Cancer hasn’t stopped.

Communities Against Cancer Launches for 2021

Action Hampshire is pleased to announce the continuation of the Communities Against Cancer project from January 2021, funded by the Wessex Cancer Alliance.

This funding is used by Action Hampshire to offer grants to community groups, social enterprises and charities to help raise awareness of cancer in communities working along the coastline of Dorset and Hampshire, including the Isle of Wight.

The Communities Against Cancer grants of up to £5,000 can be used by groups to creatively engage with people they support to understand how to reduce their risk of cancer and live healthier lives. It is also about encouraging people to participate in cancer screening, be more aware of possible cancer symptoms and understand the importance of contacting their GP as soon as they have a concern. This is so important as the earlier somebody is diagnosed with cancer, the more likely treatment is to be successful. Early diagnosis saves lives.

Communities Against Cancer is about tackling health inequalities and improving people’s health outcomes. 

We know that some people face additional barriers to living a healthy lifestyle or understanding how to seek help if they are concerned. We are keen to hear from all groups who feel they can use the funding to reach people in their community with messages of cancer awareness and prevention. In particular, we would like to hear from groups who support people with additional challenges or who face health inequalities.

The Communities Against Cancer team actively supports groups to make their application as easy as possible and encourage people to get in touch to discuss their ideas if they think they might need some help with the process.

During our previous Communities Against Cancer funding, groups across the south coast supported their communities to be more aware of cancer and the importance of attending cancer screening.

First Light Trust, a charity based in Gosport who support veterans, have adapted well during covid restrictions, carrying out their Communities Against Cancer project at their allotment and socially distanced in their café hub (when restrictions allowed). Conversations about cancer alongside healthy refreshments and working on the allotment has led to greater understanding by the veterans. They’ve particularly focused on why bowel screening is important and recognising possible signs and symptoms of cancer.

For more information, please click here

To learn more about the Communities Against Cancer project or to apply for a Communities Against Cancer grant, please visit our Communities Against Cancer webpage. For any questions or to chat about the project please contact Claire Vincent – Communities against Cancer Project Coordinator claire.vincent@actionhampshire.org

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Communities Against Cancer first launched in 2019…

The vision for Wessex Cancer Alliance is to improve early diagnosis of cancer and is particularly focused on seldom heard groups and our communities who experience health inequalities. They worked with community leaders and groups and other partners to create the Communities Against Cancer model as they recognise how important it is for communities and people to develop their own projects and raise awareness of cancer in ways that suit them. They realised that they would need a community partner to deliver this as their links with these communities was far greater than the Alliance and were also already established. The Alliance therefore invited local voluntary sector organisations to express an in interest in delivering the project.

Action Hampshire were selected to work with Wessex Cancer Alliance, to fully develop and roll out the Communities Against Cancer project. Examples of how the grants were used in the first wave of this project, can be found here

Phase 2 of this project was agreed due to the incredible outcomes and success of the first phase. The grants and application process have been refined but the aim is still very much the same – to help and support our pre-existing community leaders, allies and members, to be the voice of our messaging about cancer.

Phase 2 will focus on areas across Wessex where health inequalities are still in need of addressing, therefore, applications will be accepted from charities or community groups and individuals whose work provides support to people in the following areas:

• Southampton (including surrounding areas – Eastleigh, Hedge End)
• Portsmouth (including surrounding areas – Gosport, Havant, Leigh Park, Hayling Island)
• New Forest
• Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
• Weymouth & Portland
• Isle of Wight