Progress made on new cancer support centre

Big C Charity

The charity’s next milestone will be to open a new state-of-the-art cancer support centre in Dereham Road, Norwich. The new facility is purposefully located in the heart of the community as a wellbeing centre for those living with and beyond cancer, offering the opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea and a conversation with qualified nurses, attend counselling sessions, have complementary therapies and receive expert information and support on a wide range of topics from exercise and nutrition to finance and welfare. The new centre will complement the services of Big C’s acute Information and Support Centre at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. 

Construction work is progressing well with the first stage demolition having taken place and works carried out on the roof. There have also been structural changes taking place internally and there will soon be more external changes to see.

Carole to retire from Big C

Carole Slaughter, Big C’s Head of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, has been busy leading the charity’s fundraising campaign ‘Nearer to Home’ over the past few years, which has raised over £670,000 for the appeal to build and run the new centre. The time has come, however, for Carole to hand over the reins as she is due to retire at the end of 2021. 

Carole says, “The Nearer to Home Appeal has been a key part of my role for the past couple of years. It’s been very exciting to see work begin on site in the last few weeks and the building start to be transformed. I’m hoping to continue to be involved with Big C once I retire and so I can’t wait to see the fruition of this great project to create a very special facility for Norwich and the wider region. One that will mean a great deal to those facing the challenges of cancer.”

Carole is a familiar face within the Norwich community, having been Marketing and Events Manager of Jarrold for 16 years before joining Big C in 2019. She has also been a committee member of Norwich Business Women’s Network since 2007, taking on the role as Chair from 2015 to 2019. In all positions, fundraising for charity has been an important focus. In fact, she joined the Norwich Business Women’s Network to raise funds for Big C via her work at Jarrold!

Carole says, “It does seem as if it was my destiny to spend the final stage of my career at Big C! It’s been a very rewarding time, despite the challenges of the pandemic which of course was not part of the plan. However, it feels very worthwhile to have helped the charity emerge in a strong position and ready to forge forwards boldly, thanks to some generous grants, donations and the loyal support of East Anglian businesses and the wider community. 

“With so much planned for Big C both short term and further ahead, it’s a fantastic time for someone to join Big C to lead the fundraising and marketing team and I look forward to seeing how it all progresses in the future.”

Help Big C to pave the way

Big C is asking members of the community to ‘buy a brick’ to help fundraise the final £80,000 for the new cancer support and information centre in Norwich.

The brick pavers will be used to line a walkway in the new sensory garden in the grounds of the new Dereham Road centre, which is set to be completed in spring 2022.

The high-quality pavers cost £50 each and can be personalised with a two-line dedication in black lettering.

Carole said, “This is a lovely opportunity for people to raise money for the new centre, while helping to create our sensory garden which will be an uplifting and peaceful place where many people using our services will spend time. You can buy a paver in your own name, as a business, or in the name of a loved one. Your dedication will be an engraving which will sit below the surface of the paver. We’ve had so much support already from the Norfolk community which has been very inspiring in these challenging times. We are asking for one final push to help us reach our £750,000 target. Thank you to everyone.”