of the charity at events throughout the year, within reason. Adequate notice is given for activities planned. Trustees are also expected to play an active part in our grant application discussions.

This is a voluntary role, however, any out of pocket expenses (outside of Board meetings) incurred in its delivery will be reimbursed in line with our policy.

Application is requested to be in the form of a covering letter and no more than 2 sides of A4 outlining your experience and why you feel you are suitable for either of the roles advertised to simon@annabelsangels.co.uk

The roles offer a great opportunity for successful applicants to build on and share their skills with a proactive team dedicated to improving the quality of life for local people living with cancer.

For more information about the role or to arrange an informal call with Simon Hancox, Chair, please email the above address.

Applications close Friday 8 September 2017

Apprentice & Graduate Association fundraising success

We were overjoyed to be chosen as one of two local charities to be supported by the Apprentice & Graduate Association in Derby. Earlier this year the Association held a fundraising ball to benefit both ourselves and our friends at the Tiny Tim Trust. Additional fundraising by the apprentices and graduates followed during the remainder of the year. Last week we were invited to Rolls-Royce to receive a cheque for the Association's fundraising efforts. We received £2914.96 from the team and we've just been informed that an additional £500 is also on its way. We're truly humbled. A huge thank you to all involved. This amount will make a tangible difference to approximately 8 local families living with cancer (*grant applications average out at approximately £400 per family. We don't hand over any money - all items/services are paid for directly by the charity)

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Latest

Goodbye to our friend and co-founder, Shelley Mason.

Annabel’s Angels and Shelley Mason have a bit of history; our Chair Simon Hancox takes us back to early 2013…

The passing of Annabel Hancox on 28 December 2012 opened up many new friendships and connections. I decided to make contact with several of Annabel’s online friends who were all going through their own Cancer journey. Dorothee, Denise, Yvonne, Nicola, Ali and Shelley were names new to me, but, in time, they would become regular contacts, new friends bought together in the most difficult of circumstances.

Chatter online became chatter over the phone. Conversation swung to and from different topics, as conversation often does, and it wasn’t too long before the subject of support for people living with Cancer came up. We all shared our own experiences of hospital support, peer support and we shared ideas about how we could encourage others living with Cancer to ‘challenge’ their condition and to live life as fully as possible. As a result, several sponsored Race 4 Life events came and went all under the moniker of local Annabel’s Angels running groups running throughout the country. The groups performed amazingly well, securing over £30,000 in sponsorship for Cancer Research UK, mainly by people living with Cancer walking and running to prove to themselves and others that they could do it.

Conversations moved on to the idea of what next. Setting something up to support local families was a topic that seemed to stay in the air. Shelley, Ali, Dorothee and I carried out our research to see what existed and what was missing from Annabel’s own city of Derby. The idea of peer support and a support fund to help Cancer families deal to reduce some of the ‘daily life pressures’ started to grow.

Shelley helped to grow an idea into an actual thing; an incredibly useful thing. Shelley offered her skills, ideas and insights to others while also living with Secondary Breast Cancer. Shelley used her skills as a trainer to bring a team of people together, she used her professionalism and patience to help wade through the necessaries associated with the Charity Commission. She used her warmth and wit to challenge people in a way only she could do.

Shelley continued to support others by writing a blog detailing her every day life experiences while also detailing her own Cancer journey. Shelley’s warm and witty writing style bought new fans and new friends. Stories resonated with many, particularly those with an experience of living with a life threatening illness.

Shelley passed away peacefully on 30 September 2016 surrounded by her family.

Annabel’s Angels would not exist today if it wasn’t for Shelley Mason.
I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for Shelley Mason.

Shelley offered me support at the darkest time of my life. Shelley listened to me and she offered ideas about how I could support myself well and how I could raise my two young boys while dealing with this unexpected life chapter.

My thoughts and the thoughts of all Annabel’s Angels Trustees go out to Shelley’s family. Shelley was a wonderful human being; warm and witty with a wicked sense of humour. 

