A new look for CLLSA! A personal letter from CLLSA Chair, Marc Auckland

[pkguk2]

I am very pleased to announce some exciting changes for CLLSA. This is a big step in our development, and I want to explain why we have decided, on behalf of our members, to do this now.

The Association has changed enormously in what we do, and what we want to achieve, from those early beginnings in 2004. From just a few members, we have grown to over 3,000, with over 13,000 on our on-line Forum. This brings new challenges. The landscape in which we operate has also changed almost beyond recognition. There have been huge advances in treatment, but also more responsibilities placed on charities in terms of governance and regulation. All of this means that we, as an association, are in constant touch with authorities such as the government, NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as well as major pharmaceutical companies and sister charities.

To make sure we are heard by the people and institutions we need to influence, we need to raise our profile. We are, in some ways, in competition for attention with our much larger sister charities with their far greater resources. As the only UK charity dedicated to providing education, support and advocacy on behalf of CLL patients and their families, we need to make sure we are noticed and listened to.

After much thought, discussion and research, I am delighted to announce that we will be re-branding ourselves as CLL Support with a new, easier to navigate website, new booklet, leaflet and logo. The official name of the charity will remain the Chronic Lymphocytic Support Association, but CLL Support is shorter, says exactly what we do and is easier to remember for those people we want to influence. It will be the new ‘face’ of CLLSA and we hope that everyone will like it and appreciate why we have felt the need to make these changes.

Strengthening our brand is an essential way for us to make an even more significant difference to everyone living with and affected by CLL.

As I said at the beginning, these are exciting and challenging times for CLL treatment and for us as we focus on the future. We intend to face those challenges head-on and continue to fight on behalf of patients and everyone affected by CLL. We firmly believe our new branding will help us in our mission.

Marc Auckland

Chair of trustees

[PlanetaryKim]

Congratulations! Sounds like a good move in all ways! Thank you all for your work on behalf of CLL patients

[PlanetaryKim]

And I like the new banner for the forum. Very nice.

[Fran57]

Thank you for all your hard work!

Fran 😉

[JustAGuy]

Thank you for your labour of love. It really is a unique and beneficial forum. One of the reasons I am on this forum is that it is not only clinical in its content, compared with other sites. When I started on this unchosen road, reading the scientific, medical articles we're so frightening and caused a lot of stress and worry. CLLSA has a human, patient's perspective. Real people with the same condition, and who are managing in life, and many of whom are doing very well. And many of the members are very knowledgeable and have the ability to explain the cold technical facts in a kinder way, in the context of a fellow patient. I have learned much about our condition and how to live and cope well from this site. Thanks again for doing what you do, and to all the admins and volunteers, and for that matter to everyone who contributes to the site.

Your advocacy in the UK and Europe is certainly a great benefit to our worldwide community. We are a worldwide community too, I wonder if you might have potential to have even wider influence?

[Stelladoro]

Just a question....dont k ow about anyone else with SLL....Feels a little left out....its all about CLL could SLL not be included in the brand?

[pkguk2 Partner CLL Support Association in reply to Stelladoro]

Hi Stelladoro. I quite understand your comments, and we are moving towards making sure we include SLL in everything we do. Our strap-line is: 'Helping those affected by CLL and SLL' and you will see this on our new website and literature.

[Stelladoro]

Ok thanks

[Border-Collie]

Sound reasoning and a great new look

[Peggy4]

Sounds great. Many thanks for all your hard work.

Peggy 😀