Brook Acre Primary School's project to raise cancer awareness

This includes raising the importance of screening and why it is vital to have any health concerns checked out.

Brook Acre Primary School has been given funds for a project to encourage relatives and carers of youngsters to come in and discuss healthy lifestyle information.

As part of the project, run by Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, families are invited into the school to speak with the children and staff and to take part in lunch sessions, charity dates, and experience days – including a range of physical activities and healthy eating sessions.

Brook Acre’s school council, which includes pupils from each year, has also chosen to raise money for Cancer Research and the school recently held a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

School business manager Lesley Burrows said: “Staff talk with the children about healthy lifestyles, such as the need to keep safe in the sun, eating five a day, the importance of exercise – and as part of that learning we do talk about cancer.

“The children come to us with a knowledge of cancer and it is surprising what they already understand as a number of them may be familiar with it through relatives being treated. They also see health promotion adverts. It is amazing what they do know.”

Some of the money given to the school has been used to improve an outdoor area where there are ‘friendship benches’. Here children can discuss things that are concerning them or that they are interested in with parents or relatives.

Parents and children at Brook Acre during the health awareness sessions (Image: Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance)

Lesley, who volunteers for Cancer Research UK, said: “The project we are doing now with cancer and our Well-Being Warriors encourages a discussion between the children and parents or carers and they can go home and talk about these issues. We also include information about health, including cancer, in Friday letters home to parents.”

The Padgate school has also been supported by Warrington Voluntary Action in its project.

Bryan Dargie, social action lead at Warrington Voluntary Action, said: “Local community groups have the magic touch and are brilliantly placed to have real, honest and plain conversations with people. 

“This project has empowered a range of groups to talk about something that affects everyone in some way. It’s given community groups another string to their bow in supporting people to live well.”

Brook Acre is among 30 grassroots projects across Warrington, Halton and Knowsley under the initiative which aims to spread cancer information within localities and target the heart of local communities.

Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance project manager Moray Hayman who leads the programme, said: “This initiative seeks to support local communities to reduce their risk of dying from cancer, by improving community understanding and awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer and encouraging appropriate health-seeking behaviour.

“We are also encouraging more people who experience cancer to be supported to achieve emotional wellbeing and to reduce stigma and discrimination relating to cancer diagnosis.

“By working with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, the scheme focuses on improving knowledge of the signs and symptoms of cancer within local communities, encouraging more people to go for NHS screening when they are invited and to reduce inequalities in access to high-quality cancer treatment.”