Cally Worden

I have had various Cancer experiences within my family. I lost my dad when I was 10. My brother had Stage 3 cancer through 2019, we nearly lost him as well.

That triggered a re-alignment of my own values and where I wanted to go in my life.

I wasn’t happy with some other areas of my life.

The job cropped up by chance and it leapt out at me for all those reasons.

I wanted to do something meaningful, something for myself.

My very favourite part is the team we work with; the Apprentice team is close knit and reflective of the attitude we all have towards not just the job and also life itself and the situations we find ourselves in.

It’s the nicest team I’ve ever worked in.

That then flows out into the job; if you’re happy in the environment, that flows out into the
work you’re doing.

Our week is broken up in a structured way. There are three areas:-

One day is a College day working towards our formal qualification and that’s outside of Macmillan;

Two days a week is theoretical learning about Welfare Rights theory which is extensive and in-depth course on all aspects of the Welfare Rights system;

The other two days is putting that theory into practice based around being on the live telephone lines. I’m supporting the energy team at the moment and we’re taking calls supporting applications for Personal Independence Payment. It’s great to be a part of that.

My kids. They’re the centre of my World at home. They’re curious about the job and what it means. 

I like to experience life in lots of different ways; I’ve had quite a few big life changes. I wake up feeling fired up and ready to go to work. 

I’ve just had 10 days off, when I woke up this morning I was excited to come back to work. I haven’t had that feeling in years. Usually you wake up after a holiday and you’re dreading coming back.

It’s a very supportive organisation, I have to work my work life around my kids at the moment and Macmillan has been so supportive of that. From the word go, Macmillan talk about opportunities and development and not pigeon hole-ing you for the rest of your life. 

The emphasis is on the wider Macmillan and with that comes the opportunity to shift your career.

I’m part of a Nordic Walking Group, I do daily meditation and I love sleep stories. 

I like to enter writing competitions, and a few years ago was shortlisted for the Flash Fiction prize at the Norwich crime writing festival.