Shine on, Shelley x

Ashgates choose Annabel's Angels as their Charity of the Year 2016/17

Ashgates Accountants and Business Advisors have chosen Annabel's Angels to be their Charity of the Year for the financial year 2016/17. The Ashgates staff team will take on several fundraising challenges during the course of the year with all funds going to the Charity to support local families living with Cancer. The team will also raise awareness of the Charity across its networks. Steve Martin, partner at Ashgates, said:

“We’re delighted to have found Annabel’s Angels and we have nominated them as our Charity of the Year. At Ashgates we are going to do all we can throughout the year to raise funds for and awareness of the Charity. One example will see Ashgates putting a team together for the Derby 10 mile run on 6 November. Annabel’s Angels is the Official Charity Partner of the Derby 10.”

Simon Hancox, Chair of Annabel's Angels said:

“Annabel’s Angels supports local people living with Cancer in and around Derby by listening to and responding to their individual support needs. We work closely with the Royal Derby Hospital, Macmillan Cancer Support and other support organisations to encourage families to submit a grant application to ourselves based on their individual needs. The aim is simple: to improve the quality of life for the individual and for the family. For example, in the past we have funded childcare while a parent attends treatment, we have sourced and supplied white goods/essential items and services to reduce the pressure on the family. We have also funded travel costs to enable those on low income to attend essential treatment and recovery.

We’re overjoyed at being the official Charity of the Year with Ashgates for 2016/17. This partnership gives us a tremendous opportunity to promote our work by working with a well respected and highly successful local business to reach and support more local families living with Cancer.”

BBC Radio Derby's Craig Ramage signs for Annabel's Angels

Annabel's Angels is delighted to announce that BBC Radio Derby football summariser and former professional footballer Craig Ramage has taken up the position of Patron for the charity with immediate effect.

“We are overjoyed to have Craig sign up and support the charity” said Simon Hancox, the Founder & Chairperson of Annabel’s Angels. “Craig is a Derby guy, people know him, they listen to him and they respect him. We’re really excited to be working with him to help promote our work, to raise more funds and to reach and support more local families living with Cancer.”

 Quote from Craig:

"I personally have been very fortunate and blessed in many ways. I have however, like many people, been touched by both critical and terminal illness. This is something which has left me with not only an understanding, but a desire to support an organisation such as Annabel’s Angels and the fantastic work it does to support Derby people as they deal with and confront difficult and potentially
life changing situations."

This signing ties in perfectly with the Challenge Cancer campaign being run by Annabel’s Angels, Macmillan Cancer Support, Derby Hospital and Yes to Life. Derby’s week-long event programme is aimed at raising awareness about living well with and without Cancer. There’ll be plenty of information sharing, several topical debates and workshops, and lots of opportunity to dispel some of the myths surrounding Cancer and Cancer treatments. Listen out for survivorship stories shared in the media, and take up a challenge or two if you’re able - including a fifty-strong firewalk fundraiser finale on Derby’s Historic Market Place to end the week (Saturday 17 October at 3pm).

Annabel’s Angels is asking people what they can do to Challenge Cancer. Craig has shown us what he can do. He has also agreed to take his shoes and socks off and join the Firewalk Fifty in the Derby Firewalk. Why not join him? For more information about the Challenge Cancer campaign and the Derby Firewalk click here

2014 - 2015 Annual review

It's time to sit back and relax for a moment now that I've just submitted our Charity Commission Annual Return. Reflecting on 2014 - 2015 has been a humbling experience for me. We've done so much and met so many people during this last year. On behalf of our Trustees I'd like to say a huge thank you to all the sponsored event fundraisers, bucket shakers, runners, swimmers, knitters, tea makers, cyclists, bag packers etc and contributors. 

Thanks also to all the businesses out there who have supported us during the last year - from donating time and space for events to assisting us with design time and materials for our promotional items.

Here's a quick rundown of what's been happening:

·         Partnerships have been developed with other National and Local charities to promote our aim – Macmillan Cancer Support, Mummy’s Star, Derby Breast Cancer Support Group and The Laura Centre.

·         Ben Nevis sponsored walk (group activity).

·         Auction events held on regular basis at various sites.

·         Promotion of individual’s fundraising events via own website.

·         Charity race night organised by Alvo Boys FC.

·         Charity of the year status and ongoing support with The Bubble Inn, Stenson, Derbyshire. Several fundraising opportunities have taken place at the Bubble. This will continue into 2015/2016.

