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Join our team as a Community Researcher

Do you want to help make breast / chest screening more accessible to neurodivergent, disabled and trans+ people? Join us as a Community Researcher!

We are looking for people from disabled, neurodivergent and trans+ communities to work on a project undertaking an independent review to identify how breast / chest screening services at University Hospital Southampton could be more accessible.

As a Community Researcher, you will engage with your community to reach people whose voices may not usually be represented or heard.

This is a rare opportunity to view the service from start to finish, through the perspective of a disabled, neurodivergent and trans+ lens. The project will involve a variety of tasks, with co-production at its heart. It will involve things like visits to the unit in Southampton, an audit of information (including website and flyers etc), the creation and facilitation of co-productions groups, and sharing findings and solutions.

You will be paid £18 per hour plus travel expenses. Training will be provided, and you will be part of a friendly, supportive team. We understand that this work can have an emotional impact, and are fortunate to have brilliant support from trans+ charity Beyond Reflections, as well as support provided by Help & Care as project leads.

Our goal for this work is for it to be as representative and diverse as possible. As a result, we are especially keen to hear from:

  • Trans femme individuals.
  • Older trans+ individuals.
  • BME communities.
  • People with a physical disability.

If this sounds like something you would like to be involved with, we would love to hear from you! Please email involvingpeople@helpandcare.org.uk with:

  • What interests you about this role?
  • What experience do you have?
  • What do you hope to gain from being a Community Researcher?

You can also email us if you have any questions or would like an informal chat about any of our projects.

Background

Help & Care have recently led two research projects alongside partners aiming to improve access to cancer care – one for the disabled and neurodivergent community, and one for the trans+ community.

The projects have been led by Community Researchers using a range of creative and artistic methods. Being members of the communities themselves, they have been able to reach out and connect, creating a safer space to share experiences. The projects have unveiled both widespread issues and innovative solutions.

From these projects, we have built strong relationships with the NHS. As a result of this, we were approached by UHS to undertake this piece of work around screening.

Further information