Using more than half a million pounds, Macmillan Cancer Support has joined with Croydon BME Forum to form a three-year partnership to address health inequalities.

Centre of activity: the Wellness Centre, run by Croydon’s BME Forum, will be a focus for work on health inequalities

The project is in response to the poorer cancer experiences and outcomes that people from black and minority ethnic communities continue to experience.

The British Journal of Cancer found that black women have significantly poorer breast cancer survival rates than white women. Other research shows that black men are two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than their white counterparts, have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer at a younger age and that death rates are twice as high.

The “Can You C Me” partnership team will build community networks across Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth to tackle barriers to health equality at grassroots level.

Saffron Shadbolt, Can You C Me’s programme manager, said: “This groundbreaking collaboration between Croydon BME Forum and Macmillan Cancer Support represents more than just a contract. It symbolises a shared commitment to equity and progress.

“For far too long, individuals from black and minority ethnic backgrounds have faced disproportionate barriers in accessing quality healthcare and support systems, particularly for cancer.

“As part of this project, Macmillan Cancer Support is funding a team who will be working with local communities to better understand the experiences of people with cancer from the black and minority ethnic population. And where inequities exist, to take action to improve these experiences.

“This could include identifying people who need culturally sensitive cancer support delivered with compassion and understanding, up-skilling local health and social care providers on the inequities black and minority ethnic groups face and how these can be addressed, or joining up with other community assets to ensure wrap-around personalised care and support.”

The project launch was held at Croydon’s Wellness Centre in the Whitgift Centre, where cancer experts, project personnel and the public had the opportunity to learn more about Can You C Me.

“Macmillan is delighted to see the launch of this project, which has been a year in design,” said Macmillan’s Robyn Jenkins. “Macmillan has an ambition to become a leader in equity, diversity and inclusion and to play our part in tackling health inequalities.

“In order to make this a reality, Macmillan needs to see, hear and understand the communities who face health inequalities. Organisations such as the Croydon BME Forum have the skills, expertise and presence locally to support Macmillan in accessing vital insights and knowledge. So we can make positive, sustained change for the black community and other minority groups facing health disparities in south-west London. I cannot wait to see all this project will achieve across the next three years!”

In total, Macmillan is investing £573,000 into funding this project.

For more information on the Can You C Me? project or to contact the team, please visit: www.cbmeforum.org, email: macmillanteam@bmeforum.org, or call: 0208 680 3635 or 0208 684 3719.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a cancer diagnosis, visit the Macmillan website or call 0808 808 00 00.

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