Thames Valley Positive Support secures £105,000 Macmillan grant to improve cancer care for LGBTQ+ people

Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) has been awarded more than £105,000 by Macmillan Cancer Support to launch a new project aimed at improving cancer care and support for LGBTQ+ people across Berkshire and Hampshire.

The charity has received a £105,110 CARE grant as part of a £7.4 million investment by Macmillan in 65 community organisations across the UK. The funding is intended to help tackle inequalities in cancer care and ensure support services better meet the needs of people who are often underserved by the healthcare system.

TVPS will use the two-year grant to deliver its new Pride in Cancer Care project, which aims to bridge the gap between LGBTQ+ communities and local cancer services.

The initiative will build on the organisation’s existing HIV and LGBTQIA+ support work, including its BeYou service, by introducing specialist cancer support through a dedicated LGBTQ+ Cancer Navigator. It will also create a lived experience library and carry out a co-produced inclusivity audit of local cancer pathways to identify and address barriers faced by LGBTQ+ people affected by cancer.

Macmillan said the funding comes at a time when the number of people living with cancer is continuing to rise. The charity estimates that 5.4 million people could be living with cancer in the UK by 2045, a 58% increase on current levels.

The charity has also warned of a “hidden” cancer crisis, with more than 1.7 million people across the UK struggling with the impact of cancer on their day-to-day lives. Research suggests two-thirds of people with cancer who are facing difficulties with everyday needs urgently require more support.

Chantelle Kingsbury, Cancer Navigator at TVPS, said the project would help ensure LGBTQ+ people receive support that recognises and respects their identities and relationships. “Being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming enough without also having to worry about whether you will be understood, whether assumptions will be made about you, or whether the people who matter to you will be recognised and included,” she said.

“Pride in Cancer Care is about making sure LGBTQ+ people feel seen, heard and supported throughout their cancer journey. My role will be to help people navigate services, advocate for what matters to them and make sure their experiences help shape better cancer care for the future.”

Sarah Macadam, chief executive of TVPS, said the project was focused on creating long-term improvements as well as supporting people currently receiving treatment. “Pride in Cancer Care is about much more than supporting individuals through cancer services, it is about creating lasting change,” she said.

“LGBTQ+ people will be at the heart of this project, helping us understand where barriers exist and what genuinely inclusive cancer care should look like. By taking that lived experience and working collaboratively with cancer services, we have a real opportunity to improve care for people accessing services today and for those who will need them in the future.”

Macmillan said the CARE grant programme is designed to support organisations working in communities that can experience poorer cancer outcomes, including LGBTQ+ people, people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, disabled people and those living in economically disadvantaged areas.

Heather McLean, Director of Communities and System Partnerships at Macmillan Cancer Support, said community organisations were vital to improving cancer care. “Cancer isn’t fair, but at Macmillan, we believe cancer care and support should be,” she said.

“Real change in cancer care starts with those who know the challenges they face the best, and that is communities themselves. That is why every local project we are supporting has been shaped by the views of people living with cancer and their loved ones.

“We are so excited to be working with TVPS, and community organisations right across the UK, to address some of the gaps we know exist, to deliver lasting change in local cancer care and to help make things just that little bit better for everyone affected by cancer.”

TVPS, which provides HIV and LGBTQ+ support services across Berkshire and Hampshire, said anyone from the LGBTQ+ community affected by cancer can contact the Pride in Cancer Care team for information and support.