Cancer counselling charity at risk of closure

A charity which offers counselling for people with cancer and their loved ones is facing closure unless it can raise £55,000 before April.

Bosses at Frome-based We Hear You (WHY) say rising costs and a fall in income means the charity is in need of more donations.

WHY has been running for 31 years and supports about 500 people a year, giving them a space to talk about their illness. The charity says it acts as a "lifeline" for those who need it.

Chief operating officer Lucy Kitchener said she remained "optimistic" it could weather the storm and added the team was doing everything it can to "make sure the doors stay open".

According to the charity's own data, 46% of adults and 58% of children it supports report an improvement in their wellbeing after using the service.

Kitchener said the data showed "how impactful" the support it offers was.

"Our clients tell us that it's the only space they have to process the impact of cancer on their lives," she added.

"We have clients whose partners have died very suddenly and unexpectedly, and it becomes an absolute lifeline for them and for their children

"People tell us they feel more empowered, they get their confidence back, they can have hopes and dreams of positive things in their future and that people often feel kind of less isolated in their grief."

Charity trustee treasurer Rachel Notley used WHY when her partner was diagnosed with cancer and said it was hugely important to her.

She said she joined the team to "give back".

"We're now in this position where it really is crunch time for us," she added.

"It's very, very difficult.

"We care very much about being able to secure WHY for the future... but that fundraising now is getting very critical for us to be able to continue to offer services."

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