This May, Cayr’s team took part in Breast Cancer Now's Train the Trainer programme, which aims to empower local individuals to deliver training on breast awareness, risk reduction and screening.
Westminster has a low take-up of breast screenings compared with the national average¹, and we were approached by Breast Cancer Now to take part in the initiative as a creative health charity which has worked with communities in Church St since 2023.
We were successful with our Train the Trainer grant application and, on 22nd October, Eleanor delivered a breast cancer awareness talk as part of the Lunch & Learn session at Lilestone Community Hub. These free community wellbeing sessions, run by Paddington Development Trust, offer health information, support and a nutritious lunch to people living in the Church St area. We delivered our session to 22 people, which aimed to raise awareness of breast health, challenge common myths and encourage women to attend breast screenings.
Everyone took part in a small group activity, sorting cards into ‘risk’ (risk factors of breast cancer) or ‘myth’ (factors that don't impact breast cancer). This encouraged discussion and offered a chance to explore some common misconceptions about breast cancer. We also talked about the process of booking and attending a screening, as well where to find support with access needs or booking an interpreter.
A key message throughout the session was ‘Know Your Normal’ - being familiar with what is normal for your body and seeking advice from your GP if you notice any unusual changes. Many attendees were surprised to learn that this includes men, as everyone has breast tissue and should regularly check their chests.
It was great to see attendees engage with the talk and activity, ask questions and take part in conversations about breast health. We hope the session will encourage people to become breast aware and take up a breast screening when invited.
A big thank you to Breast Cancer Now, for including us in their Train the Trainer programme, and to Paddington Development Trust for allowing us to run one of their Lunch & Learn sessions.
¹https://breastcancernow.org/media-assets/0bzlv0ql/bcn4717_screening-in-london-policy7.pdf
Eleanor Clack delivering a talk at Lilestone Community Hub.