| Hello! |
| Hello everyone, Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2026 has begun gently and that you were able to carve out a bit of rest, warmth, and restoration over the Christmas and festive period. I know for many of us it can be a mixed bag, so wherever you found yourself over the holidays, I hope you’re coming into January feeling resting and hopeful for the year ahead..Our first week back after the holidays also got off to a really positive and encouraging start. Last Tuesday’s Support Group Leaders meeting was attended by almost 50 group leaders. I’m sure the strong turnout was helped by David James from Prostate Cancer Research very generously joining us. David gave a clear and thoughtful overview of plans for the National Screening Committee consultation, including how individuals can respond. We’re hugely grateful to him for taking the time to do this, and further down in this briefing, you’ll find his slides, along with some practical tips if you’d like to submit a response before the consultation closes at the end of February. This first Monthly Briefing of the year is very much about setting the scene for what’s ahead. We’re stepping into 2026 with real momentum and purpose, and I’m looking forward to sharing more with you as the year unfolds. I also wanted to share a brief governance update with you. As many of you know, Roshani will be stepping down as a Trustee in the next couple of months, after many years of service. Roshani has been a Trustee since 2019 and Chair for the past 18 months, and she has worked tirelessly to support the organisation during that time. We are hugely grateful for her leadership, commitment and steady presence, and we will, of course, be properly thanking her as she steps away from the role. At our December Board meeting, the Board elected Paul Davies as our new Chair, from within our existing Trustees. Many of you will already know Paul, a member of the organising team at Solihull PCSG. He’s a regular attendee at Support Group Leader meetings, and as a Trustee, he has already visited several groups across the country, with plans to visit many more during his time as Chair. Paul will introduce himself more formally once he officially takes up the role, but in the meantime, I’m sure you’ll join me in warmly welcoming him to this position. One of the big things on the horizon is our Conference, and I’ve included the Eventbrite link in this briefing so you can take a look and, if you’re able, get booked on. It’s shaping up to be a really important moment for us to come together as a community, to learn, reflect, share experiences, and remind ourselves that none of us does this work alone. I also want to give a nudge about the third instalment of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training, taking place next week. These sessions have been generously facilitated and provided by staff from PCUK, and we are very grateful for their support and partnership. This final session focuses on facilitating inclusive groups and is a genuinely practical, confidence-building workshop. It’s designed to help you make your groups feel welcoming, safe, and accessible, while also making facilitation easier and more sustainable for you as leaders. If you haven’t signed up yet, I really would encourage you to do so. You’ll also see our Hot Topics attached this month in a slightly different format. Gordon has very kindly stepped in to curate and deliver these, following Aidan’s long-standing and much-loved contribution. We hope you like the refreshed approach, and as always, we’re really open to feedback on this or anything else we share. As ever, thank you for everything you do – for your generosity, your time, your compassion, and your commitment to people living with and affected by prostate cancer. We’re looking forward to walking alongside you through 2026. With warm wishes, Sarah and the Team at Tackle |
| Invitation to our Annual Conference |
| At the heart of this year’s Annual Conference is a simple but powerful idea: that while our groups are wonderfully varied in their style, focus and personality, together we operate like a family. Different voices, different perspectives, different ways of doing things, and united by a shared purpose and a deep commitment to supporting people living with and affected by prostate cancer.Our conference on March 24th is being shaped to reflect that spirit. There will be more time to connect, practical workshops on peer support, space to explore shared practice, and opportunities to think about campaigning together , all focused on strengthening the work you do as support group leaders and organisers, and deepening the connections between us. This is about learning from one another, feeling less alone, and reminding ourselves of the collective strength we hold when we come together.We would love to see at least one person from every group in the room. With over 150 groups now part of our network, imagine the energy, wisdom and solidarity that would bring. Whether you come on your own or with another member of your organising team, your presence matters, your experience matters and the venue has the space to welcome you. Full details, including travel and accommodation information and available bursaries, are all set out clearly on the Eventbrite page, and we really encourage you to take a look and book your place.If there’s one thing we’d ask of you this month, it’s this: please book a place and make the time to be there. This conference is for you, shaped around you, and strengthened by you. Let’s show up for one another and make it a day that reflects the very best of our community. |
Running Inclusive Groups:
Mastering Your Facilitation Skills
Register for the Workshop here
| Hot Topics |
 This month’s Hot Topics bring together some of the most significant recent developments in prostate cancer research, treatment and policy, and we’d really encourage you to share them with your group members. They’re packed with timely, evidence-based information that many people will find both interesting and empowering.Key highlights from this month include:Major developments in screening and early diagnosis, including the launch of the £42 million TRANSFORM trial, the largest prostate cancer screening study ever undertaken in the UK, alongside the National Screening Committee’s current public consultation on future screening approaches. This is a crucial moment for shaping the evidence base.Important updates to treatment guidance and access – with NICE announcing changes to guidance on treatments such as abiraterone and darolutamide, and refinements to active surveillance protocols. These updates have real-world implications for treatment options, access, and quality of life for people living with prostate cancer.The Hot Topics are now being curated by Gordon McMurray, and you’ll notice a slightly refreshed format as a result. We’re hugely grateful to Gordon for taking this on, and we’d love to hear what you and your group members think about the new approach. As always, your feedback helps shape how we support and inform our community. |
| February Group Leaders Meeting |
Our next Support Group Leaders Meeting is taking place at 11.00 am on Tuesday, 3rd February. These meetings are always a really valuable chance to come together, share learning, and support one another, and this one feels particularly important as we look ahead to the year. We’d really love you to join us.
This session will focus on the experiences of new groups getting started, with group leaders who have set up groups over the past year sharing what they’ve learned along the way. It’s a great opportunity to hear what’s worked for them in terms of promotion, activities and support offers and to spark ideas that might be useful for your own group, wherever you are in your journey. These conversations are often some of the most inspiring and practical we have, and they remind us how much we learn from one another. I hope you can come along and be part of it.. As always, it will be lovely to see you there
Join Our Support Group Leaders Meeting
| NSC Consultation Guide and Slides from January’s Group Leaders Meeting |
| You’ll find attached a short guide relating to the UK National Screening Committee consultation on prostate cancer screening, which is open until 20th February. David James from Prostate Cancer Research kindly attended our January Support Group Leaders Meeting, and further details on the work PCR is doing, including David’s slides and campaign update, can be found on the Members Portal. As David highlighted at the meeting, individual responses are strongly encouraged, and those written in your own words really matter. You don’t need to be an expert or answer every question; even a brief, personal response can make a difference. If you’re able, we’d strongly encourage you to submit an individual response and to share these resources with others in your group who may wish to do the same. |
