Bowel Cancer Screening – Health Promotion
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The aim of the Health Promotion Team at St George’s Bowel Cancer Screening Centre is to spread awareness on Bowel Cancer and the Screening Test in order to improve screening uptake across South West London. We do this by engaging with communities and GP surgeries across South West London.
The Health Promotion Team is made up of Lisa-Lyna Ofosu-Asare (our Health Improvement Specialist) and Annice Norman (our Health Promotion Assistant).
Health Promotion Events
Tooting Family Hub
On 25th March, Jennifer and Radha attend the Tooting Family Hub launch in Wandsworth where they held a stall. There was a great turnout, and they promoted bowel screening with residents and local service providers. Educating people about FIT from a young age means that family members know how important it is and are more likely to encourage and support older family to complete the test.
April 2025 Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month! Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. The earlier bowel cancer is spotted, the more treatable it’s likely to be. In fact, more than 9 in 10 people survive cancer when it is diagnosed in the earliest stage.
The bowel cancer screening programme now includes everyone aged 50 to 74. You’ll automatically be sent an NHS bowel screening (FIT) kit through the post when you become eligible.
The test can be done in the comfort of your home and only needs a tiny sample of poo to test for signs of cancer. So, dig out the bowel cancer testing kit that you hid in that bottom drawer, or look out for it in the post. And then put it by the loo. Don’t put it off. Find out more about bowel cancer screening at www.nhs.uk/bowel
Jennifer and Radha will attend community events throughout the month to raise bowel cancer awareness across South West London.
St George’s Hospital
On the 1st and 30th of April, Jennifer and Radha hosted awareness stands at the main entrance to St George’s Hospital. The endoscopy team joined them to mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to educate people about the effects of the disease and the importance of screening.
Queen Mary’s Hospital
On the 2nd and 28th of April, Jennifer and Radha hosted awareness stands at Queen Mary’s Hospital to raise awareness of bowel cancer and the screening programme.
Elleray Hall Social Centre
On the 4th of April, Jennifer attended Elleray Social Hall in Richmond. Ellerary Social Hall is a centre for older people to connect in and around Teddington. Jennifer spoke with members about signs and symptoms to look out for, how to reduce risk and the screening programme.
Croydon University Hospital
On the 7th of April, Jennifer and Radha collaborated with MacMillian, Croydon University Hospital colorectal nurses and South East Cancer Help Centre to promote screening at the main entrance to Croydon University Hospital.
St Helier Hospital
Jennifer and Radha attended St Helier Hospital on the 9th and 23rd of April. They set up an awareness stand at the main entrance to the hospital, where they spoke with staff and patients about the bowel cancer and the importance of early detection.
Croydon Bowel Cancer Campaign
On the 10th of April, Jennifer and Radha hosted an awareness stand at the Croydon Bowel Cancer Campaign. The campaign was organised by RM Partners West Cancer Alliance. It was an excellent afternoon of learning, music and conversation to raise awareness about bowel health. Speakers included Mr Said Mohamed (Consultant Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon), Jo Turner-Banton (Macmillan Colorectal Nurse Consultant), and Dr. Lavan Baskaran (Croydon GP).
Katherine Low Settlement
On the 22nd of April Jennifer attended an elder’s lunch club at the Katherine Low Settlement in Wandsworth. Katherine Low Settlement is a Battersea charity which works to reduce poverty and isolation and bring the community together. Jennifer spoke with members about bowel cancer and how to participate in the screening programme.
Sutton Sports Village for Sutton Evergreens Group
On the 25th of April Jennifer attended the Suttons Evergreens club – a community sports and social club for over 50s. She provided members with health promotion materials and answered questions.
Age UK
Jennifer and Radha collaborated with Age UK to deliver awareness sessions throughout April. The sessions included Twickenham Wellbeing Centre (Richmond), Selsdone Library and Scratchley Hall (both Croydon). Jennifer and Radha attended the Health Hub Sessions, where they delivered talks, shared materials and answered questions.
September 2025
Good Food Matters
On the 6th of September Annice attended a cancer awareness event at Good Food Matters in New Addington. Here she delivered a talk on bowel cancer and the screening programme which was followed by a meaningful discussion on symptoms to look out for and a question-and-answer session.
