My name is Maddy, I am the chair of the Canteen Board, and like you have had my own cancer experience. I am excited to write this letter to formally invite you to this year’s Canteen Annual General Meeting (AGM)!
For those of you that have attended an AGM before, you are now a seasoned professional, welcome back. For those of you that may be attending an AGM for the first time, welcome aboard. The AGM allows us to fulfil a number of our legal obligations as a registered charity. It is an important date in the Canteen calendar where we share with you, our members, how the organisation is tracking over the last 12 months and what our plans are for the future.
Details for this year's AGM are as follows:
- Date: Sunday 18th August 2024
- Time: 9:30am - 11:00am AEST
- Location: Mercure Sydney Hotel, 818-820 George Street, Sydney and will also be available via zoom. If you would like to watch online, please email [email protected].
Canteen continues to support young people when cancer comes crashing in, guiding us throughout our cancer journeys, however that may look. Over the last few years, the organisation has been able to diversify its services evolving into the Canteen we know and love today.
Since the last time we met for our AGM, Canteen has reached some amazing goals thanks to the remarkable work by the incredible Canteen staff and volunteers.
Some of these achievements include:
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Over 3,000 cancer navigation sessions were delivered through Cancer Hub to families dealing with a young person’s diagnosis.
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In the last year, Canteen provided intensive support to around 5,000 young people and parents while also helping around 75,000 people in the wider community through our education programs and free resources.
Canteen’s services are underpinned by our Impact team who conduct world-class psychosocial research with the ultimate goal of transforming the lives of young people affected by cancer. I’m proud to share that this important impact measurement work has revealed some positive, valuable insights into the outcomes young people see from engaging with Canteen.
Our impact measurement work tells us that:
- Canteen support helps four out of five young people feel better and cope better.
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When cancer turns a young person’s world upside down, their most critical needs are psychological support, information about cancer and connecting with other young people who understand what they’re going through.
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92% of young people say Canteen meets their needs.
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96% of young people are happy with the support they received and would recommend Canteen to a friend dealing with cancer.
At its core, Canteen is a youth led organisation, and a major part of that is the power of the young members at our Annual General Meeting. Not only does the AGM provide you with an up to date understanding on how the organisation is running and where it is striving to be in the future, it is also your chance to play a role in steering the organisation in the direction, you as the voice of the organisation believes it needs to be navigated in. This is your opportunity to share you views and stories on issues that are important to you. Voting forms are due back by 12.30pm (Sydney time) on Friday 16 August 2024 and I would encourage you all to fill those in if you are not attending the AGM.
Help Canteen ensure that no young person has to go through cancer alone.
Thank you and wishing you well,
Maddy Way
Chair of the Board