A MUM-of-three has pledged to “listen to the needs of local people” as she takes over a Hampshire cancer charity as its new CEO.
Wessex Cancer Trust has welcomed Rachel Billsberry-Grass to fill the position which was formerly run by Cait Allen for five years.
Cait has since left for a new position and Rachel is joining Wessex Cancer Trust - which has four support centres in Chandler’s Ford, Hythe, Isle of Wight and Bournemouth - with over 25 years’ experience in leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector.
It comes after the charity launched a fundraising crisis appeal in November to continue its services.
For the past few years, she has led her own consultancy company providing fundraising and marketing services.
Rachel said: “It is a huge honour to join Wessex Cancer Trust as CEO. Throughout the pandemic the charity’s excellent team of staff and volunteers have done everything they can to continue to support anyone in our region living with cancer and I know this has been hugely comforting to many people.
“I’m determined that Wessex Cancer Trust will continue to listen to the needs of local people and be at the heart of shaping local cancer support so that we can be here for even more people who need us in the future.”
Most recently, the netball coach has also been Interim Director of fundraising and marketing at both St Wilfrid’s Hospice and Carers Trust and Director of Fundraising at Chichester Festival Theatre.
During her career, Rachel has been responsible for securing millions of pounds’ worth of support from companies, charitable trusts and individual donors.
Her fundraising partnerships have won awards and she is a contributing author to the Directory of Social Change’s corporate fundraising book.
She is a Trustee of sport-for-social-change charity, The Change Foundation, and ex-Trustee of children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent. She is also a volunteer mentor at the Institute of Fundraising.
Wessex Cancer Trust supports 11,000 people every year with a drop-in service, professional counselling, therapies, and more services.
To make a donation, visit www.wessexcancer.org.uk.
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