Promote health in your community

Learn about our Community Health Education Programme (CHEP), which trains volunteers to bring our health education messages to the community.

Role of the volunteer

• It’s possible to reduce your risk of cancer by as much as 50% by making lifestyle changes
• Spotting a physical change early could save your life.

If you’re interested in getting out there and educating others about the link between cancer and lifestyle and the importance of early detection, we’d like to hear from you.  

Every year, we train a number of volunteers as part of our Community Health Education Programme (CHEP). Their job is to get the healthy-lifestyle and early detection message out to the community.

You don’t need to be medically trained to become a CHEP volunteer; however you need to be:

• Able to give a talk or distribute information while sticking to the Irish Cancer Society messages
• Willing to learn. Having good communication skills is a help, but training will be given in this area so willingness to learn is vital
• Good at keeping records
• Reliable

The process

To become a CHEP volunteer you’ll need to attend a two-day training programme. 

The full procedure is:

• Apply and complete enrolment form
• Do interview
• Get training (if selected) in public speaking and communication and on topics such as CancerSmart Lifestyle, Cancer & Men, Cancer & Women, Skin Cancer and Smoking. 
• Buddy up with Irish Cancer Society health promotion staff to deliver awareness events
• Do a further day’s training
• Attend refresher training annually

Join us

To apply to become a CHEP volunteer or to get more information contact:

Rosemary Scott
Health Promotion Officer
Irish Cancer Society
43-45 Northumberland Road