April and May have a way of shifting the mood — longer days settle in, colour returns to our surroundings, and there’s a gentle sense of momentum building. As the season opens up, we’re pleased to bring you our latest newsletter, shaped to keep you informed, supported and connected during this energising time of year.
Inside, you’ll find highlights from recent activity, along with opportunities to get involved in the weeks ahead — from training and events to useful updates you can take straight into your work. However you choose to engage this spring, we hope this edition offers something valuable, helping you feel prepared, inspired and part of what’s ahead.
Newsletter Highlights
- Upcoming Training & Events
- Last chance to apply for a grant
- Stakeholders Collaborative March 2026 roundup
- Looking After You – new cancer screening videos for carers
- Lung cancer screening
- Thank you and goodbye
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.
Last chance to apply for a grant
With the deadline looming, maybe this is your very good chance to access an Answer Cancer grant this year.
Can you help grow your community’s knowledge and understanding of cancer?
We’re looking for passionate organisations across Greater Manchester to make a real impact
Apply for a Round 8 grant and help:
- Raise awareness about cancer
- Improve understanding
- Increase life-saving cancer screening uptake
Together, we can make a difference where it matters most — in our communities.
Apply now and be part of the change.
Apply Now
Stakeholders Collaborative – March 2026 roundup
The March 2026 Answer Cancer Stakeholder Collaborative brought together 30+ partners at The Friends Meeting House in Manchester city centre, for an engaging and interactive session focused on improving cancer screening across Greater Manchester. Through a series of World Café discussions and group activities, attendees shared insights, built connections, and explored practical ways to strengthen community engagement.
Clear messages emerged around the importance of trust, partnership working, and culturally appropriate engagement. Participants highlighted the need to work closely with communities, tailor communication, including language and delivery, and tackle persistent myths and fears that prevent people from accessing cancer screening. Faith and cultural beliefs, fear of results, and confusion around eligibility were all identified as key barriers requiring sensitive, targeted approaches.
The session also reinforced the value of collaboration and shared learning, with attendees exchanging good practice and gaining new insights, including the growing role of genomics in cancer care. Overall, the event highlighted the power of community partnerships in breaking down barriers and ensuring more people can benefit from life-saving screening.
For more information about upcoming Stakeholder Collaboratives or to get involved, please contact the Answer Cancer team.
Looking After You – New Cancer Screening Videos for Carers
Signpost for Carers in Stockport has created five new short videos designed especially for carers, focusing on the importance of cancer screening and getting any signs or symptoms checked by a GP.
Carers often put others first, and with busy schedules and ongoing caring responsibilities, it’s easy to delay or miss screening appointments. However, taking care of your own health is just as important. Early detection can make a real difference to treatment options and diagnosis outcome.
These videos offer clear, supportive guidance to help you prioritise your wellbeing and feel confident about seeking help when needed.
Take a few minutes for yourself and watch the videos using the button below.
Watch Video
Lung Cancer Screening
NHS Lung Cancer Screening is nearing full roll out in Greater Manchester now. The screening is for people aged 55 to 74 who are current or former smokers. The mobile clinics are currently serving people registered with a GP practice in Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme, Sale, Altrincham, Stretford and Old Trafford.
Check out our social media pack to share info and encourage uptake in your area or across Greater Manchester, or get in touch with GM Cancer for posters available in 13 different languages.
More info
Thank you and goodbye
It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside so many inspiring Answer Cancer Champions and wonderful colleagues over the past three years. Together, we have shared knowledge, supported one another, and made a meaningful difference.
We would also like to take this opportunity to recognise and thank Jacqui for her outstanding contribution to the Answer Cancer programme. Her dedication, warmth and commitment have played a significant role in shaping the programme and supporting those involved. She has been a valued colleague and a true champion of this work, and her impact will be felt for years to come.
As Jacqui steps into retirement, we wish her every happiness and fulfilment in this next stage.
Thank you for everything, Jacqui.
If you have any questions or queries please contact us using the link below.
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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.