Holidays are behind us and we welcome some crisp mornings and the last lingering warmth of summer. As September settles in, we’re embracing the shift in seasons with a fresh edition of our newsletter, full of insights and inspiration.
Take a moment to catch up on the latest happenings, explore new tools and resources, and see how you can continue championing the life-saving power of cancer screening and early diagnosis. Your support drives real change!
Newsletter Highlights
- Upcoming Training & Events
- Cleland McIver put staff health first with the Bee Seen, Get Screened pledge
- Double win for Cancer Champion Suzanne
- Manchester Caribbean Carnival
- Manchester Mega Mela
- Research For All
- Women’s Cancer Awareness Day
- Health Inequalities Board members needed
- Tameside Event
Upcoming Training & Events
Free training sessions from Answer Cancer, the Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement Programme! Different dates and times are available to suit you. We are now offering training through a mixture of online and face-to-face sessions, so please make note when signing up!
You need to register in advance to attend the sessions, but you can join as many sessions as you like. For a list of courses and register, please click here.
Cleland McIver put staff health first with the Bee Seen, Get Screened pledge
Home textile makers Cleland McIver, based in Rochdale and supplying Dunelm stores, are putting their 220-strong team first — especially when it comes to health. Concerned that warehouse and shift workers weren’t getting the same access to cancer screening as office staff, they signed up to the Bee Seen, Get Screened pledge.
The Answer Cancer team and other local health and wellbeing services popped by the staff canteen for a morning of chats and check-ups, covering everything from cancer screening and early detection to healthy eating and blood pressure checks. Staff could even sign up for stop smoking support on the spot!
Plenty had already been screened (brilliant!), but some admitted to binning their bowel screening kits or putting off mammograms and smear tests. The good news? Being able to book appointments during work hours, without losing pay, was a game-changer, especially for warehouse staff. A simple change, but one that could make a life-saving difference.
If you would like your workplace to sign up to the pledge or you are an employer who cares about your staff, contact us for further information about the Bee Seen, Get Screened pledge or sign up here
You can find out more by joining the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance’s Health Inequalities Spotlight Webinar on the 16th September at 12 noon for a masterclass in Bee Seen Get Screened by Liz from Cleland McIver and Jacqui from Answer Cancer.
Date: Tuesday 16th September
Time: 12:00-12:30pm via MS Teams
Sign up via the link button below:
SIGN UP
Double win for Cancer Champion Suzanne
Big congrats to our lovely Answer Cancer Champion Suzanne, who scooped up the Quarter 1 prize draw after completing our Champions Survey bagging herself a £50 voucher! “It was such a lovely surprise and really brightened my week,” she said.
But that wasn’t her only win — she also picked up a regional award for her work in complementary therapies the same week! 🙌
Well deserved, Suzanne! 💚
Manchester Caribbean Carnival
Manchester Caribbean Carnival – August 2025The Manchester Caribbean Carnival, held in August 2025, brought vibrant culture, music, and community spirit to the streets of Moss Side once again. As one of the UK’s most anticipated celebrations of African and Caribbean heritage, the carnival showcased colourful parades, live performances, traditional food stalls, and cultural exhibitions.
The Answer Cancer Team were there engaging with the community in the park, raising awareness about the importance of cancer screening and early detection, breaking down barriers and encouraging participation.
Hosting our stall they proudly represented Answer Cancer connecting with visitors, sharing information leaflets and highlighting the collaborative work we do with community health teams and medical professionals.
Manchester Mega Mela
The Manchester Mega Mela is the largest Mela in the North of England. Established in 2003, it has grown into a vibrant annual celebration of South Asian culture, music, food, and community spirit.
This year’s event will take place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September 2025, bringing together thousands of people for a weekend full of entertainment, delicious cuisine, and colourful festivities.
On Saturday 13th September, Answer Cancer will be there to share vital health information and raise awareness about the importance of early detection. Our team will provide details about NHS screening programmes, helping you understand how screening works and why it matters.
Come and visit our stall to:
- Learn about different NHS screening programmes
- Discover how screening can save lives through early detection
- Ask questions and pick up helpful resources
We look forward to seeing you at Manchester Mega Mela – together, we can make a difference in our community’s health.
Research for All
Are you a cancer patient/cancer clinical trial participant or carer who lives in Manchester, who felt more financial pressure because of your cancer journey/treatment?
The Christie are inviting you to share your stories to help them improve the experience of their cancer patients by addressing this issue.
You will attend three friendly group sessions in Manchester and or online. You will be around people who have been in a similar situation and The Christie will pay for your time and contribution.
See the below poster for more details and use the button to contact The Christie if you are interested
Interested
Women’s Cancer Awareness Day
Health Inequalities Programme Board Member
GM Cancer Alliance are seeking two Patient and/or Carer Representatives to join their Health Inequalities Programme Board. They are looking for individuals who have lived experience as a cancer patient or carer, who are passionate about reducing health inequalities and can represent the views of diverse communities affected by cancer.
By joining the GM Cancer Alliance Health Inequalities Board as a Patient Representative, you will play a vital role in ensuring decisions meet the needs of all communities. At present board meetings are held every three months and last 1 hour and 30 minutes.
For more information, get in touch.
Tameside Event
The Answer Cancer Team will be attending the Healthwatch Tameside event on the 16th September. Why not call by for a chat about cancer screening, early diagnosis or Bee Seen Get Screened, pick up some information from us and other services working across Tameside.
It’s totally free and there is no need to book. See you there!
If you have any questions or queries please contact us using the link below.
| GET IN TOUCH |
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Engage with Voluntary Sector North West
As one of the four partners in Answer Cancer, Voluntary Sector North West supports the sector “to positively shape the future of the North West”.
If you are a VCFSE organisation interested in engaging with Voluntary Sector North West, we invite you to connect with us. You can join free of charge as either a full member or an associate member, or simply subscribe to our e-bulletin to receive the latest updates and insights about the sector. If you are interested in joining as a member, or would like to join our conference on the 14th November, just follow the links.