·         Bucket collections in supermarkets and businesses around Derby.

·         Wristband sales in businesses around Derby have increased.

·         Charity sweets partnership developed across Derby with ‘Reach Out’ – 20% of money taken for sweets sold are donated to Annabel’s Angels.

·         Election of a Macmillan/Derby Royal Hospital employed individual to enhance grant application promotion via local hospital.

·         We supported 40 women living with breast cancer by means of funding bespoke clothing – in partnership with Derby Breast Cancer Support Group.

·         Enhancement of website and social media promotion via volunteer support from individuals with expertise in this area.

·         Granted designated charity of year status by Status Social, a Midlands based social media specialist. This led to bespoke training provided at no cost, along with an increase in our social media output and engagement along with networking/promotional opportunities.

·         Sale of merchandise via partnerships with local businesses.

·         Increased presence in health and social care establishments in Derby – static displays at Macmillan Information Centre, Combined Day Unit, Breast Clinic and Outpatients Clinic.

·         Promotional literature about the charity is offered to newly diagnosed cancer patients and families. 

·         BBC Radio Derby and The Derby Telegraph have published several Annabel's Angels news stories. 

·         Our volunteer reach continues to grow. Volunteers play a huge part in our work. Put simply, the charity would not be able to function were it not for the significant contribution made by the volunteer team of Trustees and the ever-increasing team of ad-hoc event and fundraising volunteers. Based on national minimum wage, we have calculated a financial contribution of £4382 made by volunteers. However, we know that this is just the tip of the iceberg; it's too simplistic, way too simplistic to measure input and impact from volunteers in this way.

So many people have all helped us raise our game this past year.  You've helped to connect us into important conversations with others, you have helped tirelessly to promote our name and you have boosted our fundraising income significantly. With your support we have seen our income from donations increase by 84% from the previous year. We are grateful, we are humbled.

Our grant applications have shown a steady increase in 2014 - 2015 from the previous year. We expect this to increase as we forge new partnerships across the city. We continue to process grant applications quickly and responsibly, with an aim of making a decision within ten days from the date of receipt. 

We move forward with the intention of keeping the charity 100% volunteer-led. We recognise that this could, and probably will, impact on our personal time (all Trustees have commitments etc) but we felt strongly, very strongly in fact that almost all of the fundraising donations we receive (91%) is given to the individuals and the families who need it most in the form of grant funded services and items to improve quality of life. 

The Trustees and I have all been affected by cancer at some point, either as someone living with cancer, a carer or a close friend of someone affected by cancer. We have a good idea of how life can change when a diagnosis is given. That's why we do what we do, that's why we will continue to do what we do. 

Thank you all for your support so far. Let’s build on this for 2015 and beyond

Simon x
Chair

Elizabeth, Simon and Siobhan

The C Word

The C Word was shown on TV for the first time this week. For some this was was too tricky to watch, too upsetting and too close to home. For many  though, this was an opportunity to see how a life living with cancer really is.

Our very own Alison Gordon read the book and watched the TV programme. Ali has also experienced cancer first hand.  The C Word story shares several similarities with the coming together of the complete strangers of Annabel's Angels, or The class of 2012, as described so well by Ali below. Please take a few moments to read on: 

"I found Lisa Lynch’s book The C Word back when I was nearing the end of my active treatment for breast cancer. Her honesty, and outspokenness appealed to me. I loved her humour, and saw a lot of my own crazy coping strategies in her descriptions.

She became my idol, a champion, someone that had taken on ‘the b*llshit’ and beaten it. It gave me increased confidence that I could do the same. Someone that wasn't just surviving, someone who was living.

I was devastated to hear that she’d had a recurrence and died, it wobbled me to the core. I learnt of this in the first year after my own treatment ended, the time when everything seems so uncertain, perhaps the only certain thing is the recurrence of thoughts and fears that it will return. At the time when those closest to you feel relieved the worst is over and let out a sigh of relief. After the initial adrenaline surge, you emerge with wobbly legs, mistrusting your body, becoming hyper sensitive to every twinge, or pain and losing the ability to switch off worry and anxiety. However this all lies beneath the surface, as on the outside you (attempt) to appear composed, as your hair begins to grow, and the rounded steroid cheeks deflate and you aim to shake the Tamoxifen pounds.  Life beyond diagnosis can be difficult.

