A day in the life of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust…

Each month we will be interviewing our charity partners. To kick start this feature, and to coincide with Cervical Screening Awareness Week,  we asked Maddy Durrant Communications Manager at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to talk us through a day in the life of their charity.

Tell us about the team…

The team at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is small but perfectly formed – there’s currently 12 full time members of staff which means there is a lot of cross working particularly when it’s all hands on deck. Our busiest periods are usually during our two awareness weeks (in June and January) and everyone always gets involved which was great to see with our last campaign #SmearForSmear.

We sit in an office with other charities and not-for-profits and have started a few cross charity groups including a marketing/comms working group. A colleague has also started a fun softball team called The CANtelopes – don’t ask!

What do you love about your role at the charity?

Coming from the private PR sector, my absolute favourite part of the job is knowing that what we do every day has a direct impact on people’s lives. It sounds like a cliché but it really does help you get out of bed every morning. Particular highlights are when we speak to women affected and hear how one helpline call or perhaps a question answered through our Ask the Expert service has really supported them through a tough time.

Tell us your top three reasons why what you do is so important…

1) There isn’t enough awareness about cervical cancer – it’s the most common cancer in women under 35, every woman should know what causes it and how to prevent it.

2) Cervical cancer can be prevented yet every year the number of women taking up their cervical screening invitation is going down. Our aim is to significantly reduce incidence and deaths from the disease. Our vision is to see a future where cervical cancer is a disease of the past

3) We’re the only charity in the UK doing what we do, and we’re award winning – we support those affected and campaign for prevention as well as best care and treatment. In March 2015 we received the prestigious GSK IMPACT Award in association with the King’s Fund; designed to reward charities that are doing excellent work to improve people’s health. It’s great to be recognised for the work we do but there is much more still to be done.

Have you taken part in a Dream Challenge?

I took part in Women V Cancer cycle Cuba in 2013 and it was one of the best physical things I’ve ever done. It was an incredible experience and I met some truly inspiring women. I’d love to do one every year!

My dream however is to take on Kilimanjaro Trek.

Maddy Durrant, Communications Manager - Jo’s Trust.

Thank you to Jo’s Trust for being part of our blog. 

To learn more about how you can get involved in Cervical Screening Awareness Week 15-21 June 2015 visit www.jostrust.org.uk.

We are always inspired by the work of our charity partners and proud to be able to offer a channel of support via our events. However we only provide the events. It is you our wonderful participants taking on these epic challenges that do all the hard work. So high fives to all of you! 

Feel inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit http://www.actionforcharity.co.uk/index.php . Email events@dreamchallenges.co.uk or call 01590 646410