We are committed to extending access to cancer information and support for Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. With a grant from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), we developed a major project with two work streams:

‘Beyond the Barriers’, Cancerbackup's report on providing cancer information and support for BME communities was published in 2004. Five hundred copies of the report, launched at a national Cancerbackup event, have been distributed. The report can also be found in the health professionals section. Subjects covered in the report are still relevant.

Our resources, particularly the website and publications are viewed as a valuable support and educational tool, by BME community workers.

"As a small charity CBC finds Cancerbackup booklets, website and factsheets the most reliable to keep there service users informed and up-to-date with information regarding cancer in general. All our service users at assessment are informed and given Cancerbackup's contact details."

Natalie Forbes
Direct Services Manager- Cancer Black Care

"Cancerbackup with its information and resource service on cancer, both English and Chinese, in particular the Cantonese helpline, allows my project and the Chinese community to access useful, valuable and crucial support on cancer."

Richard Lam
Macmillan Chinese Cancer Information
Chinese National Healthy Living Centre

We continue to share the practical experience of what does, and does not work. Talks and presentations at national and local community level have assisted information dissemination.

Cancer In Your Language, a telephone interpreting service via our national helpline since 2003. This service makes cancer information and support accessible to UK residents whose first language is not English.

Translated factsheets. We have worked in partnership with Primary Care Trusts to produce translations of some of our key treatment factsheets, in 5 Asian languages. The translated factsheets are now available via existing services, including our Factfile. We continue to develop cancer information that reflects cultural diversity.

Additional work done

We have developed a body of cancer Q&As (questions and answers about cancer), that relate specifically to how cancer affects BME communities. The questions sourced predominantly during outreach, raise awareness about the particular issues voiced by BME enquirers in the community. Current BME Q&As have been added to mainstream Q&As on our website. We continue to source new questions.

Scotland

In April 2005 with a NOF funded grant, Cancerbackup Scotland appointed a Cancer Information Outreach Specialist (Jean Campbell). The aim of this post was to improve access to high quality cancer information and support for identified groups of the population throughout Scotland. The groups identified were people from BME communities, disadvantaged inner city areas and rural communities. Work is ongoing. 

Rose Thompson Cancerbackup's Black & Minority Ethnic Cancer Information Specialist from 2003 -2007 left us with this message.

"As a radiotherapy radiographer, I was aware of Cancerbackup, but I didn’t appreciate the true value of the Cancerbackup service until I was going through a personal family experience of cancer. After finding the information I needed in the Nottingham drop in centre, I knew this exceptional cancer information and support service would benefit BME community members, if they were aware of it, and if they identified with resources produced. With this in mind I left the radiotherapy department, and joined the Cancerbackup team.

Cancerbackup staff and senior management supported the development of pioneering BME work and services during my period of employment as Black & Minority Ethnic Cancer Information Specialist. The work continues to be supported by an identified cancer information nurse specialist, Cancerbackup's BME Support Nurse.

I move on in the knowledge that Black and Minority Ethnic work at Cancerbackup will continue as an important part of mainstream service provision."

Rose Thompson

We are committed to ensuring that specialist information services continue to reach out to all communities.