Published on 6 March 2023
Cancer awareness and support is being targeted at the heart of local communities through an innovative project by Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance.
The new initiative is funding around 30 grassroots projects across Warrington, Halton and Knowsley to spread cancer information within localities, including one helping Warrington primary school children connect with their families to deliver cancer awareness messages.
The Alliance’s Early Diagnosis Community Engagement programme is working with voluntary sector umbrella organisations Warrington Voluntary Action, One Knowsley, and Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action to run a small grants programme where voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations can secure funding for projects.
Brook Acre Primary School, in Padgate, has been given funds for a project to encourage relatives and carers of the students to come into school to discuss healthy lifestyle information with the children and staff as part of its Well-Being Warriors initiative.
Families are invited to Brook Acre to speak with the children and staff, including at Loved One To Lunch sessions, charity days, annual Experience Days – which involve them taking part in a range of physical activities and healthy eating sessions – and reading sessions. There they are encouraged to talk about cancer awareness, including the importance of screening and why it is vital to have any health concerns checked out by a clinician.
Brook Acre’s School Council, which includes children from each school year, has chosen Cancer Research UK to raise money for and the school recently held a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan support organisation.
School Business Manager Lesley Burrows said: “Staff talk with the children about healthy lifestyles, such as the need to keep safe in the sun, eating five a day, the importance of exercise – and as part of that learning we do talk about cancer.
“The children come to us with a knowledge of cancer and it is surprising what they already understand as a number of them may be familiar with it through relatives being treated. They also see health promotion adverts. It is amazing what they do know.”
Some of the money given to the school has been used to improve an outdoor area where the school has ‘friendship benches’ where children can discuss things that are concerning them or interested in with parents or relatives.
Lesley, who volunteers for Cancer Research UK, said: “The project we are doing now with cancer and our Well-Being Warriors encourages a discussion between the children and parents or carers and they can go home and talk about these issues. We also include information about health, including cancer, in Friday letters home to parents.
Brook Acre were supported by Warrington Voluntary Action in the project and Lesley said: “It has been a huge success and has raised awareness of cancer with everyone involved.”
Bryan Dargie, Social Action Lead at Warrington Voluntary Action, said: “Local community groups have the magic touch and are brilliantly placed to have real, honest and plain conversations with people.
“This project has empowered a range of groups to talk about something that affects everyone in some way. It’s given community groups another string to their bow in supporting people to live well.”
Other community projects funded by the scheme include physical health and well-being sessions designed to get both children and their parents fitter through fun sports in Knowsley.
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance project manager Moray Hayman, who leads the programme, said: “This initiative seeks to support local communities to reduce their risk of dying from cancer, by improving community understanding and awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer and encouraging appropriate health-seeking behaviour.
“We are also encouraging more people who experience cancer to be supported to achieve emotional wellbeing and to reduce stigma and discrimination relating to cancer diagnosis.
“By working with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, the scheme focuses on improving knowledge of the signs and symptoms of cancer within local communities, encouraging more people to go for NHS screening when they are invited and to reduce inequalities in access to high-quality cancer treatment.”