UK 's ovarian cancer charity recognised for crucial support

Ovacome, the national UK ovarian cancer charity, have been given recognition for the support that its West Midlands hub has provided to under-represented groups struggling to access services and healthcare when they have ovarian cancer.

Ovacome is focused on providing support and information to anyone affected by ovarian cancer. This includes people who have either been diagnosed with the disease or think that they might be at risk, as well as their friends and family and healthcare professionals.

The charity, now in its 26th year, has been shortlisted in the healthcare and medical research category of the 2022 Charity Awards, the longest-running awards scheme in the charity sector.

Thanks to its Dudley-based hub, which trialed and co-produced most of the charity 's equalities initiatives over the past three years, Ovacome has introduced national support lines in six community languages.

It also has started to offer bursaries to assist with phone or wifi costs to help people on a low income access its services, and it has held many targeted awareness campaigns to highlight ovarian cancer symptoms and risk among LGBTQ+ people.

The charity has also reached out to the clinical community, to help healthcare professionals get closer to the patient perspective.

Charity Awards ' judge and chair of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Priya Singh, said Ovacome 's work was particularly impactful and topical in the current circumstances of long healthcare waiting lists.

“People who are more disadvantaged in the healthcare system are more likely to experience those delays, which can negatively impact on their healthcare outcomes, ” said Priya.

Fellow judge, and chief executive of the RSPCA, Chris Sherwood, said that Ovacome was addressing barriers to accessing cancer services from people who tend to get left out.

“From an intersectionality and equality, diversity and inclusion perspective it was a really interesting project, ” he said.

Matthew Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media, which organises the Charity Awards, said: “The breadth and quality of the work being done by charities across the UK continues to astonish. Ovacome should be very proud to have made the shortlist. ”

“All the nominees on this year 's shortlist are examples of large and small charities who are truly leaders in their field. I wish Ovacome the very best of luck on the night. ”

The results of the awards are due to be announced on 16 June 2022.