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This is the second in our series of case studies showcasing how VCFSE organisations are helping to shape neighbourhood health across Cheshire and Merseyside. This case study explores how One Knowsley brought together community organisations, health partners and local residents to improve lung screening uptake in Kirkby.
This is the second in our series of case studies from Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme, showcasing how VCFSE organisations are supporting neighbourhood health through strong partnerships with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and wider health and care systems. The series highlights the sector’s role in improving outcomes, reducing inequalities and supporting people earlier through trusted, community based approaches.
Every Breath Matters shows what can be achieved when voluntary sector infrastructure, grassroots community groups and the health system work together to tackle health inequalities. By combining data, community insight and trusted local relationships, partners dramatically increased lung screening uptake and demonstrated the value of neighbourhood health in action.
Want the highlights of Every Breath Matters at a glance? The infographic below brings together the key outcomes, learning and impact from this case study.
Across Kirkby, partners recognised an urgent need to improve lung health.
Lung cancer incidence in Knowsley is nearly twice the national average, yet during the 2021 screening round, two thirds of eligible residents did not attend their appointment and telephone uptake was just 33.9%. Based on local prevalence, around 70 lung cancer cases were likely missed.
The consequences of late diagnosis are significant. National data shows that 65% of people diagnosed at stage 1 survive for at least five years, compared with just 5% diagnosed at stage 4.
Earlier diagnosis also brings wider benefits for the health and care system. Late stage lung cancer costs society around £916,000 per case, meaning that preventing just ten late stage diagnoses could save more than £9 million, while reducing the need for more intensive treatment.
Rather than beginning with a campaign, the partnership started with a shared commitment to understanding the problem, listening to local people and designing solutions collaboratively.
The work was coordinated by One Knowsley, bringing together VCFSE organisations, primary care and health partners through the Knowsley Innovation Team.
Partners included 12 Million Minds, DIVA Creative Health, Healthwatch Knowsley, Knowsley Libraries, social prescribing link workers, Kirkby Primary Care Network, Macmillan and the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance.
Together, they combined health system data, community insight and lived experience to understand barriers to screening and develop an approach shaped by local people.
At the heart of the work was the RECITE process, which brings together clinical data, community insight and multi agency collaboration to tackle complex health inequalities.
The approach starts with health data to identify a problem, gathers lived experience through community partners, co designs solutions with residents, delivers them through trusted local organisations and uses real time data to continually test, learn and improve.
Using this approach, partners developed Every Breath Matters, a community rooted intervention delivered across Kirkby between September 2025 and January 2026.
Activities included:
Together, these activities helped make conversations about lung health visible, accessible and relevant within the community.
The partnership delivered significant improvements in lung screening uptake.
These results demonstrate the impact of combining trusted community relationships with evidence led, collaborative approaches.
The Kirkby experience shows that improving health is a partnership endeavour.
When voluntary sector infrastructure organisations, grassroots community groups and the health system work together, anchored in data, community insight and trust, meaningful change is possible.
Every Breath Matters demonstrates how neighbourhood health approaches can improve early diagnosis, reduce health inequalities and strengthen collaboration between communities and health services.
This case study is just one example of how community led approaches can improve health and wellbeing. Explore our health creation work to learn more about the people, partnerships and programmes helping to create healthier communities across Cheshire and Merseyside.
