SWAG Cancer Alliance, in partnership with Everyone Health (BaNES - FREE Health & Wellbeing Services in BaNES | Everyone Health), is seeking one GP practice and one Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisation in Bath and North East Somerset to participate in a pilot of Making Every Contact Count + Cancer (MECC+C).
MECC is an evidence-based approach that enables staff to use everyday conversations to support people in making positive changes to their health and wellbeing. This pilot enhances traditional MECC training by incorporating a cancer prevention, awareness and early diagnosis focus. More information on MECC is available here - MECC - Make Every Contact Count - Everyone Health Bath & North East Somerset.
Participants will gain the skills, confidence and resources to have meaningful conversations about:
- Healthy lifestyle choices and cancer prevention
- Cancer screening awareness and uptake
- Recognition of potential cancer symptoms
- Accessing local cancer support services
- Behaviour change and signposting to relevant community services
The pilot will help SWAG Cancer Alliance understand how MECC+C can be embedded into both healthcare and community settings to improve cancer awareness and reduce health inequalities.
Watch our Information Webinar below
To discuss this or ask any questions, you can contact us on swagca@nbt.nhs.uk.
Who Can Apply
GP Practice Site
We are seeking one GP practice within Bath and North East Somerset that is committed to improving cancer awareness and prevention through opportunistic conversations.
All practice staff (excluding GPs) are eligible for the pilot, but staff groups may include:
- Reception and care navigation teams
- Social prescribing teams
- Healthcare assistants
- Nursing associates
- Allied Health Professionals
- Other non-clinical and clinical support staff
VCFSE Pilot Site
We are seeking one VCFSE organisation working with local communities who experience barriers to healthcare, in particular organisations who are supporting:
- People who are homeless,
- People living in deprivation
- Individuals experiencing substance misuse
- Vulnerable migrants, refugees, asylum seekers
- People with disabilities
Suitable organisations may include:
- Community and neighbourhood groups
- Health and wellbeing charities
- Faith-based organisations
- Social prescribing providers
- Community outreach services
What's Included?
Successful sites will receive:
- Free MECC+C training delivered by accredited trainers
- Reimbursement of staffing backfill costs
- Cancer awareness resources and supporting materials
- Ongoing support from SWAG Cancer Alliance & Everyone Health
- Opportunity to shape future rollout of the programme
- Participation in a region-wide pilot evaluation
Commitment Required
Participating organisations will be expected to:
- Release identified staff to attend a 3.5-hour training session (it is advised that this would be face to face but can be online if required)
- Complete pre and post training evaluation activities
- Participate in a follow-up review approximately three months after training
- Share feedback, learning and examples of impact to support evaluation of the pilot
Timeline
| Expressions of Interest open | 7th September 2026 |
| Launch webinar | 23rd September 2026 |
| Expressions of Interest close | 30th October 2026 |
| Selection of Pilot sites | Early November 2026 |
| Training delivery | Winter 2026 (TBC with successful site) |
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed against:
- Commitment to cancer prevention and early diagnosis
- Ability to release staff for training
- Reach into local communities
- Potential to reduce health inequalities
- Willingness to participate in evaluation and learning activities
Next Steps
If you are interested in applying, please do so either through MS forms:
Or by submitting the following word document to SWAGCA@nbt.nhs.uk.
