What is the ‘Year of Listening project’?

A ‘Year of Listening’ is an exciting new 12-month Kent wide community engagement project. Medway Voluntary Action (funded by Macmillan to deliver this piece of work in Medway & Swale) is working in partnership with local Voluntary & Community organisations and groups to engage with local communities and residents to understand the barriers and challenges local people are experiencing in accessing local Cancer treatment and support services.

Who will be the running project?

The project will begin in September 2022 and will be delivered in Medway and Swale by MVA, who will ensure their work connects with the wider Kent programmes. At the end of the project MVA will communicate the outcomes to everyone who was involved.

There will also be an independent Stakeholder Steering Group, made up of Cancer professionals and those who have lived experience of Cancer, who will support the development of the programme and ensure it remains on track and in line with the project goals.

Why is this project being carried out?

Medway and Swale underperform in many Cancer system indicators, and is therefore a priority area to identify the barriers and challenges local people are experiencing in accessing support and treatment. In addition to this it has also been widely recognised that the Covid-19 pandemic has also had an adverse impact on Cancer diagnosis and treatments.

The programme will engage with and support Medway and Swale residents to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities within the existing system (in relation to accessing treatment and services), and their views will be shared with key decision-makers who have committed to taking action based on these insights.

Who do we want to hear from?

In this project we want to hear from anyone impacted by Cancer and we particularly want to hear from:
• People aged over 60
• People living with a disability/limited daily activities
• People of the Global Majority (also referred to as BAME communities)
• People from LGBTQIA+ communities
• People who live in neighbourhoods with lower income and where there are fewer resources and opportunities

To watch a short video about the ‘Year of Listening’ project please follow this link.

How Medway & Swale VCS Organisations and Community Groups can get involved

There are a few ways that local organisations can take part in this ‘listening’ project including:

• Hosting or participating in Community Interactive Community Listening Groups (ICL)
• FREE training for one of your team or volunteers to become an ICL
• You can also earn an income for each ICL Group delivered, depending on the number of participants
• Supporting a Coffee Morning at one of your venues or activities
• Sharing the project details with your service users and allowing some of our fully trained Community Health Research Volunteers to attend some of your service users activities to talk to them.

If you would like to find out more about the programme or get involved please contact a member of our Macmillan project team on 01634 812 850 or contact@mva.org.uk.

‘Getting Involved’ Resources For Local Residents & VCS Organisations & Groups

Click HERE to download the ‘Year of Listening’ Programme Support Pack (PDF).

Local Residents

Click HERE to download the programme overview information sheet (PDF)
Click HERE to download the infographic on how local residents can get involved (PDF)
Click HERE to download the infographic on how local residents can get involved (JPEG)
Click HERE to request access to the Private WhatsApp Group Discussion Programme
Click HERE to download the Private WhatsApp Group Chat Rules & Etiquette Information (PDF)
Click HERE to register with the Monthly Online Survey programme
Click HERE to download the editable PDF Poster to use to promote programme volunteers attending your activities/events so your service users can come and have their say (PDF)
Click HERE to register your interest in becoming a volunteer researcher for the programme
Click HERE to download a copy of the Community Health Research Volunteer Recruitment Poster (PDF)
Click HERE to download a copy of the Community Health Research Volunteer Role Description (PDF)

Local VCS Organisations & Groups Resources

Programme Promotional Materials

Click HERE to download the programme overview information sheet (PDF)
Click HERE to download the infographic on how local VCS organisations and groups can get involved (PDF)
Click HERE to download the infographic on how local VCS organisations and groups can get involved (JPEG)
Click HERE to download a selection of programme promotional social posts to share (ZIP file of JPEGS)
Click HERE to download a selection of social media post templates (PDF)
Click HERE to download the Private WhatsApp Group Discussion Programme Poster (PDF)
Click HERE to download the Private WhatsApp Group Discussion Programme Poster (JPEG)
Click HERE to download the Monthly Online Survey Poster (PDF)
Click HERE to download the Monthly Online Survey Poster (JPEG)

Interactive Community Listening Session Resources

Click HERE to request access to the free Online Interactive Community Listening Session Training for local VCS organisations and groups
Click HERE to download the editable PDF Poster for Interactive Community Listening Sessions (PDF)
Click HERE to download the ICL Session Participant Consent Sheet (PDF)

Focus Group Resources

Click HERE to request access to the Online Focus Group Training for local VCS organisations and groups
Click HERE to download the editable PDF Poster for the ‘Year of Listening’ Focus Groups (PDF)
Click HERE to download the ‘Year of Listening’ Prevention Topic Focus Group Invitation Template (PDF)
Click HERE to download the ‘Year of Listening’ Diagnosis & Patient Support Network Inclusion Topic Focus Group Invitation Template (PDF)
Click HERE to download the ‘Year of Listening’ Treatment & Personalising cancer Patient Care Plans Topic Focus Group Invitation Template (PDF)
Click HERE to download the Focus Group Participant Consent Sheet Sheet (PDF)

A Year of Listening in Medway & Swale