Regional Champion for the NHS Excellence Awards

North East London Cancer Alliance's Gypsy, Roma and Traveller engagement project has been selected as a regional champion in the 'Improving Health Outcomes' category for this year's NHS Excellence Awards.

There were over 2,500 entries for the awards this year, so this is an excellent achievement. The NHS Excellence Awards 2026 are run by, and for, the NHS – shining a light on local projects and teams who are making a real difference to patients and communities, delivering on the ambitions of the 10 Year Health Plan and inspiring others to adopt innovative approaches in their local area.

North East London Cancer Alliance has been working in partnership with Friends, Families and Travellers and the Roma Support Group on this engagement project, which is helping to address persistent inequalities in cancer prevention, screening and early diagnosis experienced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Key to the success of this was recruiting and training 13 Health Champions from across Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

You can read more about the impact the project is having: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/case-study-gypsy-roma-and-traveller-grt-engagement 

As London regional champion, North East London Cancer Alliance is invited to attend the awards ceremony taking place at NHS ConfedExpo 2026 in Manchester on the evening of Wednesday 10 June, where the national winners will be announced. 

The ceremony will showcase the outstanding work taking place across the NHS and partner organisations and celebrate the national winners. You can read more about the awards: https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhsawards/ 

The nomination as regional champion in such an important category in these prestigious awards is a great honour and really reflects the hard work and support from Friends, Families and Travellers and the Roma Support Group, as well as Nikki Poland, Project Manager for North East London Cancer Alliance.

It also recognises the powerful impact this work is having on the health and wellbeing of local communities who have been directly affected by health inequalities and shows just what can be achieved through a peer-led, community-based approach.