Charity Number 1172100
Annual Report and Accounts 2021
Chairman’s Report 2021
Another lockdown, and another quiet year for Cancer on Board. Many cancer pa:ents are severely immunocompromised, so many people made the sensible decision and stayed at home even when lockdowns were li?ed, choosing to voluntarily isolate except when absolutely necessary.
Fundraising by any means was very difficult, with all face-to-face opportunity to engage with the public and spread awareness of the charity cancelled.
Luckily, we started the year in healthy finances, and had sufficient stock of badges and leaflets so that we did not to to order anything from our suppliers. Our only outgoings this year have been for postage and packing, and we ended the year with more money in the bank than at the start. In these strange circumstances, this is about all we can hope for.
Who we are
The objec:ves of the charity, as defined by our charter, are:
To supplement the treatment and care of persons undergoing treatment for cancer or in need of rehabilita:on as a result of cancer, by the provision of goods and materials:
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A. To promote and protect the physical and mental health of cancer pa:ents in the United Kingdom when using all modes of public transporta:on by seeking to enhance their comfort and overall experience whilst travelling on public transport;
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B. To support cancer pa:ents when engaging and interac:ng with the general public transport community; and
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C. To advance the educa:on and awareness of the general public transport community in all areas related to cancer and cancer pa:ents.
What we do
We provide visible evidence, in the form of badges, to alert other passengers on public transport that the wearer is a cancer pa:ent. This has two connected aims:
Firstly, it encourages able-bodied passengers to stand rather than sit, as the badge wearer may find it difficult to stand for the dura:on of their journey. This means cancer pa:ents can feel much more independent, and have the confidence to travel rather than being limited to staying at home.
Secondly, having a visible badge generally raises awareness of cancer pa:ents using public transport, and encourages wearers and other passengers to engage with one another. By making cancer pa:ents more visible in their interac:on with the general public, and encouraging dialogue, they improve the level of understanding of issues that cancer pa:ents encounter every day.
The benefit to cancer pa:ents is that they find it easier to cope with journeys on public transport. Cancer pa:ents o?en find that they lose their sense of independence, and the idea of going out in public, even for just a short while, can be daun:ng. The visual signal that you might be in need of a liRle extra considera:on from fellow passengers can make all the difference.
“As a young seemingly 'healthy' cancer patient, the 'cancer on board' badge has given me the confidence in these times to ride on public transport to my hospital appointments and elsewhere. I'm so glad to have the badge for times in the future when I don't feel well enough to stand for prolonged periods, especially as I'm not the typical person you might think to give up a seat for! The badge has also taken on a new purpose to me over this pandemic.”
What we have achieved
We have con:nued to concentrate on building our social media plaTorms, as well as rela:onships with chari:es and support groups who have offered to help distribute our badges in their promo:onal material or in care packs.
This year, we have posted around 300 individual Cancer On Board badges. This is in addi:on to sending packs of mul:ple badges and promo:onal leaflets to clinics, outpa:ent services and other chari:es. Our badges are also distributed by our friends at Macmillan, via their be.mac intranet site. Feedback from pa:ents keeps us going.
We have no:ced a shi? in the benefit of our badge during the Covid-19 pandemic: people started to use it more for anxiety whilst travelling and social distancing.
Social media
We con:nue to develop our social media profiles: TwiRer, Facebook and Instagram.
World Cancer Day
For World Cancer Day, we were invited by Cancer Central to collaborate with them and other cancer chari:es. The Standing Together film reached over 105 000 views across all social media channels – which was a great achievement and highlights how working together can help us reach even more people.
Taking part in the 100 Stories Podcast
In March, we were delighted to be involved in the 100 Stories Podcast, a podcast bringing together stories of people affected by cancer.
Welcoming Helena
November saw us welcome new trustee – Helena Traill. Helena got to know James and the Cancer On Board team in 2019 when she started 100 Stories, a book containing a hundred stories of people affected by cancer; a project trying to normalise the cancer conversa:on through online communi:es. Helena’s father has been living with two brain tumours for over 20 years and her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2019.
As a graphic designer, Helena is using her skill to tell stories and try to make a real difference. She is star:ng a Masters of Research in Healthcare and Design in October 2021 at the Royal College of Art (joint with Imperial University) where she will be exploring how digital design can bridge the gap between physical and mental wellbeing.
Future Plans
Our aim as a charity remains the same and we con:nue to explore links with other cancer chari:es.
Because of our specific aim at transport related issues, we are able to work alongside chari:es which focus on different aspects of the cancer experience. We look forward to forming new rela:onships with like-minded organisa:ons to promote the cause of cancer pa:ents everywhere.
Money Spent
Our expenditure of £177.20 for 2021 breaks down as below.
We started the year with sufficient stock of badges and promo:onal material in storage, so our only expenditure has been on postage and packing.
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Expenditure 2021
Packing Postage
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Postage £159.33 Sta:onery & Packaging £17.87
DonaJons
We received dona:ons this year via Virgin Money Giving, Donr, Paypal, and direct dona:ons by bank transfer.
In total we received £444.16
Our fundraising pracJces
Fundraising is carried out in accordance with the Code of Fundraising Prac:ce, as specified by the Fundraising Regulator. Trustees of the charity perform their du:es in line with the code, and also have par:cular regard to the Guide to Trustee Du:es CC20 published by the Charity Commission.
All money into the charity is raised from the public, and we employ no professional fundraisers. Cancer On Board has not made any grants, and earns no income from contracts. We have received no grant funding from central government or any local authority.
The charity has no trading subsidiaries, trustees receive no enumera:on of any kind, and we employ
What we plan to do with your donaJons
The charity has very few running costs, and is run by just four trustees, who do not receive payment of any kind for this work. This means that we can run a very lean organisa:on and spend the vast majority of our money on prin:ng badges and distribu:ng them to the point of need.
Assets and LiabiliJes
The trustees confirm, in accordance with the Charitable Incorporated Organisa:ons (General) Regula:ons 2012, that at year end the CIO did not have any outstanding guarantees to third par:es nor any debts secured on assets of the CIO.
Trustees
James McNaught Katherine Ruane Debbie Silverman Helena Traill
Charity Registered Address
29 Prowse Place London NW1 9PN
Lawyer
Mike JarreR Detchert LLP 160 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4QQ
Bank
Metro Bank – Holborn Branch 1 Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA Sort Code 23/05/1980 Account Number 23607454