The C Word was brilliantly brought to life this weekend, and I imagine many people wept into their tissues as the story unfolded, and many sadly avoided watching as had been personally affected by a similar experience. I hope that many women felt prompted to check their breasts as a result, and sincerely hope that they continue to do so. The story highlights the importance of support, of friendships and humour. The touching scene of the three friends meeting up in Brighton for the day, although sadly never really happened, plays on the importance of sharing with others and how peer support is essential.

There are many complexities to being a younger woman with breast cancer, apart from the obvious fact we’re below the age for routine screening. There’s being the token youngster in a sea of older faces at oncology departments, and given the ‘head tilted’ look that you are too young to be here.  We all know cancer can affect you at any age, but why do we never see peers at the hospital when you are waiting? At times like this you need to meet people in a similar situation to yourself to really feel the support, to fit in. Groups like the Younger Breast Cancer Network are a blessing and have grown from strength to strength over the past 3 years. No subject is taboo, thankfully! 

Just like Lisa, I found comfort in blogging, posting my first blog just 2 days after my diagnosis. I reached out to Macmillan’s Community Forum for support, not really knowing what else to do, if I'm honest. I needed to find someone else who felt the same, a safe place to say what I really felt. There had to be someone else out there with a boob that was trying to kill them too wasn't there ? The anger, fears, frustration all the things you daren't say out loud could be unloaded. I typed away under my alias, I could be real, let all those emotions spill out over the keyboard.

I never really expected to find friends, but I did, and these friends were there throughout the night when family members lay sleeping beside you unaware of the terrors in your mind. Tales of side effects, sharing coping skills, exchanging (poor) humour, and reassurance. We filled the online forums and threads with our messages of support for one another. More details were swapped and shared in private messages. A support network of anonymous women around the world swapping stories and tips, part of the ‘club’ no one wants to join.  As our friendships evolved, our confidence did too and a group of us, the Class of 2012, swapped our exchanges from Macmillan to Facebook, where we became real, sharing images, videos, and positive posts of encouragement to one another. We weren't hiding behind our nicknames any more, we’d let other people into our real lives.

Annabel’s Angels was born out of this friendship; when Annabel died, we, the Mac mates, The Class of 2012, were devastated and transferred our support to Simon and Annabel’s family and to each other.  Our friendship became tighter, and we became closer. It’s been 3 years since the Class of 2012 formed, we've lost some friends along the way, some have developed secondary cancers and are undergoing treatment and some are busying themselves with life beyond diagnosis. I am incredibly proud of my Mac mates, they are the most incredible, tenacious, remarkable women ever and the gift of friendship we extended to each other has seen us through challenging times. My mother whilst undergoing treatment for Leukaemia always said, ‘It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.’ I wholeheartedly agree, and I’d add, life is nothing without friends."  

http://alrighttit.blogspot.co.uk/

The Laura Centre - supporting bereaved adults & children in Derby

A few of our Trustees visited The Laura Centre recently. Corin and Simon met with Elaine, the Chairperson of the Derby centre, and Jemma, the Community Fundraiser at their centre on Vernon Street.  

Opened by the bereavement charity COPE in 1991, The Laura Centre offers specialist bereavement counselling to parents whose child has died and to children or young people who have been bereaved of a parent or significant person.

The head office is based in Leicester. Elaine explained that all enquiries and referrals are handled there. The Laura Centre also has local centres operating in Derby and Coventry. All offer wide-ranging individual and group support as well as a variety of alternative therapies.

Two qualified counsellors split themselves across three days during the week in Derby - two days are spent counselling adults, and one day counselling children. On average, they support four customers per day. 

The centre has only opened up its doors to children since March 2015. There is already a waiting list as, unfortunately, bereavement counselling is very much in demand.

The centre would like to open up its doors more often, but a lack of funds prevents this from happening. It costs £150,000 per year to run the centre as it currently is, and Jemma, the community fundraiser, is often rushed off her feet identifying and securing new leads to bring more funds in. 

