Picture from , as part of 2020’s Winter Picture Festival
Looking back on this year, life might feel very different now than it did a year ago. One thing hasn’t changed: the Online Community is still here for you as a source of support. Here in the Community team, we are so proud of all of our members for sharing their experiences, and offering support to others. We wanted to reflect on everything that the Online Community has achieved in 2020.
Our Community Champions won the Vicky Clement-Jones Award
Here in the Community team, our volunteers winning the Vicky Clement-Jones Award was an absolute highlight of 2020. The Vicky Clement-Jones Award is for individuals or groups who use their own cancer experiences to improve the lives of other people affected by cancer. We’re sure you’ll agree that our Community Champions more than deserved this amazing recognition.
Over 15,700 new Online Community members
Approximately 15,770 of you joined the Online Community this year. We hope that you found the comfort and support that you were looking for, and felt able to offer support in return.
Over 114,500 posts and replies
Community members shared support and experiences in approximately 114,550 posts and replies on the Online Community. This included 14,844 discussion starters, and a huge 98,863 responses across all our groups.
This included an average of 12 posts and replies in our “New to the Community” group per day across the year. Members were here every day to welcome newcomers and help them find the right support.
New Community Champions
This year, we had three new Community Champion volunteers join the team, 1in1500, Beesuit and Chellesimo. We hope you’ll join us in saying thank you to them and all our volunteers for helping everyone here in the Online Community in 2020.
New Community team members
Eliza, Tom, Steph and Megan joined the Community team this year. This was part of Macmillan’s continued dedication to making the Online Community the best it can be.
Community platform upgrade
We upgraded the Community platform on 29 July, and have continued working hard to improve the site since then. Why not take a moment to read about what’s coming next for the Online Community in 2021?
76 Community News blog posts
Our busiest month on the Community News Blog was June, where we released 10 Community News blogs. Some of our most-read blogs this year included:
New Online Community advertising campaign
In November 2020, we launched an exciting new advertising campaign for the Online Community across social media. The aim of this campaign was to help more people who need us, find us here in the Online Community.
Webchat was launched for the Online Community
From November, you have now been able to talk to the Online Community team directly on live webchat. We’re here to help with any technical problems, or questions about using the site. We’re available 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday, if you’d like to pop on webchat and say hello.
A guest blog from Macmillan’s CEO, Lynda
We began 2020 with a guest blog post from Lynda around her own experience with a health scare. Lynda is a huge advocate of the Online Community and the amazing support you show each other.
A lot has happened this year, but our members have been there for each other every step of the way. Did you help someone in need, make a friend or write your first post this year? Share your own Online Community highlights from this year in the comments below.