Be Enriched Community Meal
On the 13th of September Lisa-Lyna attended the Be Enriched Community Canteen at Tooting United Reformed Church. Lisa delivered a talk on bowel cancer and the screening process which was well interacted with. Several questions were answered following the talk.
St Helier Charitable Foundation Wellbeing Day
On the 17th of September Lisa-Lyna held a stall at the St Helier Charitable Foundation Wellbeing Day. Lisa attended alongside a range of other local community organisations and gave information on bowel cancer and the screening programme to those in attendance and answered questions from those who attended. She was also joined again by Dr Ana, (Sutton Cancer Clinical Lead).
Battersea Fields Breakfast and Wellbeing Cancer Screening Event.
On the 24th of September Annice attended the breakfast and wellbeing cancer screening event held by Battersea Fields Practice. Annice delivered a talk on bowel cancer and the screening programme then answered a range of questions from those who attended during the Q&A section of the session.
Full of Life Fair
On 27th September, Lisa-Lyna attended the Full Of Life Fair, held at Twickenham Stadium. It was a fantastic event that provide information to members of the community on various organisations and their offer of support to their local community. Lisa-Lyna shared a stall with the Breast Screening Team from St George’s and she was also joined by her colleague from the Bowel Screening team, Ruth. Ruth is our Deputy Specialist Screening Practitioner at the bowel screening team. Together, they both engaged with a large number of those in attendance and provided valuable information, advice and support to people regarding the Bowel Screening Programme.
Sutton Community Works
Lisa-Lyna attended the Sutton Community Works cancer awareness event on the 24th of September. Here she set up an information table and answered questions from those who attended.
October 2025
Age UK Wandsworth
On the 9th of October Lisa-Lyna delivered two talks at Age UK Wandsworth, one to those who attended the coffee morning and one to users of the day centre. Both talks were well received. Lisa also shared resources with those who attended and answered a variety of questions.
Throwley Yard Cinema
On 30th October, Lisa-Lyna attended a Silver Screening Event at Throwley Yard Cinema in Sutton. These silver screening events are catered towards providing exclusive cinema screenings to the elderly. This fits perfectly as the majority of those in attendance fall within the screening age. This screening was well atte
nded, with around 50 community members in attendance. Lisa-Lyna was able to engage with all those in attendance, answering their queries and providing information regarding bowel cancer and the screening programme. These Silver Screening events are a key opportunity to engage with our eligible population and so we will continue to engage with Cinemas throughout South West London to provide this offer of support
A Snapshot of 2023’s Bowel Health Promotion
| Talk With Kingston Migrant Advocacy Group
December 14, 2023, at Kingsnympton Park Estate.
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| Carshalton Health and Wellbeing Fair
8th November 2023 at David Weir Leisure Centre. |
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| Black Communities Healthy Living & Lifestyle Fair
21 October 2023 Held at Chestnuts Community Centre in Tottenham to help support the NHSE Bowel Cancer Campaign. |
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| April 2023 Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month! Bowel Cancer Awareness Month occurs annually in April and is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer. Throughout the month we will be attending a range of events across Southwest London.
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| Talk with The Kingston Tamil Group
14 June 2023 at Abbey Smile Hall, Kingston. An interpreter was present during the presentation. |
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| Merton Health and Wellbeing Fair
Saturday 21 January 2023 at The Lantern Arts Centre in Raynes Park. |
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| Talk with the Hong Kong Migrant Group
11 January 2023, Kingston Library. An interpreter was present for the presentation. |
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Feedback from the community
Hear from Richard who attended the talk with the Kingston Quaker Group in July 2023.
Hear from a member of the Hong Kong Migrant group who attended the talk in January 2023.
NHSE Radio Campaigns
Health Improvement Specialist Lisa-Lyna discusses all things Bowel Cancer and Bowel Cancer Screening related. With Premier Gospel Radio Station.
Lisa-Lyna discusses Bowel Cancer facts, the process of bowel cancer screening and the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Campaign with The Beat FM radio station.
