The Macmillan Cancer Support and Boots UK partnership was honoured with three awards at the 2015 Corporate Engagement Awards last night including the most prestigious award of the event, the Grand Prix Award.
The Grand Prix Award is given to the partnership which all judges see as the clear winner of all entrants in all categories and stands out the most. Judges described the Boots Macmillan partnership as ‘A brilliant initiative that is changing lives through increase awareness and self belief and support.’
Claire Singlehurst, Director of Corporate and Regional Fundraising, at Macmillan Cancer Support said: “To receive the Grand Prix Award for working together to improve the lives of everyone living with cancer is incredible! Six years into our partnership, our support for people affected by cancer is ever-increasing, with more Boots UK colleagues being trained and our innovative partnership working between stores and local Macmillan services. It is a strong sector-leading partnership of which we are really proud.”
Una Kent, Director of Corporate Communications and Social Innovation from Boots UK, says “Every day in our stores our specially trained Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists and Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors are talking to and supporting people affected by cancer. As a result we know first-hand how important it is for them to be able the access the information they need and that we know will make a difference to their everyday lives, in a familiar and trusted environment. This award is all about recognising their amazing efforts.”
There are now over 2,000 Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists; better equipped through the partnership to provide in-store information and support, and over 400 trained Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors helping people manage the visible side effects of cancer.
Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist, Sanjay Nathwani, says: “I chose this profession because I wanted to make a difference. When the Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist role came about I seized the opportunity.
“It’s wonderful to be able to support people affected by cancer. Customers have told me it’s great we’re available on the high street, because cancer care shouldn’t stop at the hospital. It’s a great feeling once you help someone and they feel like they can take more ownership of their condition.”
The partnership was also awarded Gold in the Most Innovative Collaboration Award, which recognises organisations who have worked collaboratively to deliver impact and change and Silver in the Most Effective Long Term Programme Award category for its achievements which demonstrate a highly effective long term programme.
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[Image: from the awards of the team getting the prize]
For further information, please contact:
Claire Stuart on Claire.Stuart@boots.co.uk or telephone 0115 949 4702.
Notes to editors
About the Corporate Engagement Awards
The Corporate Engagement Awards programme was established by Communicate magazine, the UK’s leading publication for corporate communications. The awards are the UK’s only dedicated celebration for CSR programmes and sponsorships and the communications around those collaborations. Winners at the awards demonstrate a true benefit to both the company’s brand and its partners’ values. The awards programme is judged by a panel of in-house experts across sponsorship, partnerships, CSR and corporate communications and includes representatives from Paddy Power, National Grid, BAFTA and Jaguar Land Rover.
Macmillan Cancer Support and Boots UK
Cancer is often the toughest fight many people will face. Boots UK and Macmillan Cancer Support are working together to ensure everyone affected by cancer, wherever they are in the UK, has access through Boots to the best cancer information and support in their local community. Through the partnership, Boots is introducing bespoke training for its pharmacists, healthcare colleagues and No7 advisors to help deliver more ways for people affected by cancer to get information and support on the high street, in local communities and online. Boots colleagues and customers have already raised £9 million for Macmillan over four years. For more information, visit macmillan.org.uk/boots.
About Macmillan Cancer Support
When you have cancer, you don’t just worry about what will happen to your body, you worry about what will happen to your life. Whether it’s concerns about who you can talk to, planning for the extra costs or what to do about work, at Macmillan we understand how a cancer diagnosis can take over everything.
That’s why we’re here. We provide support that helps people take back control of their lives. But right now, we can’t reach everyone who needs us. We need your help to make sure that people affected by cancer get the support they need to face the toughest fight of their life. No one should face cancer alone, and with your support no one will.
To get involved, call 0300 1000 200 today. And please remember, we’re here for you too. If you’d like support, information or just to chat, call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk
About Boots UK
Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. With 2,511* stores in the UK, Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK’s leading skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves.
*As at 31 May 2015 excluding equity method investments