In Good Company: Norfolk businesses support local people affected by cancer
Norfolk and Waveney’s cancer charity, Big C, is launching an innovative new corporate partnership programme ‘In Good Company’, which aims to work together with Norfolk’s businesses to provide multi-level support for those in the community affected by cancer.
8,000 people each year on average are diagnosed with cancer in Norfolk and Waveney, deeply affecting their lives and of those around them. Cancer is tough on business too, with UK industry losing an estimated £15.8bn each year due to the impact of cancer in
the workplace.*
Big C’s story began in Norfolk and Waveney. In the 1970s, two young men David and Clive, found themselves with cancer and having to travel to London and Cambridge for treatment, often finding this harder than the treatment itself.
They vowed to do something so that local people would have access to the best treatment and support closer to where they live. Today, their vision has become a reality, with over £32 million being raised so far and nearly £3 million raised each year by the local community, creating the largest cancer charity in East Anglia.
The charity has also established three Big C centres located at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, in Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth and a hub at the Louise Hamilton Centre in Gorleston. These centres provide an oasis of specialist emotional and practical support for those with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones, away from a clinical environment.
As the charity approaches its 40th anniversary in 2020, Big C is hoping to sign-up some of Norfolk’s larger companies to work closely with the team to develop a cancer support strategy. A bespoke plan will be created, tailored to the needs of each business and the people within it, but may include expert support for directors or HR personnel on best practice in supporting someone with cancer in the workplace, or one to one support for individuals.
The charity will also provide fundraising support for the business.
Dr Chris Bushby, Chief Executive at Big C explains, “The success of a company relies on its people, but life is full of unexpected challenges that those individuals may have to face. Cancer sadly affects many in our community every year and whether you have received a personal diagnosis, or you are caring for someone affected by cancer, life doesn’t stop, and it can have a huge impact on everyday life.
“Big C’s new ‘In Good Company’ partnership programme offers the region’s larger employers an opportunity to provide outstanding well-being support for their team and to demonstrate their commitment as a people-focused business. We would urge local companies to get in touch to talk to us about how we can work together and support them in their fundraising for Big C.”
Big C also runs a Charity of the Year initiative which it welcomes smaller businesses to get involved in.
If you would like to discuss becoming a Big C Partner, please contact Nicky Burgis on nicky.burgis@big-c.co.uk. To learn more about the work Big C does to improve the lives of those affected by cancer in Norfolk and Waveney, please visit big-c.co.uk
*University of Oxford http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2012-11-07-cancer-costs-uk-economy-£158bn-year
