What is a small community?
Each small community is an ‘expert by experience’ focus group, where members share lived experience of a particular cancer type.
Members of the small communities have the opportunity to improve cancer care for others. They can influence service improvement projects, and discuss topics that matter to them, highlighting where improvements can be made.
Small communities also help our patient and carer representatives who are members of the pathway board to represent wider perspectives than their own, as they hear what matters to others.
We currently have small communities for the majority of cancer pathways. The diagram below displays this. We continue to grow and diversify these groups, and are looking to establish new small communities where they don’t currently exist.
How can I join?
To join a small community, email us at gmcancer.voices@nhs.net or fill out our registration form and we will be in touch.
Useful documents
| Type of focus group (small community) | Dates/times |
|---|---|
| Blood cancer (haematological) | Not set dates – get in touch to take part in ad-hoc projects |
| Bowel cancer (colorectal) | 10th June 2025, 12-1pm, online |
| Brain tumour | Dates TBC – get in touch to join |
| Breast cancer | 2nd July 2025, 10-11.30am, in-person at The Christie |
| Gynaecological cancer | Dates TBC – get in touch to join |
| Head and neck cancer | Dates TBC – get in touch to join |
| Lung cancer | 30th June 2025, 1.30-3pm, in-person at The Christie |
| Oesophageal and stomach cancer | 12th June 2025, 1-2pm, online
11th September 2025, 2-3pm, online 2nd December 2025, 11am-12pm, online |
| Pancreatic cancer | Not set dates – get in touch to take part in ad-hoc projects |
| Skin cancer | Dates TBC – get in touch to join |
| Urological (bladder, kidney and prostate) cancer | 4th September, 1-2pm, online
13th November, 1-2pm, online |
Want to find out more?
Take a look at our video to find out more about small communities, and meet some of the team.