Key staff
| Benhill Community Fun Day
On Saturday the 31st of August Lisa-Lyna attended the Benhill Community Fun Day along with a range of other local organisations. The event was extremely well attended, and Lisa-Lyna was able to offer information and support to many members of the local community. She was joined on the stall by Dr Ana, who is the Cancer Clinical Lead for Sutton. They both engaged with many of the people in attendance and also met the Mayor for Sutton and took a picture with him. |
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| Wandsworth Carers Centre Cancer Awareness Session
Lisa-Lyna attended Wandsworth Carers Centre Cancer Awareness Session on the 28th of August. Lisa delivered a talk which was well received with a variety of questions answered after the talk. The session was a joint cancer screening session, where she shared the stage with her colleague, Sarah, from the Breast Screening Team at St George’s. |
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| Health Awareness Day at South Tooting Medical Centre
On the 6th of August, Lisa-Lyna held a Health Awareness Day at Tooting South Medical Centre. Patients were able to find out more about bowel cancer and the screening programme and several patients attended to ask specific questions they had. |
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| Talk at the Furzedown Project
On the 29th of July Annice delivered a talk at the Furzedown project in Wandsworth. After the talk an in-depth questions and answer session took place where attendees asked a range of questions surrounding the screening programme. |
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| Kingston Foodbank Wellbeing Event
On the 23rd of July, Annice attended a Health and Wellbeing event at the Cambridge Estate Foodbank in Kingston. The event was well attended and many informative conversations about bowel cancer and the screening programme took place. |
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| Croydon Cancer Conference
On the 3 of July, Lisa-Lyna attended the Croydon Cancer Conference held my Macmillan and the Croydon BME Forum. At the conference she held a Bowel Cancer stall, delivered a talk on Bowel Cancer, and held a workshop. During the workshop she was able to answer a range of questions on Bowel Cancer and the screening process from the people that attended. |
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| Talk at Multicultural Richmond
On the 13 May Lisa-Lyna attended the Multicultural Social club run by Multicultural Richmond. The talk was well received and there were a range of questions answered following the talk. |
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| Health and Wellbeing event at Springfield Hospital
Lisa-Lyna attended Springfield Hospital on the 19 June. Here she held a Bowel Cancer Stall and gave a talk to service users on Bowel Cancer. Lisa-Lyna also informed service users of the new bowel cancer screening service going live at Springfield Hospital on the 1st of July 2024. |
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| Learning Disability Event at St George’s Hospital
On June 17 during Learning Disability Awareness Week Lisa-Lyna held a Bowel Cancer Stall at a Learning Disability Event at St George’s Hospital. The event was well attended with a range of people from the community as well as internal and external organisations, attending for further information on support for people with Learning Disabilities. |
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| Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 2024
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month! Bowel Cancer Awareness month occurs annually and is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer. Throughout the month we attended a range of events across South West London. |
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| Bowel Cancer Awareness Month Stand
We started Bowel Cancer Awareness month with a stand in the main entrance of St George’s Hospital on April 2. The stall was manned by Annice, our Health Promotion Assistant, gave out information and answered questions from those attending the hospital. |
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| World Cancer Day 2024 Event
2 February 2024, St Georges Hospital. This event was put together by the cancer team at St Georges Hospital in celebration of World Cancer Day. Various member of staff from across the trust attended this event and gave talks on cancer. Lisa-Lyna attended this event to give a presentation on Bowel Cancer, alongside the RM partners Cancer Alliance and The Breast Screening service at St Georges. Lisa-Lyna also held a stall at the event where she was able to continue sharing information. |
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| Bowel Cancer Talk at FiSH (Friendship, Independence, Support, Help) Community
Lisa-Lyna was invited to host a talk on Bowel Cancer and the screening programme at FiSH on 2 April 2024. It was a largely attended talk, with a lot of questions and discussions on Bowel Cancer as a whole. The feedback from the event was extremely positive too. |
