Trans Aware Cancer Care – Community Research Trans+ Project
In 2023, a joint bid was submitted to National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to deliver a community research project focussing on trans+ people who experience inequity and inaccessibility in cancer services. The project was led by Help & Care alongside partners Macmillan Cancer Support, Beyond Reflections, Bournemouth University, Southampton University Hospital, Wessex Cancer Trust and Wessex Cancer Alliance.
Trans Aware Cancer Care was led by four trans+ community researchers, mentored by Bournemouth University and supported in their cancer understanding through a clinical nurse specialist. The community researchers designed and delivered creative art based workshops where the trans+ community and allies designed a fabric square that visually represented their experience. As well as workshops at local venues, the team visited Pride events across the region, reaching close to 100 people.
Alongside this, the team engaged with a wide group of cancer service professionals to develop a shared understanding of how cancer inequalities manifest for trans+ people. Joint workshops were held, and professionals were offered trans+ awareness training – both were well attended, and many present expressed their support and desire to work towards more inclusive practice.
The fabric squares created at the workshops have been lovingly sewn together to form a large trans+ flag measuring 6m x 3m. The research team and allies worked together to sew it, with the final artwork unveiled at a Celebration Event on 31st March in Southampton. The plan is that the flag will tour art galleries, hospitals and other places where we can highlight the impact of the experiences.
“By enabling people with lived experience to lead and shape the research, the PIER model represents a fundamentally different way of working. Grounded in a strengths-based approach, it builds capacity and confidence within communities and supports greater equity, while also generating deeper, more relevant insight”
