Action Cancer

In Northern Ireland one in two of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. While cancer rates are on the increase, early detection and improved treatments mean that survival rates are improving - our services have never been needed more.

Action Cancer

Action Cancer is Northern Ireland’s leading, local cancer charity. Established in 1973 by Dr George Edelstyn, our mission is "to save lives, support and improve quality of life for people in Northern Ireland through cancer awareness, prevention, detection and support".

Annually, Action Cancer aims to provide early detection, support and prevention services to over 20,000 people. To do this we need to raise £4 million every year. All money raised for Action Cancer stays in Northern Ireland to support local people.

We provide early detection and health promotion services, and counselling and support services for cancer patients and their families, thereby making a real difference to people who are affected by or living with cancer.

Our Team

Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers work across the whole of Northern Ireland helping to save lives and support people affected by cancer. We deliver our services from Action Cancer House, Belfast, in local communities and workplaces and onboard our Big Bus, which travels to 200 locations throughout Northern Ireland annually. We also provide therapeutic services every week in 15 regional locations and we deliver our health promotion programmes to schools, community groups and workplaces all across Northern Ireland.

In addition to a competitive salary, Action Cancer offer a Total Reward Package which focuses on what our staff value, and includes a flexible mix of rewards designed to meet staff needs, their lifestyle, and their stage in life, including a time-off-in-lieu system, training, flexible family-friendly working arrangements, pension contributions, and excellent professional development opportunities.

In addition to a competitive salary, Action Cancer offer a Total Reward Package which focuses on what our staff value, and includes a flexible mix of rewards designed to meet staff needs, their lifestyle, and their stage in life, including a time-off-in-lieu accrual system, training, flexible family-friendly working arrangements, pension contributions, and excellent professional development opportunities.

Action Cancer staff - a mix of highly skilled professionals - are the most valuable asset to our charity. We offer a wide variety of training and development opportunities, and family friendly initiatives to enhance work- life balance, and to value and support individuals and family life. In recognition of this we were awarded Best Learning and Development Organisation in Ireland - Not for Profit Sector, and were winners of The Irish News ‘Best Place to Work’ Award, Employers For Childcare “Childcare Works Award”, Employers For Childcare Family Friendly Employer Award - Social Enterprise/Charity of the Year, and Employer of the Year Award by UTV Business Eye Awards.

We were also very proud to achieve Investors in People Gold Champion status, Investors in People Health & Wellbeing Good Practice accreditation, and Investors in Volunteers accreditation. These awards testament to our continued commitment to “have highly valued, trained, enthusiastic, focused and committed people who work together and engage with others to make a positive impact on our community”.

Our Values

Our strengths are that we are a Values driven charity with people being at the very centre of everything we do. Our services are proven to make a difference, we are a Northern Ireland charity run and controlled by local people, raising money, spending money, and supporting people only here in Northern Ireland.
We have three stated Values which are supported by seven expected behaviours.

Value 1: Putting People First
People are at the centre of everything we do.

Value 2: Making a Difference
Having a positive impact on everything we do.

Value 3: Having Integrity
Operating with full transparency, honesty and fairness in everything we do.

Our Values are supported by seven Behaviours. We Will...

1. Treat people with respect, care, dignity and consideration.
2. Listen, hear and respond positively to what people say.
3. Work together, supporting, adding value, learning from and sharing with others.
4. Embrace and develop new ideas, and ways of working.
5. Nurture, support, develop and equip our people to reach their full potential
6. Learn from the past, build upon and celebrate our success
7. Welcome scrutiny, taking ownership and responsibility for our actions.

Training and Development

• Organisation Wide Training Budget
• Paid Tailored Training and Development Support
• Comprehensive In-House Training Courses and External Development Opportunities linked to Role, Strategic Plan, Individual Requests, and Competencies
• Comprehensive Induction Program
• Continued Professional Development Support
• Structured Interim and Annual Performance Reviews
• Regular All Staff and Department Teambuilding Away Days and Events
• Cross Departmental Working Opportunities/ Workplace Shadowing
• Overseas Challenge Opportunities

Work Life Balance

• Standard 35 hour working week
• Flexible Working - hybrid working, compressed hours, staggered start times
• Enhanced paid annual leave - 11 annual statutory days, 31 days annual leave, Additional Day Paid Leave at Christmas
• Fixed Christmas closure throughout the entire organisation
• Christmas staff and family events
• Time Off In Lieu in compensation of additional hours worked
• Additional leave purchase scheme
• Sabbatical, Discretionary and Dependant care leave subject to eligibility
• People and Family Friendly Policies
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay subject to eligibility.

Social, Physical and Mental Health and Wellbeing

• BHSF Health and Wellbeing Corporate Plan subject to eligibility.
• Health and Menopause Support Policies and Return to Work programs
• Therapeutic supports – counselling, complementary therapies, acupuncture
• External care and support services – Staffcare & DAS confidential counselling helpline services
• External Occupational Health Service, health checks, screening, and vaccinations
• Regular Staff Health, Wellbeing, Awareness Opinion Surveys, and Staff Wellness Week
• Mediation services
• Staff kitchen facilities, free tea and coffee, and shower facilities
• Christmas family party and subsidised Christmas departmental celebrations
• Staff pool car
• Clear Policies and Procedures
• CSER Team representing staff opinion and arranging events throughout the year.

Financial Reward and Recognition

• Sector competitive salaries
• Action Cancer 6% pension contribution + 3.2% employee contribution + tax relief = 10% contribution to pension pot
• Enhanced Sick Pay (Service Related)
• Salary Sacrifice for Annual Leave, Pension, and Bike to Work Schemes
• Work related professional membership fees paid
• Mileage Allowance at the Prevailing HMRC Rate
• Additional Day Paid Leave at 10,15,and 20 Years’ service for staff on NJC payscales
• Free staff uniforms
• Free car parking
• Death-in-service benefit of £50,000 lump sum payable to nominee.