Hey friends, earlier this year, we were delighted to receive funding from Communities Against Cancer to deliver a series of sessions focused on cancer awareness, early diagnosis and reducing barriers to healthcare for our community.
The funding scheme supports local community organisations to tackle health inequalities and improve earlier cancer diagnosis among underserved communities. It recognises the importance of trusted community spaces in helping people access reliable information, recognise potential symptoms, attend screening appointments and feel more confident engaging with healthcare services.
At Black Mothers Matter, we know that access to healthcare is not always straightforward. Experiences of racism, fear of not being listened to, long waiting times and difficulties navigating healthcare services can all affect how people seek support. We want to help change this by bringing information, conversations and healthcare professionals into spaces where our community already feels welcome, comfortable and supported.
Through this project, we aim to:
Reduce barriers to accessing healthcare
By bringing healthcare professionals, including GPs, into familiar and trusted community spaces, we hope to make conversations about health feel more accessible. These sessions will give women and birthers opportunities to ask questions, share concerns and engage with professionals in an environment where they feel more comfortable.
Build knowledge and challenge myths about women's cancers
We will use open conversations and myth-busting activities to share accurate information about women's cancers, including symptoms, screening and early diagnosis. Our approach will be supportive and non-judgemental, recognising that everyone has different experiences and levels of knowledge. By creating space for honest discussion, we hope to challenge stigma, reduce isolation and encourage people to talk more openly about their health.
Improve awareness of available support and services
Through signposting and follow-up activities, we will help our community better understand the local and national services available to them, including where to seek advice, access screening and find additional support.
Build confidence to make informed decisions about health
Knowledge is important, but so is feeling empowered to act on it. We want women and birthers to feel more confident navigating healthcare services, asking questions, advocating for themselves and making informed decisions about their health.
We are particularly excited to be collaborating with Black Women Rising, an organisation dedicated to supporting people affected by breast cancer, with a particular focus on Black women. Through its community, support and awareness work, Black Women Rising helps ensure that Black women affected by cancer can access connection, information and support, while raising awareness of the inequalities they may face.
Working together allows us to bring our shared commitment to community-led support, culturally informed conversations and better health outcomes into this important area of work.
We know that tackling cancer inequalities requires more than sharing information. It means building trust, listening to lived experiences and making sure people feel able to seek support, ask questions and have their concerns taken seriously.
We look forward to sharing more about the sessions as the project develops.