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May Community Update

June 6th, 2025

Welcome to our update on what has been happening in our communities recently.

Royal Community Reception

Rachel Mann, Payroll Supervisor in Colchester, recently attended a reception hosted by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Rachel was invited as a guest of Hope for Tomorrow, a charity whose work means that cancer patients can receive their treatments in a mobile cancer care unit, closer to their homes.

Here’s what Rachel shared of her day at Buckingham Palace:

“On 11th March 2025 I received a phone call from the CEO of Hope for Tomorrow, a charity I’ve been supporting since 2017. They were inviting me to attend a community reception, hosted by the King and Queen on 30th April at Buckingham Palace. Needless to say, I was completely overwhelmed – it’s not every day you get invited to Buckingham Palace! The reception was to be held in celebration of community-based cancer support initiatives, raising awareness of the needs of cancer patients. Hope for Tomorrow plays a big part in making the lives of cancer patients a little easier, as they provide mobile cancer care and support services across the country, working in partnership with NHS Trusts. Following my own diagnosis in 2016, I know how important these units are and how crucial it is that we keep them on the road.

As we entered the Palace, whilst still trying to take in our incredibly beautiful surroundings, we were treated to a performance by the Change and Check Choir and as the room began to fill up, we all knew it was going to be the most amazing evening. There were so many inspirational people in the same room, all either directly or indirectly affected by cancer and working to make life better for the 1 in 2 who will receive a diagnosis in their lifetime. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet the King or Queen but I did pluck up enough courage to speak to Amy Dowden. As a Strictly fan, this was one of the many highlights of the evening!

It was the greatest honour and privilege to have been chosen to attend the event with a charity that means so much to me.”

Read more on the work Hope for Tomorrow do here: Hope For Tomorrow | Bringing cancer care closer to patients

Rachel (in the green dress) and the team from Hope for Tomorrow at Buckingham Palace.

Ipswich Craft night

During Mental Health Awareness Week, our Ipswich office got together to host a Craft Evening where we saw members of the team lead sessions on watercolour paintings and painting Warhammer figurines.