One way to promote the centre and bring funds in is to hold participative events in the community. Jemma is currently helping to organise the annual Colour Blast Dash run taking place at Darley Park in Derby on Sunday 10 May.  A 2.5k run and 5k run will be taking place during the morning. All runners will start wearing a white t-shirt.  During the run they will be peppered with brightly coloured paint by the Laura Centre team and members of the public. It's a great opportunity to do something a bit fun, a bit different and, just a little bit naughty.  And to raise some funds for the local centre.

Annabel's Angels will be entering a team for the Derby event. We will be raising funds to support both the Laura Centre and our own charity grant programme. Feel free to say hello on the day, pelt us with paint or, better still, sign up and join us. 

For more information about The Laura Centre click here http://www.thelauracentrederby.org.uk/

To sign up for the Colour Blast Dash click here http://www.colourblastdash.org/Locations.html

Evaluating, listening and supporting.

A key aim of ours is to reach more patients and families in Derby directly affected by cancer. We want to reach them and help them before their condition gets too tricky. We want to reach them before it's too late.

We can only do this by continually spreading the word about who we are and what we do.  We keep the paperwork down to an absolute minimum, and we give a grant decision as soon as we possibly can. We work closely with Macmillan Cancer Support, Treetops Hospice and the Royal Derby Hospital teams to ensure our name reaches far and wide. We're very grateful to these and more for pushing us out there, for suggesting Annabel's Angels to those who might need us. 

Being a very young charity, the need to capture the thoughts and opinions about our work from those we help is so important. This feedback helps us to see where we go wrong, and where we do right. And, of course, how we can improve. This feedback also helps others understand more about us. It gives the public an idea as to what items/services they can request from us. It paints a picture of family life and helps us all to fully understand the impact of our support. 

We're always so very grateful for the feedback we receive from those we support. With this in mind we wanted to take the opportunity of sharing some words from a family we supported in November 2014.

How easy/difficult was it to make contact with Annabel’s Angels? 1 to 5 (1 being very difficult, 5 being very easy).

5 Very Easy

How easy/difficult was it to complete the Grant application form? 1 to 5 (1 being very difficult, 5 being very easy).

5 Very Easy

Did we respond to your Grant request quickly enough?

Yes very quickly

Has the Grant made a difference to your life? If so, how? If not, why not?

Yes, it took huge pressure off at Christmas

How can we improve our Grants Programme?

I don’t think you can improve. It is a fantastic charity.

Would you recommend Annabel’s Angels to others? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, nice simple process to help people that need it!

Please help us to reach more people. Please talk about us, share our social media posts, suggest us to those who might benefit. We can't ever take the cancer away unfortunately, but we can take away the burden of living with cancer, if only for a little while. 

To apply for a grant please see the Grants Programme section on the website.

The Bubble

The Bubble Inn is a pub/restaurant and hotel in Stenson, Derbyshire. The owner, Connie Eleftheriou, and his staff team have been supporting Annabel's Angels since early 2014. Our wristbands are available for sale on the bar, and our posters, pull up banners and logo can be found dotted around the place.

Saturday 29 November 2014 saw Connie and the team hold a charity raffle night with all proceeds going to Annabel's Angels. The night raised a total of £550, a fantastic amount. Our Chair, Simon, got up on stage and gave a quick history about the charity and thanked Connie for his continued support. It's clear to say they've become firm friends.

A huge thank you to Connie, his fantastic team and, of course, the customers of The Bubble Inn. We're looking forward at continuing our special relationship into 2015 and beyond

Simon 

Alvo Boys race night

Alvo Boys football club chose to hold a charity race night on Saturday 22 November at The Coronation pub with all funds raised going towards Annabel's Angels grants programme. Our Chairperson Simon and fellow committee member Matt were on hand to take part in the fun on the night (they even took part in a few sneaky bets!) 

It was a fantastic night, full of fun, real community spirit and, of course, generosity in abundance as the amount taken and donated on the night hit a whopping £1000. A huge thank you to Ant, Julie and the Alvo Boys committee, managers, players and supporters for making this a truly magnificent event. A big thank you to the staff and customers at The Coronation pub too. 

