Communities against Cancer - programme co-design workshop #3

What is this event about and what role do the VCSE have?

A new programme that will enable individuals and communities to identify early signs and symptoms of cancer and seek support at the earliest opportunity is being developed by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire’s Integrated Care Board (BNSSG ICB). These are the local NHS organisations responsible for planning health services for the local population. The VCSE Alliance is running engagement workshops to help shape the programme, by capturing the knowledge and expertise of organisations who are embedded within communities.

As professionals already working in communities, you have invaluable knowledge to help ensure that the programme creates long term, sustainable change in the way that individuals and communities engage with their own health and the wider healthcare system. We know that across the VCSE sector there are a whole host of creative ways to promote confidence and increase knowledge of early signs and symptoms of cancers, within populations and communities.

You do not need to be an organisation working specifically in health and/or cancer to be able to contribute to these workshops. We want to hear from those who have access to and are supporting individuals, particularly those that are most marginalised and living in areas with the highest levels of deprivation.

The ambition is that by sharing ideas together in these workshops and creating innovative ways to increase awareness, local people will be able to recognise and understand the signs and symptoms of cancer – and take action to seek support.

What outcomes are we trying to influence?

Through this series of VCSE Alliance engagement workshops and conversations, the information gathered will inform and influence the design of the final programme of work and how it will be delivered. Using the skills and expertise across BNSSG, primarily targeting areas with the highest levels of deprivation, the long term programme hopes to:

● Increase individual understanding of early signs and symptoms of cancer and changes that could indicate something could be wrong

● Promote early presentation at GP surgeries when individuals have something that they are worried about or doesn't feel normal for them

● Empower individuals and communities to increase knowledge regarding cancer awareness and promote early engagement with Health professionals.

● Use the relationships that already exist within communities and with individuals to deliver the programme

● Ensure the programme has a sustainable focus and that the knowledge can be shared, i.e. through staff, volunteers, peer support.

What opportunities will there be after the workshops and once the delivery programme is planned?

The ICB will use the content generated from these workshops to develop a programme that works for communities in our local area. Approximately £150,000 of funding will be available to the VCSE sector in the Autumn to deliver this programme. The funds will be distributed through the developing BNSSG VCSE brokerage framework* as one of the first pilots for this new way of working.

*There are two upcoming online sessions to find out more about and discuss the VCSE brokerage framework, details and booking information can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-vcse-alliance-74462694553

If you would like to contact us with any questions, please email Spencer and Meg

[email protected]

[email protected]

Host or Publisher The VCSE Alliance