Cancer Screening and Early Detection Outreach
RCCG New Wine Assembly delivered a community cancer screening and early detection outreach project. The project focused on raising awareness of breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening, particularly among African and Black minority communities who may face barriers such as fear, stigma, misinformation or lack of awareness. Through a community workshop held in December 2024, expert health information, survivor testimony, drama, printed materials and online engagement, we helped people feel more confident to talk about cancer, recognise the importance of early detection and consider taking up screening opportunities.
Period
October 2024 – February 2025
Funder
NHS North East London Cancer Alliance
300+
People directly reached
3
Cancer pathways covered
Repeat
Funding awarded
What
What we delivered
A community-led cancer screening and early detection outreach programme, designed and delivered for African and Black minority communities in East London. The project combined a flagship in-person workshop with sustained digital outreach, lived-experience storytelling and culturally appropriate health information.
Why
Why this work mattered
African, Caribbean and Black minority communities in East London face higher barriers to cancer screening — including fear, stigma, misinformation, language and low trust in services. Late diagnosis remains a major driver of poor outcomes. We were asked by the NHS North East London Cancer Alliance to use our community trust and reach to break those barriers down.
How
How we delivered it
- 01
Co-designed messaging with community health champions and cancer survivors.
- 02
Delivered a flagship community workshop in December 2024 with expert clinicians.
- 03
Used drama, testimony and storytelling to make screening conversations safe.
- 04
Distributed printed materials in churches, salons and local community spaces.
- 05
Ran a parallel digital outreach campaign across social media and WhatsApp groups.
Impact
The impact
Hundreds of community members were directly reached through the workshop and outreach activity, with many reporting they felt more confident to discuss cancer and take up NHS screening invitations. The Cancer Alliance awarded follow-on funding for a 2025–2026 programme — a strong signal of trust in our delivery.
"New Wine Assembly reached people the NHS struggles to reach. Their workshop turned a difficult conversation into a hopeful one."
Highlights
- Community workshop held December 2024
- Survivor testimony and expert-led education
- Drama, printed materials and digital outreach
- Targeted African and Black minority communities
Outcomes
- Increased confidence to discuss cancer openly
- Greater awareness of breast, cervical and bowel screening
- Repeat funding awarded for follow-on programme
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