Hello!

Hello everyone I hope you’re all managing to find a little pocket of sunshine somewhere in the midst of this rather grey and gloomy weather. February can feel relentless, can’t it? Short days, heavy skies and yet I know, as always, that across the country you’re continuing to turn up for and provide support for people living with and affected by prostate cancer in your communities. Thank you. It’s been another busy month at Tackle Central. There’s lots of momentum building in the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East, where we’re supporting the development of new groups and connecting with local communities. Our network now stands at 154 support groups, with around 6 more groups in the pipeline.  Last week I also had the pleasure of meeting two healthcare professionals, one in Bournemouth and one in Bath, both of whom have been running support groups for a while and are really positive about working more closely with us. Encouragingly, they’re hoping to join us at the conference, which is exactly the kind of partnership-building we want to see more of. And speaking of conference… if you haven’t yet signed up, please do. It’s shaping up to be a really strong event, and we would love to see as many group leaders and organisers there as possible. There’s a registration link further down via Eventbrite. Travel bursaries and accommodation support are available. If cost is a barrier, please get in touch; we genuinely want to help make it possible. For those of you staying the night before, we are hosting a dinner, so please contact Kelly if you would like to join us.  I’d also encourage you to take some time to watch the final session in our EDI training series, co-delivered with Prostate Cancer UK. The session on facilitation skills was particularly powerful. It’s full of practical tips and thoughtful reflections on how to create inclusive, welcoming spaces within your groups. There’s a link below to the recording if you weren’t able to attend live. And while we’re on the subject of Prostate Cancer UK, you’ll see information below about this year’s March for Men in London in June. We’ll be there with a stand, promoting Tackle and our network of support groups, as well as sharing information about our Men’s Cancer Care Coaching project. We are looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to help us with the stand. If you are interested, please let us know. We can pay expenses. If you’re able to take part in the walk, we’d love to see you there and details are included further down. Thank you, as always, for everything you do. Sarah, Stuart, Adam, Owen and Kelly

Get in touch here

Our annual conference, One Family, Many Voices, is fast approaching and we would love to see as many of you there as possible. It promises to be a powerful day of connection, shared learning and collective strength across our network. If you’re travelling from further afield, travel bursaries and accommodation support are available. Please do get in touch with Kelly to discuss your requirements. You can register using the link below. We really hope you’ll join us.

Register Here

Hot Topics

Our thanks, as always, to Gordon for pulling together this month’s Hot Topics, an invaluable round-up of the policy, research and clinical developments shaping prostate cancer care. A couple of key highlights to share with your members this month: prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with over 64,000 cases diagnosed in a single year, a stark reminder of why awareness and early diagnosis matter so much. There has also been a major treatment development, with NICE approving abiraterone for men with newly diagnosed high-risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer, with NHS England rolling this out in the coming weeks  Alongside this, the UK National Screening Committee has launched a public consultation on targeted PSA screening for men with specific genetic variants, signalling a significant shift in the screening debate.  We also saw encouraging research updates—from advances in biomarker testing, such as the Stockholm3 test reducing unnecessary biopsies, to new clinical trial findings that refine treatment pathways in advanced disease. These are exactly the kinds of updates that group members value. Please do share the slides with your mailing lists and at your meetings. They’re designed to help you keep your communities informed and confident. If you have comments, reflections, or something you’d like featured in a future Hot Topics, we’d genuinely love to hear from you.

Download Hot Topics Here

Guidance and tools for leading your group

The Mastering Your Facilitation Skills workshop was all about helping you feel more confident, skilled and supported in running inclusive, safe and engaging groups. It explores how to manage group dynamics, listen well, hold boundaries, and respond to emotional moments with empathy and clarity, all things many of you already do instinctively, and this training helps you do them with intention and confidence. The training was developed in partnership with and led by Prostate Cancer UK, and we’re incredibly grateful to their team for delivering it. If you lead, support or facilitate conversations in any way, we would really encourage you to explore this on the members’ portal. It’s practical, affirming, and genuinely strengthens the heart of what our groups do.

Download the training slides

Three powerful stories…

At our last Support Group Leaders Network meeting, we heard three powerful and encouraging accounts from new group leaders who have recently established groups in Stamford, Macclesfield and Morpeth. Each story was different, but the themes were strikingly similar: courage, persistence and the importance of community. In Morpeth, John explained how the group began with just one attendee at the first meeting. Rather than being disheartened, he kept going , promoting locally, speaking to healthcare professionals, and steadily building awareness. Numbers have already begun to grow, a reminder that starting small is not a failure; it is often simply the beginning. In Macclesfield, Tom explained that the launch brought together local clinical contacts, Macmillan colleagues and experienced group leaders from a neighbouring group, with partners included from the outset. The group secured a welcoming community venue and is working closely with urology teams to raise awareness and ensure the right information reaches the right people. In Stamford, Stuart explained the group will have their first meeting at the end of February, and their focus has been on building solid foundations. Supported by Tackle they are setting up governance, opening a bank account, creating a website and printed materials, and engaging local businesses and healthcare providers. Social media has also played a key role in reaching the local community. All three leaders spoke warmly about the support they received from Tackle ,  practical guidance, shared resources, introductions to other groups, and the reassurance that they were not doing this alone. Their experiences are a timely reminder that new groups do not have to be perfect from day one. They grow through conversation, visibility, collaboration and sheer determination. If you are thinking about starting something new or refreshing what you already do, these stories show that it is absolutely possible and that we are here to walk alongside you every step of the way. A huge thank you to Tom, John, and Stuart for bravely stepping up and sharing your stories. They are all attending our conference in March, so if you come, you can ask them more about how their groups are progressing.

Join Prostate Cancer UK at March for Men Battersea Park, London, on Saturday 13 JuneThis June, take part in March for Men and help change the future for men affected by prostate cancer. On Saturday, 13 June, thousands of people will be coming together at Battersea Park for a memorable day of walking, community, and purpose. With a range of distances available, there’s something for everyone — whether you choose a 2.5km or 5km route within the park, or push yourself further with a 10km or 20km challenge stretching beyond the park and along the River Thames.March for Men is a powerful way to honour loved ones, show support for those affected by prostate cancer, and fund vital research and services. Every step you take brings us closer to better tests, better treatments, and better support.Early bird registration is now open, offering a discounted entry for those who sign up early. So, choose your distance, lace up your trainers, and walk with Prostate Cancer UK this June.Find out more and secure your early bird place today.

Members Portal

We’ve recently added a range of new and updated resources to the Members’ Portal, including guidance on welcoming new members, sharing leadership responsibility to strengthen collaboration and sustainability, a practical roadmap for new groups, Zoom guides, and tips on running WhatsApp and online meetings safely and effectively. It’s all there to make your role that little bit easier and to help your group thrive. If you haven’t logged in for a while, do take a look. The Members’ Portal is a private space for support group leaders and organisers, designed just for you. If you’ve misplaced your login details, Kelly will be very happy to help. And if there’s something you’d like to see added, or a resource you think would benefit others, please do let us know. It’s your space, and we want it to reflect what you need.