We hope you are well and have enjoyed the summer! As the UK’s hottest summer on record since records began in 1884 comes to an end and the new school year starts again, we wanted to get in touch and share some updates from the Answer Cancer team.
In this edition, you’ll find details of upcoming events and training opportunities, new resources to support your work, an update on what we’ve been up to recently, along with a look ahead at what’s coming next.
Newsletter Highlights
- Answer Cancer Champion appreciation event
- New Answer Cancer training dates
- Answer Cancer get together
- New Bee Seen, Get Screened resources
- Champions needed for our Looks Like Us campaign!
- NHS England roll our at home HPV testing kits for women
- Cancer awareness dates
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.
Our Answer Cancer champion event –
Tuesday 13 October
We are delighted to invite all of our wonderful champions to our annual Champion Appreciation Event on Tuesday 13 October, celebrating the incredible contribution of all your work!
Join us for a morning of celebration, networking and recognition as we come together to thank you for your dedication to raising cancer awareness and promoting cancer screening across our Greater Manchester communities.
Places are limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible to secure your place. Refreshments and lunch will be provided, and we hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a great morning!
Register using the link below. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Register Now
Answer Cancer get together
Our next Answer Cancer get together will take place on Wednesday 30 September, from 9:30am to 11:00am, at Oldham Business Centre.
The event will provide another fantastic opportunity to engage in interactive group activities, connect with colleagues and community organisations, learn about the latest developments across the Answer Cancer programme, and share ideas, experiences and good practice.
If you would like to attend, please register via the link below or contact actraining@uni.uk.net for further information.
We hope to see you there!
Register Now
Our new Bee Seen, Get Screened resources!
We’re delighted to let you know that we have refreshed and updated our full range of Bee Seen, Get Screened resources to help you promote cancer screening and support your workforce!
Visit the Downloads & Assets section of our website to access our latest posters, social media graphics and promotional materials.
Don’t forget to tag us in your social media posts. We’d love to see how you’re using the resources and helping to spread the word!
Take a look!
Champions needed for our Looks Like Us campaign!
Can you speak Gujarati, Romanian, Urdu, Polish, or Punjabi?
We’re creating a new Looks Like Us video in different languages to help raise awareness of cancer screening across Greater Manchester.
We already have volunteers for Bengali, Cantonese, Arabic, and English, and we’d love to hear from anyone who can help with the languages above.
Please get in touch with: Emily.Lambert@VSNW.org.uk for more information.
NHS England rolls out discreet home-testing kits against cervical cancer for millions of women
On 27 August 2026, NHS England announced that millions of women in England will now be offered a HPV self-testing kit. The kits will be offered to women who have not attended their invited cervical screening at their primary care provider. This service has been established to try and get as many women as possible to complete their screenings offering a discreet and more convenient way to test for the high risk HPV virus.
This service is being offered by invitation only, you will be contacted directly with an invite meaning you do not have to do anything, if you’ve been invited to your cervical screening, it’s still important to attend.
This rollout is the next major step towards the NHS’ ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
MORE INFORMATION (NHS ENGLAND)
Community news
Community Cancer conversations
The Christie Institute for Cancer Education is running a new Community Cancer Conversations group at Ladybarn Community Hub, taking place fortnightly from 1pm to 2pm.
These free, informal sessions offer a welcoming space to learn more about cancer, discuss topics such as prevention, screening and early diagnosis, and connect with others in the local community. Whether you’re looking for information, support or simply want to join the conversation, everyone is welcome.
The next session takes place on Wednesday 7 October, with further sessions running throughout the year.
For more information or to get involved, please contact Leone at: leone.alexander@nhs.net
This Van Can is back in Salford!
The This Van Can team will be out and about across Salford this September, offering information and support on cancer awareness and screening. If you’re in the area, pop along and say hello at one of their upcoming community locations.
Upcoming dates:
- 3 September – Regent Retail Park
- 4 September – Tesco, Pendleton Way
- 12 September – Walkden Shopping Centre
- 15 October – Worsley and Westwood Park, Boothstown and Ellenbrook (TBC)
Please note that dates and locations may be subject to change. For all dates and promotional materials, visit: GM Cancer Alliance.
All FM radio call out!
Have you been affected by cancer? Are you currently undergoing cancer treatment? Are you living with and beyond cancer? Are you supporting a family member or loved one affected by cancer?
Would you like to help raise awareness, encourage cancer screening, and support others who may be facing cancer alone?
ALL FM radio station is looking for people with lived experience of cancer to help create radio programmes that inform, inspire and connect communities.(No previous radio experience is needed.)
You’ll receive full training and support in radio production and presentation, with the opportunity to present, produce and host your own live radio show.
Interested? Email ed@allfm.org for more information and take a look at their website.
Awareness Campaigns!
Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month
September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of the five gynaecological cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancer.
This year, The Eve Appeal is encouraging people to get to know what’s normal for their body by becoming “painfully aware” and keeping a pain diary. Tracking symptoms can help you spot changes and recognise when something doesn’t feel quite right.
Visit The Eve Appeal website to learn more about the five gynaecological cancers, find information about the campaign, and download a free pain diary. You can also access free, confidential information and support from The Eve Appeal’s specialist nurse service.
THE EVE APPEAL
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of childhood cancers and support children, young people and families affected by a diagnosis. Find out more, access support and learn about the signs and symptoms through Young Lives vs Cancer and Children with Cancer UK.
Breast cancer awareness month – October
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of breast cancer, encourage people to attend screening appointments when invited, and promote the importance of getting any unusual symptoms checked promptly.
To help you support this campaign, we are creating a range of social media assets that you can use throughout October. These will be available on our website soon, and we’ll let you know as soon as they’re ready so you can plan your communications.
If you’re organising any activities or events to raise awareness around breast cancer this October, we’d love to hear about them. Please get in touch at Emily.Lambert@vsnw.org.uk.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support- we really appreciate all that you do. We hope you enjoy this edition, and feel free to get in touch anytime.
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 in November, just follow the links.