Cancer charity resilient despite impact of the pandemic

Cancer charity, HelpHarryHelpOthers, have announced a new addition to their board of trustees as they strive forwards despite the impact of the pandemic on their services and fundraising.

HelpHarryHelpOthers is a local cancer charity that supports adults and children affected by any cancer throughout Solihull and Birmingham. Throughout the pandemic, they have remained resilient and maintained their core services despite having a small team.

The team have had to think on their feet and adapt the charity's services to be delivered in alternative ways, such as by phone and zoom throughout each lockdown.

As well as introducing outbound welfare calls, online workshops plus a new 'Step Forwards ' 1-1 programme earlier on in the year, which gives a coaching and mentoring support to help clients focus on rebuilding their future, the charity are also about to introduce their own cancer specific support groups which will be facilitated by their lead counsellor and also a cancer survivor.

The first support group is due to start on 1 October and will run for 10 weeks and is for those affected by Breast cancer. With a different topic for discussion each week it is aimed to give therapeutic support. This will then be followed by a Male Support Group and a support group for Carers.

Harry 's mom and charity founder, Georgie Moseley said “I am very proud of our small team who have all come together and gone the extra mile for those affected by cancer. The pandemic has bought on increased fear and anxiety for which we could not just sit back. Many new arising issues and challenges were bought on by the pandemic and ones which we simply had to address for those most vulnerable.

"As always 'Team Harry ' stepped up to ensure that we provided additional support and implemented new services and sessions to help address the issues bought by all the change. It would be so easy to have sat back and slowed down during the pandemic however, our ethos is about providing accessible and immediacy of support to those affected by cancer in anyway. We listen to our clients, and its from their voices and experiences that our services evolve and expand with the urgency that they need ”.

The charity have also welcomed a new addition to their board of trustees to help support the vision and objectives of the charity going forwards.

David Baldwin, joint director of BK Plus and formerly director of Baldwins Accountants, has supported the charity since he first met Georgie in 2012. He is joining the rest of the board which include Georgie herself, Tom Ross, Robert Spittle, Jonathan Till and Joan Smith.

On David's appointment, Georgie said: “Having David Baldwin join our board is an exciting addition to our team. He has wholeheartedly supported HHHO since we first met and understands our mission and values. Whilst we have always classed him as part of our team, it 's a real honour to have him join us. David will undoubtedly strengthen our board as we continue to look and move the charity forwards.

"Of course, like many charities our fundraising has been hit hard throughout the pandemic and we anticipate that it won 't get easier for some time yet, however, our first priority will always those we help and like I said many years back 'All I can do is best I can as Harry 's mom '. Who knows what the future will hold but we hold the cancer community at the forefront of our minds and heart and we will always back that up with passion and determination to get through ”.

For more information about HelpHarryHelpOthers and their services, visit https://hhho.org.uk/

Pictured: Georgie and David in 2012 when he first began involved with the charity