CEO of local cancer counselling charity, We Hear You (WHY), Melissa Hillier, has looked back on another ‘unprecedented’ year offering support to people affected by cancer.
“As I sat down to write these words, I realised that my opening paragraph was going to spark some deja vu from my 2020 opening lines!” said Melissa. “Another unprecedented year, and another year of trying to adjust to a ‘new normal’ with a few hiccups along the way…and certainly one we will not forget.
“The team at WHY have continued to work with amazing calm and focus; as we came out of the various lockdowns our WHY phone began to ring more and more and we have become extremely busy over the last few months. As we predicted; as the world opened up, so people began to think of their mental health and wellbeing and our counsellors have been here to support them.
“We have continued to deliver all our services, moving back to face-to-face as well as online work and in October this year WHY moved to new premises in Frome. We are so delighted to be able to have a bigger space for counselling and to be able to bring our team under one roof again after a few years of split office working.
“I will also be moving on from WHY in early 2022. It has been an incredible six years, and I have really enjoyed growing the charity and enabling us to support so many more people. It has been a total pleasure working with the WHY team, all our volunteers, funders and supporters and I will certainly miss everyone.
“I am continuing to work in the third sector at a charity looking at older people’s health issues and will certainly be keeping in touch!
“As the nights draw in and the weather turns frosty, we know that dealing with cancer and life threatening conditions can feel increasingly hard, and at WHY we are continuing to provide safe spaces for people to talk about their feelings and emotions and to support everyone through another challenge winter season.
“If you would like to talk please call 01373 455255 or email info@wehearyou. org.uk.”
Picture: Melissa Hiller.
