Help & Care co-host a celebration event at the MAST Studios in Southampton to reflect on the first phase of ‘Trans Aware Cancer Care’ project and the unique research methods undertaken.
This research project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and is committed to seeking better access to cancer care for the trans+ community. People from across the trans+ community, NHS, third sector organisations, academic establishments and more came together at this event.
Over the last year, four trans+ community researchers have been supported to engage with the trans+ community and its allies, using art-based methods to capture healthcare experiences and reflections. The team have attended a huge calendar of Pride events, as well as creating an online chat and scheduling workshops to reach the community.
Sharing personal stories and experiences
At the event, the team shared a large flag built up of squares created by those attending the engagement activity. The squares tell personal stories, experiences and reflections of healthcare from trans+ individuals and allies, which will help to inform trans aware cancer care. People in the room were invited to add their own reflections, as well as their pledges and commitments for service transformation and improvement.
Zak, Community Researcher said: “Given that the trans+ community are often excluded from decisions about us, it is good to see research that involves us from the ground up.”
Katie, Community Researcher said: “We had our Trans Aware Cancer Care celebration event today and it was amazing. Allyship is a choice and a promise we make every day. Not just at work. Not when we wear our rainbow lanyards. Every. Day. Allyship is a verb- let’s do it”.
Early findings from the project highlight both positive and negative experiences within the community. While it is clear that long term transformation is needed, the project has highlighted some steps that can be taken today to make the cancer care pathway more accessible for trans+ people.
Our Communities Against Cancer team attended this event
Alison and Kishor from Action Hampshire said “This has been a great celebratory event. We will be aiming to incorporate the lived experiences we heard from the community researchers in things like the Communities against Cancer workshops we provide.”
If you’d like to find out more or be part of the next steps, visit the Trans Aware Cancer Care section of this website
