Deaf Cancer Support Project: evaluation study

Evaluating cancer support for Deaf people.

This study will evaluate the Macmillan Deaf Cancer Support Project, which is funded by Macmillan and delivered by Self Help UK.

The project specifically targets the information, support and advocacy needs of Deaf people affected by cancer, whether as patients, carers or family members, and at any point in the cancer journey.

It builds on a successful small-scale project in one region in England that was developed and enhanced during the first COVID-19 lockdown to specifically enable service provision in BSL (British Sign Language) on a virtual platform.

How the study will evaluate Deaf cancer support

The original project was already Deaf-centred and delivered in BSL. It involved a range of trained volunteers who were also Deaf BSL users.

The new project expands from this base into a national project (covering all four nations). It includes new service delivery through online media to ensure Deaf cancer support from Macmillan is in line with support for hearing people.

This requires the existing Macmillan Cancer Support pathway to be adapted to meet the linguistic/cultural needs of Deaf people, and to facilitate new partnerships for support on a local/regional basis that are accessible to Deaf people.

In addition to providing a bespoke service for Deaf people within the Macmillan model, the project will also ensure learning about accessibility and adaptation for an inclusive service that is relevant to other aspects of the Macmillan offer to people with cancer and their family/carers.

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