To mark International Women’s Day 2026, which takes place annually on 8 March, we’re celebrating the women on our Patient and Public Partnership (PPP).
This year’s theme is ‘Give to Gain’ and we asked our PPP representatives to tell us what this means to them, why they give their time as a PPP representative, and what they hope others gain from their involvement in our PPP.
Since 2019, our PPP representatives have played a vital role in helping us to design, deliver and improve our screening services. They give their time and share their voices to help make our services more accessible, equitable and person-centred.
Eight women are taking part in our International Women’s Day initiative and collectively they have given over 23 years of their time to our PPP.
For the women who volunteer their time on our PPP, giving is about sharing experiences, supporting others and helping to shape services that reflect the lives of real people.
Many said that bringing their lived experience into our work is important to them. By sharing their stories and perspectives of what it is like to use our screening services, they help to create something real and meaningful.
Some of the women described how being part of the PPP has helped them grow personally. They learn more about their own health and feel empowered to encourage others to take part in screening by connecting with other like-minded women.
For others, giving their time is a way to represent people who may be reluctant to share their voice - acting as a bridge between patients and services and helping to ensure that different voices are listened to and valued.
Some women are motivated to get involved by their own personal journeys. By sharing their own stories about screening they hope to reassure and encourage others to take part. Their openness helps break down fear and uncertainty and shows how screening can protect health and save lives.
One message stood out across all responses: these women are passionate about making a difference. They care about increasing awareness of our screening programmes and supporting us from a patient’s point of view. Their commitment helps us improve how we communicate and how we listen, ensuring that our screening programmes reflect the needs of our screening participants.
We’re proud to celebrate the women on our PPP this International Women’s Day. We’ll be sharing their voices on our social media platforms all week.
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