Involving People are working with us to improve access to cancer treatment and support services for people with sight and hearing loss.

Evidence shows that people with sensory impairments experience significantly poorer access to cancer services, including inaccessible information, communication barriers, and feeling unheard or overlooked. These inequalities can lead to delayed diagnosis, poorer treatment experiences, and worse health outcomes. This project focuses on addressing these issues by translating what people already know works into meaningful, system‑level improvements.

If you are interested in getting involved with this project, email involvingpeople@helpandcare.org.uk

We have been working with communities to gather local insight about the late diagnosis of women of Black African and Black Afro-Caribbean heritage. We know there are differences in experiences of cancer care and support. To address these we would like to set up a small group of women, GPs and other healthcare professionals to design, prioritise and hold us to account over a programme of work to find solutions to these issues.

Initially we would meet to get to know each other, share what we know the barriers and opportunities to make a difference, and come up with a prioritised action plan. Then once work is underway we will meet periodically to update the Group and make sure actions are being progressed.

We will meet at times to suit those who want to get involved, for example, in the evening. Depending on where people are based we will meet at a community venue as centrally as possible.

Who to contact: sue.newell@wca.uhs.nhs.uk

Community Researchers are about to undertake a full review of the breast/chest screening service at University Hospital Southampton. This follows on from recent trans+ and disability/neurodivergent projects around access to cancer services.

The team will:

• make in-person visits
• review patient communications
• work closely with the team to implement solutions to make the service more accessible

We are looking for trans+, disabled and neurodivergent individuals and groups to be part of this project. You can read more about this work here

Perhaps you want to share your experiences of breast/chest screening, be part of a focus group, or join us in a paid capacity as a Community Researcher?

Email us at involvingpeople@helpandcare.org.uk for an informal chat.

The team will be supported by Help & Care and local trans+ charity Beyond Reflections

We want to know if people would use a Smartphone app to keep an eye on changes to their skin.

Apps like ‘SkinVision’ are designed to identify early signs of skin cancer. It could help people decide when they need to get advice from their doctor about moles or changes to their skin.

To find out if and when people would use the SkinVision app we are asking different groups of people what they think.

Click on this link if you are interested in getting involved with this project: SkinVision Project