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| Age UK Community Hub Tour
On the 3 of April Lisa-Lyna kicked off a tour of Age UK Community Hubs in Croydon with a Bowel Cancer Talk at Scratchley Hall (pictured on the top left). The talks held during the tour were well attended and allowed for many questions and meaningful discussions on Bowel Cancer. On the 8 of April Lisa-Lyna as part of the Age Uk tour Lisa-Lyna delivered a Bowel Cancer Talk at Selsdon Library Community Hub (pictured on the top right). On the 25th of April Lisa-Lyna delivered a Bowel Cancer Talk at the Age UK community hub at Edward Jobson Court (pictured on bottom right) and concluded the tour of Age UK Community Hubs with a talk at Scratchley Hall (pictured on bottom left). |
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| Joint Bowel Cancer Stand at Croydon University Hospital – Lisa-Lyna attended Croydon University Hospital on 19th April 2024 to host a joint stand with the Bowel Cancer and Macmillan Team. It was a great day and they engaged with a lot of people that attended the hospital. |  |
| Joint Bowel Cancer Stand at Croydon University Hospital – Lisa-Lyna attended Croydon University Hospital on 19th April 2024 to host a joint stand with the Bowel Cancer and Macmillan Team. It was a great day and they engaged with a lot of people that attended the hospital. |  |
| Bowel Cancer Talk at Purley Masjid Mosque – Lisa-Lyna was invited but ARCC to run a talk on 25th April to discuss Bowel Cancer and the screening problem. The talk was held at the Purley Masjid Mosque in Croydon. There were deep discussions on screening and all the possible barriers that people might face when it comes to screening and how to address these barriers. |  |
| Bowel Cancer Talk at Brigstock Community Hub
Lisa-Lyna was invited by ARCC to run a talk at their weekly community hub on 29 April 2024 to raise awareness on the importance of Bowel Cancer Screening. A few of those in attendance noted that they felt encouraged to do their screen following the discussions. |
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| Bowel Cancer Awareness Stand St George’s Hospital
To conclude Bowel Cancer Awareness month a stand was held in the entrance of St George’s Hospital. The stand was manned by Annice, who was joined by Jane Morales, the Colorectal Cancer Lead Nurse at St George’s who helped to answer questions and give out information to those attending the hospital. |
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| Bowel Cancer Stall at Wide Way Medical Centre
19 February 2024, Wide Way Medical Centre, Mitcham. We set up a Bowel Cancer stall at Wide Way Medical Centre as part of our Health Awareness Days. The stall was in the waiting room where we were available for patients to come and ask questions about bowel cancer and the screening process. |
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| Talk for the Association for Polish Family
13 February 2024, New Horizon Centre, Mitcham. Lisa-Lyna gave a talk at the Ukrainian Hub run by the Association for Polish Family. An interpreter was present at the talk. The talk was well received with a range of questions asked from those who attended. |
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| World Cancer Day 2024 Event2 February 2024, St Georges Hospital. This event was put together by the cancer team at St Georges Hospital in celebration of World Cancer Day. Various member of staff from across the trust attended this event and gave talks on cancer. Lisa-Lyna attended this event to give a presentation on Bowel Cancer, alongside the RM partners Cancer Alliance and The Breast Screening service at St Georges. Lisa-Lyna also held a stall at the event where she was able to continue sharing information. | |
A Snapshot of 2023’s Bowel Health Promotion
| Talk With Kingston Migrant Advocacy Group
December 14, 2023, at Kingsnympton Park Estate.
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| Carshalton Health and Wellbeing Fair
8th November 2023 at David Weir Leisure Centre. |
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| Black Communities Healthy Living & Lifestyle Fair
21 October 2023 Held at Chestnuts Community Centre in Tottenham to help support the NHSE Bowel Cancer Campaign. |
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| April 2023 Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month! Bowel Cancer Awareness Month occurs annually in April and is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer. Throughout the month we will be attending a range of events across Southwest London.
|
|
| Talk with The Kingston Tamil Group
14 June 2023 at Abbey Smile Hall, Kingston. An interpreter was present during the presentation. |
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| Merton Health and Wellbeing Fair
Saturday 21 January 2023 at The Lantern Arts Centre in Raynes Park. |
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| Talk with the Hong Kong Migrant Group
11 January 2023, Kingston Library. An interpreter was present for the presentation. |
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