In March 2018, the CCG received funding from the Northern Cancer Alliance to raise awareness of cancer within communities in Northumberland.
Thanks to this funding, we now have a dedicated community cancer awareness coordinator who works with Northumberland County Council,
Northumbria Healthcare and Cancer Research UK to deliver key message around symptom awareness, screening programmes as well as prevention and risk reduction. Discussions are often around lifestyle behaviours and thinking about smoking, obesity, exercise, alcohol, diet and sun safety.
Our coordinator actively engages with voluntary and community groups in rural and urban communities across Northumberland to deliver talks and presentations at venues such as village halls, bingo halls, toddler groups and exercises classes. They have also engaged in county shows, walking groups and have even taken part in Pride to tackle health inequalities amongst the LGBT+ community.
One of the key challenges our coordinator faces is engaging with people in hard to reach groups, which is why our close links with the Better Health at Work Award Scheme in Northumberland is a great way to reach people in the workplace.
If you would like to arrange a visit in your workplace, please get in touch.