5 Minutes With… Cancer Champions, The Rainbow Project, Northern Ireland

28 April 2025 — jessica-bailey

We spoke with Joe Henson and Jade Fleming at The Rainbow Project, the first dedicated LGBTQIA+ cancer support service in Northern Ireland, to find out more about their inclusive offerings.

Tell us about your organisation?

Cancer Champions launched in August 2024 as a 3-year pilot project dedicated to empowering and supporting LGBTQIA+ people impacted by cancer in Northern Ireland and raising awareness of cancer experiences in the community. It is delivered by The Rainbow Project with funding and partnership from Macmillan Cancer Support. As the first dedicated LGBTQIA+ cancer support service in Northern Ireland, we are proud to offer inclusive services and resources that have long been needed in the cancer care landscape here. Our staff are based in both our Belfast and Foyle offices, but we support people across all of Northern Ireland.

What services do you offer people living with cancer?

We provide one-to-one listening ear support sessions, peer and social groups, LGBTQIA+ Death Cafés, End-of-Life care workshops, cancer awareness events, wellbeing workshops, and a variety of volunteering opportunities. It was important to us to offer services to everyone impacted by cancer regardless of where they are in their cancer care pathway, including for friends and family, those in palliative care, and those whose cancer experiences are in the past: the impact cancer has on someone’s life has no time limit, but service support can drop off towards the end of a clinical journey. We want to be here for everyone without time-constraints on diagnosis.

Additionally, we have developed and continue to develop inclusive cancer screening resources for LGBTQIA+ individuals before they may have even begun a cancer journey, because screening and early diagnosis can be lifesaving. We recently created a walkthrough video of a woman of trans lived experience attending a breast/chest screening appointment with the support of the Breast Imaging Unit at Antrim Area Hospital and the PHA, providing clinically and holistically relevant trans and non-binary specific information on attending appointments. We also offer professional training and resources for healthcare and social care workers who want to reflect on their service delivery and improve inclusivity in cancer care settings. Outside of sexual health, LGBTQIA+ specific health messaging is poor, and we believe with dedicated resources, we can reduce this barrier to accessing vital services.

Do you have a target demographic who uses your services?

Yes, we support LGBTQIA+ individuals aged 18+ in Northern Ireland who are:

· Living with or have had a cancer diagnosis in the past;

· Family members, friends, or carers of someone impacted by cancer;

· Wanting some more information/advice around accessing cancer screenings.

We also work with healthcare and social care professionals in the cancer sector who want to reflect on and improve the inclusivity of their services by providing training and resources.

How are you funded?

The Cancer Champions project is fully funded by Macmillan Cancer Support for three years.

Has anything changed for your organisation since the pandemic?

While Cancer Champions began post-COVID, we acknowledge the wider context of The Rainbow Project and cancer services overall being significantly impacted. The pandemic contributed to clinical care backlogs and increased mental health needs, highlighting an even greater need for inclusive and accessible cancer support services like ours.

What’s the most rewarding thing about the work you do?

The most rewarding part of this work is being able to offer a safe, affirming space where people feel heard, respected, and supported. It’s incredibly meaningful to help someone through their cancer journey, to co-create inclusive health resources that build trust, and to deliver training that helps healthcare settings become more visibly inclusive and better informed on the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients. It’s about creating lasting change in systems while supporting individuals in real, tangible ways.

What would you say to those who are considering getting in touch with you but are nervous or apprehensive?

To anyone feeling unsure or nervous about reaching out to us – we want you to know you’re not alone. We’re here to support you, whatever your experience with cancer has been.

You’ll be met with understanding, compassion, and complete confidentiality. There are no silly questions, and we’ll walk with you every step of the way.

Do you have testimonials from people that have used your services?

Yes, we collect “Most Significant Change” stories from those who use our services, and we’re proud to say that service users have shared how our events and support helped reduce their isolation, gave them confidence to open up to others, and provided a warm and welcoming environment where they felt truly understood.

Who works for you?

Our team of six staff includes Joe, our Cancer Champions Manager, our Project Officers; Amie, Samantha, and Jade, our Volunteering Officer Sinéad and our Administrative Assistant Pablo. Alongside our team, our staff work with and hope to expand Cancer Champions Volunteers in a variety of roles to help increase service provision.

What are the values of your organisation?

We are LGBTQIA+ Affirmative, Sex Positive, Gender Aware, Rights Based, Expert Led, Volunteer Led, and Needs Led. We also value a Holistic and Innovative approach in our work.

And finally, can you describe your organisation in 3 words?

Inclusive. Empowering. Compassionate.

You can read more about the work of Cancer Champions and access their services at their website www.rainbow-project.org. For LGBTQIA+ services in your local area, please search on Cancer Care Map’s homepage using your postcode.