Cancer Champions make a lasting impact across County Durham
A pioneering community and workplace initiative is helping people across County Durham have potentially life-saving conversations about cancer.
Delivered by Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) in partnership with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), the Cancer Champions programme has trained local volunteers to raise awareness of cancer symptoms, encourage participation in screening programmes and support earlier access to health services.
Over 12 months, the programme recruited and trained 128 Cancer Champions, more than double its original target, including ten champions from the veteran community. Together, they facilitated 12,919 cancer awareness conversations and signposted 3,934 people to their GP or screening services. 40 people are known to have sought medical advice or attended screening following these conversations.
At the heart of the programme are people with lived experience. Community Cancer Champion Terry Bytheway, who is living with prostate cancer, has used his personal journey to encourage others to recognise symptoms and seek support early. His presentations across workplaces and community settings have helped open up conversations about cancer and prompted people to take action.
Workplace Cancer Champions Paul Hewitson, Durham County Council and Neil Calvert, Hitachi Rail have embedded cancer awareness into everyday workplace conversations, helping colleagues feel more confident discussing cancer, understanding screening and knowing where to access support. Their experiences demonstrate the power of trusted peer-to-peer conversations in breaking down barriers and encouraging positive health behaviours.
The programme also delivered a significant increase in volunteers' knowledge and confidence, with training outcomes improving by an average of 57%. Early evidence suggests cancer awareness activity has influenced people to seek medical advice sooner, supporting the programme's wider goal of improving early diagnosis and reducing health inequalities.
Paula Town, Cancer Champion Officer said: “I am incredibly proud of what our Cancer Champions have achieved across County Durham. What started as a programme to raise awareness has grown into a powerful network of local people who are helping friends, colleagues and community members have conversations that could save lives.
"Every conversation about symptoms, screening or seeking support has the potential to make a real difference. We have seen champions use their lived experience, passion and commitment to encourage others to take action, and in some cases those conversations have led people to seek medical advice and receive a diagnosis earlier than they otherwise may have done.
"That is the true impact of this programme. By empowering trusted individuals within workplaces and communities, we have created a lasting legacy that will continue to improve awareness, reduce health inequalities and support earlier diagnosis long into the future.”
Importantly, the Cancer Champions network will continue beyond the funded period through PCP's Workplace Health and Adult Wellbeing Services, ensuring its impact continues to benefit communities across County Durham.
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