BHI Cancer Project
Members of National Cancer Equality Implementation (Advisory) Group
Secretariat for BME Cancer Alliance
Working in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK
Working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support
Working in Partnership with Public Health Leeds
BHI through working within the community over numerous years identified a service gap. Members of the African and African Caribbean, Dual Heritage communities within Leeds were frequently diagnosed with various cancers at a more progressive stage than other communities.
The reason for this varied, from cultural myths and beliefs, through to a lack of knowledge of symptoms. Our community support had acknowledged the need to work effectively within local communities and the Metropolitan District of Leeds due to being acutely aware of the lack of awareness and accessing of Cancer Support Services that are available for individuals and carers.
The aim of the project:
Community Outreach
- Address the myths and cultural beliefs within the communities
- Provide factual information via culturally competent mediums to increase knowledge on signs and symptoms
- Hold information sessions/conferences and workshops
- Provide health clinics within a culturally competent setting
- Provide gender specific groups which can respond to health documents/papers/surveys nationally and locally thus having an impact on services and change
- Provide information on citywide services/support groups
Professional Partnerships
- Collate relevant data
- Influence service provision/providers to increase uptake of services
- Provide culturally specific information to strategic and policy makers thus impacting on culturally competent service provision and ease of access
- Provide culturally correct information encouraging an increase in culturally competent awareness
- Co-ordinate and facilitate meetings between service providers and service users
- Co-produce material to meet the needs of both the target groups and the agencies