Four years on and still going strong!
You may have seen over the last few weeks that Action Hampshire is once again launching its Communities Against Cancer project! We are delighted that Action Hampshire has received further funding from Wessex Cancer Alliance to continue the project for a further two years.
Improving early diagnosis
Communities Against Cancer focuses on improving early diagnosis by engaging with communities about cancer and raising awareness. Having been involved with the project since near the beginning in 2019, I can now pause and reflect upon where it started, the work that’s taken place over the last four years and all the things we want to achieve during the next exciting phase.
Where my journey began
In 2019 I knew nothing about cancer. Apart from reluctantly going along to cervical screening, albeit always late and after several reminder letters! Odd then perhaps that I applied for a role as Project Coordinator for a new cancer awareness project – Communities Against Cancer. However, I was drawn to the project and felt I had many of the skills listed in the person specification. I was reassured by the job advert that said I didn’t need to know a lot about cancer (were they sure about this? I did double check at the interview). The role was more about engagement, facilitation and working with communities – these I could definitely do!
To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what I was letting myself in for and don’t think I fully understood the complexity of the role at the beginning. The task was huge – to introduce and engage the VCSE (Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise) sector and communities with messages of cancer awareness. A subject many did not want to talk about. So, in May 2019 I quickly got to work, building relationships with the VCSE sector, communities and health partners across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. Alongside my colleagues, Kevin and Jo, we promoted the project and the grants we had available for organizations to deliver cancer awareness projects.
Delivering Cancer Awareness Workshops
Also, there was the small matter of designing and delivery Cancer Awareness Workshops for VCSE partners to enable them to feel confident in the messages of the project. I hadn’t designed training before and certainly not about cancer awareness. So, lots of hours were spent learning about cancer screening, signs and symptoms and how to reduce our risk of cancer. I researched what other health awareness projects were doing around the country. I came across lots of data on health inequalities and the barriers some communities face, putting them at greater risk of a late diagnosis. One of the key things I have learnt during this project is that early diagnosis saves lives. It informs all the work we do. The workshops had to focus on this and supporting people at greater risk of health inequity. These communities include those on low incomes, people with learning disabilities and people from some minority ethnic groups. Health inequalities have actually worsened rather than got better and we really wanted to make a difference to communities in our region.
So with some practice sessions with colleagues and checking in with our funders – Wessex Cancer Alliance, I started delivering cancer awareness workshops to VCSE partners. Although the thought of it terrified me (I’ve always hated talking in front of people and presenting) the response was positive which helped develop my confidence. People were really engaging with the project and wanted to be involved.
I always envisaged the sessions to be a 2-way workshop where we could start having conversations and learning together. It was never about providing volumes of information about cancer – people could do their own research for this. I also had to be clear that I was not from a clinical background, so the workshops were not about providing a medical perspective, rather about awareness and starting conversations with communities.
The move to online workshops was tricky but enabled more people to attend, and we welcomed colleagues from health, local authorities and academic partners. This added another positive dimension of learning across sectors and fitted positively with the Integrated Care System (ICS) model of collaboratively working across sectors for the benefit of the health of communities.
Making progress…
During the past four years, the VCSE sector has done an incredible job in raising awareness of cancer, especially with communities who face specific challenges in accessing healthcare and understanding cancer messages. Those with grants and indeed without grants have engaged with the project and delivered innovative cancer awareness projects across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. Grant recipients have included community radio stations, a local leisure centre, women’s cultural groups, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities and people experiencing homelessness.
Learning important lessons
We’ve learnt along the way that cancer can be a taboo subject in some communities and shockingly people can experience stigma and isolation following a diagnosis. This can then deter others from seeking help for possible symptoms. There have been challenges, such as Covid and delays in diagnosis and a screening backlog. People were reluctant to contact their GP out of concern for bothering the NHS during lockdowns or a fear of catching Covid. This has led to many sadly receiving a later diagnosis.
The NHS has made great strides to catch up and promote the need for people to come forward if they are concerned about a symptom. This remains the message. But challenges continue with gaps in the workforce, strikes and delays to some cancer treatment starting.
Recent developments in cancer awareness
Positive news is the arrival of the Targeted Lung Health Check – a solution to increasing the early diagnosis of lung cancer amongst smokers and former smokers. We’ve also seen more awareness raising with people in the media sharing their experiences and raising awareness around breast, bowel and prostate cancer. People are talking about cancer and the importance of early diagnosis in saving lives and this is just what we want to encourage more awareness.
Get you symptoms checked
If you’re reading this, worrying about a possible symptom of cancer you may have, then please don’t put it off any longer. Make that appointment with a GP to get it checked out. If it’s not cancer, it can be ruled out. But if it is, then finding it early is key. Likewise, if you haven’t responded to that cancer screening invitation, targeted lung health check letter or completed the bowel home testing kit, please get on and sort it now. It could save your life.
A new chapter
So we are now embarking on our next phase of Communities Against Cancer. With a new team, we will be busy supporting cancer awareness projects and delivering cancer awareness workshops to our VCSE partners and welcome colleagues from other sectors too. We want to reach communities and organisations we haven’t spoken to before and help tackle the stigma experienced by some communities. Please join in the conversation with us.
How can I get involved?
If you are part of a VCSE organisation in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight and you are interested in getting involved in Communities Against Cancer, then please get in touch. We have grants available of up to £3,000 and lots of support for you. You can find information on our website by clicking on the following link or email claire.vincent@actionhampshire.org
The team and I look forward to working with you!
Claire Vincent
