The risk of getting cancer
Cancer and Inequalities
10GM is working in collaboration with the GM Cancer Alliance, partners from across the wider health system and the wider VCSE sector to achieve a permanent reduction in inequalities and inequity within Greater Manchester.
The project works towards finding innovative ways of tackling inequalities by addressing the social, environmental, and economic determinants of health and wellbeing, with the aim to ensure active VCSE participation and parity in strategic work to enhance equality, equity and wellbeing.
What are Inequalities?
Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair and cause systematic differences in health between different groups of people. They exist as a result of systematic variation in (i) the accessibility, quality and experience of health and care services, (ii) individual behaviours and, most importantly, (iii) the wider determinants of health, such as employment, education and income.
Health inequalities in the cancer system can represent themselves as differences between groups in:
The proportion of people diagnosed at an early stage
Access and experience of diagnosis, treatment, and care
Access to research
Representation within the workforce
What is happening in GM to reduce inequalities?
Greater Manchester has a strong track record of taking action to tackle inequalities and improve health and wellbeing, but the health service understands that more needs to be done, especially when the focus is on cancer. The GM Tackling Health Inequalities Strategy sets out a number of objectives to reduce inequalities in incidence and outcomes and improve equity in access and experience of cancer care.
What is 10GM’s role?
To support the GM Cancer Alliance with its aim to tackle inequalities in incidence and outcomes and improve equity in access and experience of cancer care, 10GM employs a Strategic Lead for Cancer & Inequalities. This role works alongside the GM Cancer Alliance and will be vital to the strategic engagement of the VCSE sector in channelling insights into the challenges faced by a broad range of marginalised communities into decisions taken at a GM level.
There are many VCSE organisations, whilst not cancer specialists, that have crucial insight and understanding of the barriers faced by their communities in relation to health and wellbeing.
The VCSE Strategic Lead for Cancer & Inequalities:
Provides leadership in the VCSE sector for Cancer and Inequalities work and initiatives
Champions the VCSE as a partner within the Cancer system
Provides insight and intelligence from our VCSE organisations
Supports the Cancer system to reach into communities
Develop an understanding of the environment in which VCSE groups are operating, within the integrated care system
Facilitates the Greaster Manchester VCSE Cancer & Inequalities Network.
Join the VCSE Cancer & Inequalities Network
The Greater Manchester VCSE Cancer and Inequalities Network is a group of VCSE organisations that are interested in – or already working with – people affected by cancer in their communities. It meets online every 6 weekls and provides a place to share and learn from each other, promotes opportunities to get involved with the cancer system and the wider inequalities work, shares challenges faced by our communities, and brings the lived experience together to influence the cancer care system.
The Cancer and Inequalities Network has had opportunities to contribute to a range of activities, from focus groups to collaboration on new communications campaigns. Our experience shows that campaigns developed alongside specific communities and VCSE organisations are empowering, helping people feel ownership and connection to the work within their own communities.
If you would like to get involved and become a member of the network or to discuss the network further, get in touch.
#WednesdaysWeekly – Exploring inequalities within Cancer Care
This #WednesdaysWeekly session, hosted by 10GM partner organisation, Action Together, is aimed at VCSE organisations across Greater Manchester who want to understand the cancer pathway more, where the opportunities are, where the links could lie to existing work streams/projects, and where there is potential to link into the ‘system’ more.
How can I get involved?
Let’s work together to improve the lives of people living with cancer. If you’re a GM VCSE organisation working with – or wanting to find out more about – supporting people in your community affected by cancer, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. Contact Hannah Stirzaker, Strategic Lead for Cancer & Inequalities.
Find out more about the work going on to improve cancer awareness and increase the uptake of cancer screening across Greater Manchester.
Cancer & Inequalities Fund
Would you like to help play a part in increasing early cancer diagnosis rates in underserved communities in Greater Manchester?
The Cancer & Inequalities fund is offering grants for Greater Manchester-based VCSE organisations to deliver projects that raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of cancer and identify and understand the barriers people face when receiving a cancer diagnosis.
Answer Cancer
Answer Cancer is a partnership working to improve cancer awareness and increase the uptake of cancer screening across Greater Manchester. We do so via grants, delivering cancer screening awareness sessions, supporting a network of Cancer Champions, and providing training.
Answer Cancer is delivered by Salford CVS, on behalf of 10GM.
Content last reviewed on 2 September 2026
