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The need for an extension

Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s in Cheltenham is located near to Cheltenham General Hospital which sees over 23,000 cancer referrals and 2,200 new cancer diagnosis each year.

We provideÌýfree practical, emotional and social support to people living with cancer, their family and friends from across the three counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and beyond.

The centre, which opened in 2010, was designed by the late Sir Richard MacCormac.

Originally planned to accommodate 3,000 visits a year, in the first year it was open the centre received 7,000 visits, increasing to nearly 20,000 visits in 2019Ìý – a reflection of the vital role Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s fulfils to our local community.

Given the significant increase in numbers, and the current room space is at 90% capacity, there is a huge need to extend the centre.

The pandemic has highlighted the long-established need for vital additional space in our centre.ÌýWe have been open and offering supportÌýand have found a lack of rooms and capacity for social distancing when people visit, has limited the number of visitors at the same time.

And though we have continued to support people in person, weÌýhave also delivered our programme virtually.ÌýOurÌýteam hasÌýbeen supporting more people online, over phone and through video calls, which means rooms are in demandÌýas privacy is reallyÌýimportant to us.Ìý

We recognise virtual support is an important way of reaching people who may not be able to come to our centre and willÌýcontinue to offer this as part of a blended package of support.Ìý

Our support has never been more vital as people face the immense anxiety and stress caused by coronavirus.Ìý

Fundraise for Cheltenham

We are delighted to announce that a £250k match funding pot has been made available for this centre.ÌýEvery donation you make to the project will be doubled and will take us closer to being able to break ground on our new extension.

ToÌýmake a donationÌýor fundraise towards our extension plans, please contact the Fundraising Team:

• Ìý01242 896400
• [email protected]Ìý

Our extension plans

Planning permission has been granted and the planned extension will be within the footprint of the existing garden.Ìý

This single storey will provide a further 75-85 sqm of floorspace to the existing 55 sqm, enabling the centre to accommodate larger group activities, in addition to new small group spaces - increasing the number of private rooms from five to nine, storage, and a WC.Ìý

• A new kitchen space. Enclosed in a curve that projects out into the garden creating a direct relationship with the entrance into the centre and where the kitchen table will be.ÌýÌý
• A big communal kitchen table is the heart of every Ö±²¥É«ÇéƬ’s centre, where people come to benefit from peer support or simply enjoy a cup of tea.
• We will reconfigure the existing kitchen space to create two new private rooms and turn the current library space into a small group room with double leaf doors, hung in the existing openings, to provide some privacy as required whilst being unobtrusive when open.
• A new garden – this will extend to the front of the site, providing a welcoming walkway from College Baths Road to the doorway.Ìý
• A new seating area – replacing the garden seating in the existing courtyard –Ìýwill be located in front of the lodge to take advantage of the suntrap.

With your support, we would be able to welcome more visitors to the newly improved centre in 2022 and continue providing our vital programme of cancer support to the local area.