Message from Seonaid:
“Hi everyone. 4 February is World Cancer Day. I wanted to take this opportunity to signpost some national (online) events you are welcome to join and to share an internal session I’ll be running about working through cancer.
In 2016 my world, and that of my family, changed dramatically when I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. I’d just secured a big promotion and was getting ready to advance my career. Everything stopped that day. You’ll hear more about what happened next if you join the session in Pippbrook on 7th February. I’ll be in the Pink room from 2pm – 3.30pm. One of the more random outcomes was that I ended up creating the Civil Service Working Through Cancer Network.
This year’s theme for World Cancer Day is uniting our voices and taking action. As the campaign suggests when we bring like-minded people together to share concerns and drive positive change, we are a united force, significantly increasing the impact of our actions.
The Working Through Cancer Network is now in its fifth year and has representation in more than 30 public sector organisations. Our aim has always been to unite voices so that we can take bigger and more impactful action together.
For example, by joining forces we were able to host a series of Know Your Blood Type events with the NHS Blood Team, recruiting more than 1,000 new blood donors. Working with stem cell charity DKMS we then added more than 500 new stem cell donors.
We united our voices to call for better support at work and acted by co-designing a cancer awareness in the workplace session with Macmillan. This popular training continues to be delivered to thousands of line managers across the Civil Service, improving the lived experience for people with cancer (and their carers) across many organisations. We have hosted inspiring sessions from members talking through challenges they faced in the LGBT+, Black and Ethnic Minority communities.
Over the past five years we’ve been delighted that many senior leaders, famous authors and ministers have offered to take positive action to support our cause. In October for example, we hosted a conversation with Dame Lynne Owens (Deputy Met Commissioner) about her recent cancer diagnosis and treatment and the impact this had on her both in-and outside work. The event attracted nearly 1,000 attendees and we were inundated with positive feedback and requests to join the network.
These seemingly simple actions, individually, when combined have created a significant impact. We’re making great headway on our aims to raise awareness and reduce the taboo of talking about cancer, and to improve people’s ability to stay in (or return to) work post treatment. We also include carers and line managers in our offer, as the ripple effect of cancer is significant.
This World Cancer Day we’re uniting our voices again with a series of virtual events and sessions open to all public servants on Eventbrite. Guest speakers include, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Minister James Brokenshire’s widow, Cathy, and Dawid Konotey-Ahulu CBE. join here
So, to close, I’d love it if reading this article has encouraged you to take action. If we were all to commit to one action this World Cancer Day, perhaps attending a cancer awareness session, signing up to be a blood or stem cell donor, being a buddy to someone going through a tough time, or becoming a disability ally to colleagues affected by cancer – imagine the impact we will have across the public sector and beyond!
For anyone who’d like to join the network you can read more about us here, contact us here workingthroughcancer@defra.gov.uk or follow us on Twitter: @cscancernetwork