Who are Skcin?
Skcin are the UK’s leading skin cancer awareness charity, formed by the family of Karen Clifford (the KC in SKCIN) who passed away from the illness in 2005. We operate five national, educational intervention programmes that are dedicated to raising awareness of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, embedding prevention and early detection into the heart of communities nationwide.
With around 90% of all skin cancers preventable and early diagnosis vital, education is key to combating the soaring rates of skin cancer in the UK. We focus on pioneering, proactive intervention working with key ‘at risk’ and ‘influential’ audiences to create impact and measure outcomes, on a national scale.
Planting the seeds of skin cancer prevention in primary education
Sun Safe Nurseries and Sun Safe Schools are two national accreditation programmes developed by Skcin to assist primary schools and pre-school settings in their duty of care to safeguard children against over-exposure to UV, communicate with parents to gain support and raise awareness within the wider school community, and educate children on the importance of sun safety to influence behaviours.
The programmes provide extensive FREE printed and digital resources, working with thousands of settings across the UK, to date reaching over 750,000 children and their families, nationwide.
Training eyes to save lives across hair, health and beauty industries
Skcin’s MASCED (Melanoma and Skin Cancer Early Detection) training programmes are training eyes to save lives by teaching hair, health and beauty industry professionals and medical and healthcare practitioners, how to spot the early signs and symptoms of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers and how to confidently signpost their clients / patients to seek appropriate action.
Despite skin cancer being the only cancer we can physically see developing and the early detection of melanoma vital, ignorance regarding how to spot the early signs remain widespread. Professionals working across these industries, see our skin regularly, up close and often in places we cannot see ourselves – making them powerful advocates in the fight against the disease. Endorsed, supported and recognised by key industry bodies, Skcin, to date have over 11,000 professionals registered with the programmes, providing potentially life saving skills to well over 1 million clients / patients nationwide.
Sun Safe Workplaces is a national accreditation programme developed by Skcin to assist employers of outdoor workers in their duty of care to safeguard their employees against over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation which is a serious health and safety issue in the workplace.
The programme also provides extensive resources to help employers to educate their workforce on the importance of personal sun protection measures and how to check their skin for the early signs of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Skcin are recognised as the authoritative voice on skin cancer prevention and early detection in the UK.
Our comprehensive range of educational and awareness resources are widely sourced by hospitals, GP practices, health centres, workplaces, schools and charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support to raise awareness, helping Skcin to embed key messaging with regards to the prevention of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers across the communities in which they operate.