A day at Treetops Hospice

A day at Treetops Hospice

Many of you will know that our Public Grants programme is available to people of all cancer types at any stage of their cancer journey. Newly diagnosed and long term diagnosed people can apply for a grant to help improve their quality of life and that of their family. This could be help with shopping bills, childcare assistance, complementary therapy and much more. We’re still a very young charity and as such it’s important for us to make ourselves heard, particularly with local cancer support services. So, we’ve been busy getting out and about recently visiting local health and social care services to raise our awareness.

Simon, our chair, spent a morning with members of the staff team over at Treetops Hospice in Risley. Treetops Hospice provides respite and palliative care for adults with illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis. It also provides help and support to their carers and families. The Risley facility has a Day Care Unit for the public and a Bereavement Service for adults and children.

The Treetops Hospice at Risley doesn’t have any beds. It is more of a day service whereby people living with a terminal illness usually come to the centre once a week for respite care, a change of scenery and an opportunity to take part in a range of activities and therapies ranging from arts/crafts, aromatherapy, reflexology and much more.

It sits in beautiful grounds; 12 acres of lush green fields and tall trees surround the centre. Large windows let the lush Derbyshire light in filling the centre with a natural warm glow.

Lizzie Banks and Alison Hembrow took their time showing me round the centre asking and answering questions as we went along. Lizzie told me about the Hospice at Home service:

“This service has been developed for patients who wish to be cared for at home wherever possible. Our team of qualified nurses and health care assistants offer support day or night. Overnight stays give carers the chance to have a good night’s sleep, while a few hours during the day gives carers a break to go shopping or have time for themselves.

The Hospice at Home team are all trained and experienced in caring for people who have palliative care needs. All our care is delivered in accordance with the District Nursing care plan, and we work closely with the patient’s Primary Health Care team.

Hospice at Home is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. A nurse visit will last between 3 and 9 hours depending on your needs. Our standard night shift is 10pm – 7am, giving carers the much needed rest to support their loved ones during the day.

Our nurses offer both nursing and emotional support to patients and their families. We give families the opportunity to be as involved as they wish in caring for their loved one, whilst recognising and promoting both privacy and dignity at this very difficult time.”

Simon and Alison in the new Bereavement facility – The Cheetham Centre for adults and children.

Alison went on to tell me about her role as Support and Information Nurse Specialist:

“When people are faced with a life limiting illness many things are thrown into turmoil and there are always questions. Our Support and Information service offers help in a variety of ways. People may just need a sounding board to make sure that they have understood what they have been told or they may need things clarifying as what they been told hasn’t quite sunk in yet or they’re a bit confused by it. People may just need to come and talk to someone over a cup of tea who has an understanding of what is happening to them so that they don’t feel so alone through what can be a difficult and challenging time.

I offer support and information in many areas including symptoms and treatments, finances and benefits and have many links with local support professionals and groups. ”

The centre truly is an amazing place. The hospice’s £3 million a year running costs is predominantly self-funded, with some services supported by health contracts. As you’d expect, the fundraising team is a very busy team always on the lookout for new ideas to help bring more donations in. Volunteers play a key role in community fundraising, businesses too. Short-term activities and challenges help people to feel like they’re doing their bit to support the centre. There is also the opportunity to support Treetops on a longer term basis by either offering your time (as a regular fundraiser, admin roles, counselling support and more), a regular monthly donation or leaving a gift in your will

I came away feeling at peace, humbled and inspired to build on this meeting. At its core is a highly dedicated staff and volunteer team, all committed to supplying the highest level of care, dignity and support for patients, carers and families.

Services are free for everyone, they’re not means tested at all.

I’m really looking forward to working with Treetops to promote and facilitate our Annabel’s Angels grants programme. The Annabel’s Angels team will continue to support the work of Treetops and look for new ways of working together in partnership to support more local people living with cancer to improve their quality of life.  

Simon Hancox

06/11/2014

For more information about Treetops Hospice visit www.treetopshospice.org.uk

For more information about Annabel’s Angels visit www.annabelsangels.co.uk

Ben Nevis August bank holiday climb

We're pleased to announce that our team of trekkers completed their August ascent of Ben Nevis (1344 metres) over the August bank holiday weekend. We had a fabulous time and we were blessed with stunning scenery and sunshine. We'll share a fundraising update shortly :)