Six new projects funded to help improve access to cancer prevention support
Six organisations have been awarded grants from a new fund set up to improve awareness of cancer prevention in North Tyneside.
The Cancer Awareness Grant Fund was launched in June by Healthwatch North Tyneside with an appeal for local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to bid for grants.
The fund is a collaboration between Healthwatch North Tyneside, Northern Cancer Alliance and North Tyneside’s Public Health Department.
£15,000 has been invested in six projects, based across North Tyneside, that will use a variety of means to work with residents to recognise early warning signs of cancer, to promote healthier lifestyles that reduce cancer risk and encourage participation in screening programmes over the next 12 months.
Information gained about barriers to accessing screening and cancer-related support will be fed back to commissioners to improve these services for all North Tyneside residents.
The funded projects are:
Sarah’s Star will create a series of eight vodcasts with a local focus, aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of cancer-related issues in North Tyneside and beyond.
Justice Prince CIC will hold conversation workshops about healthy lifestyles and cancer risk whilst designing information to share within and around the Longbenton estate area to increase awareness. All work with be community-led.
Springfield Community Association will use an initial survey to find out the main cancer-related concerns of its varied user groups and arrange face to face Cancer Conversations around these topics.
Walking With in North Tyneside will use informal and trusted gatherings to help refugees and asylum seekers develop their understanding of cancer signs and symptoms and how to access help for any concerns. Myth busting to address how differing cultural and religious perspectives can act as a barrier to accessing screening or early help will play a significant part of this project.
Workie Ticket Theatre CIC will deliver two interactive theatre workshops using a short play reading as a catalyst for discussion around the challenges of early cancer diagnosis and treatment, particularly for women who may already experience barriers to accessing screening. A social media campaign will run alongside this to highlight key messages about cancer awareness.
Whitley Bay Big Local will develop the skills and confidence of volunteers to talk about cancer and healthy lifestyles with the community groups they run, empowering them to promote screening and early help for any concerns. Talking whilst doing an activity within a trusted group is hoped to create a safe space for people, and particularly men, to share their worries.
Paul Jones, Director of Healthwatch North Tyneside which is administering the new grant fund, said: “We were delighted with the response to our appeal for local organisations to apply for funding for projects which would aid cancer prevention in the borough.
“We had excellent submissions, more projects than we could fund, and look forward to working with the six successful bidders on a variety of initiatives over the next 12 months to help improve access to cancer screening programmes and promote healthy behaviours to lower cancer risk.”
The funded projects will have the opportunity to work closely with members of North Tyneside’s Public Health Team and NHS cancer services to receive support and access to additional resources to maximise their impact.
If you are interested in this work, please keep an eye out on progress with the individual projects and see how you could get involved. For more general questions, please contact Mary Low, Engagement and Insight Officer at Healthwatch North Tyneside at m.low@hwnt.co.uk.
