Weston Park Cancer Charity launches new ‘Together at Every Step’ college partnership during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

This September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Weston Park Cancer Charity is announcing its new ‘Together at Every Step’ college partnership.

This powerful alliance will see seven local colleges come together to deliver a wide-reaching awareness and fundraising campaign.

The partnership is made up of The Sheffield College, Barnsley College, Harrison College, Doncaster College and RNN Group (Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College).

The colleges will work alongside Weston Park Cancer Charity to create a lasting impact through education, volunteering, and fundraising.

Weston Park Cancer Charity helps people to live well – with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. By uniting under this important regional cause, the seven participating colleges will help to change and save lives.

Promoting health throughout the region

The ‘Together at Every Step’ college partnership will include a series of workshops, designed to teach staff and students how to spot the signs of cancer. These will be delivered via the charity’s Big Purple Bus initiative, with the onboard team bringing expert cancer advice directly into the colleges.

These workshops will also share information about Weston Park Cancer Charity’s services, which are available to anyone in the region who has been affected by cancer.

Changing lives through fundraising and volunteering

As well as spreading awareness, the partnership will get students and staff involved in vital Weston Park Cancer Charity fundraising campaigns, such as Time for Tea and their Accumulator Challenge!

The colleges will weave cancer-focused community initiatives into existing curriculum activities and build on key dates such as World Cancer Day.

Students will also be able to access volunteering opportunities through the partnership, which will equip them with valuable life skills and experiences.

Working together to tackle cancer

The new college partnership was inspired by Weston Park Cancer Charity’s work with local football clubs.

The “Together at Every Step” partnership between Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley FC, and Chesterfield FC has so far raised over £50k for people living with cancer.

Rachel Topliss, Director of Student Employability Services at The Sheffield College, said:

“So many of our staff and students know someone who has been treated and cared for at Weston Park Cancer Centre at some point.

“We’re so lucky to have this regional centre of excellence on our doorstep. We want to do everything we can to support it and bolster the life-changing services run by Weston Park Cancer Charity, including training the next generation of workforce in our new industry-standard health suite.

“This new partnership will enable us to contribute from a position of greater strength – and we can’t wait to get started.”

Nicola Lovell, Apprenticeships Manager at Barnsley College, said:

"We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Weston Park Cancer Charity on this exciting initiative. This collaboration provides a unique opportunity to engage our students and staff in raising awareness of vital support services, while also promoting health and wellbeing across our college community.

“Together, we can empower young people to play an active role in making a lasting difference through education, volunteering, and fundraising, in support of a charity that means so much to our community.”

Bekah Anstey, Corporate Partnership Manager at Weston Park Cancer Charity, said:

“We know that one in two of us will face a cancer diagnosis. But we also know that by standing together, we can fund ground-breaking research, treatments enhancements, and support services.

“The ‘Together at Every Step’ college partnership will harness the influence of the education sector. Through community-focused initiatives, fundraising campaigns, and education workshops we can make a real difference across our region.”

Weston Park Cancer Charity offers practical, physical, and emotional support to people who have been impacted by cancer. To support the charity head to westonpark.org.uk.