Hello!

I hope this Monthly Briefing finds you well and that you’ve been enjoying at least a few moments of this lovely summer sunshine! It’s been another busy and productive month here at Tackle. The central team have continued to work their socks off, supporting groups, building new partnerships, creating resources, and strengthening our collective voice. Highlights have been staff, trustees and volunteers running stands at some large shows. Firstly, the Installer Show , which is  a huge 3-day trade show at the NEC, (our cover shot above shows volunteers Alison from Worcestershire and Charles from Burton)  and ShedFest, the annual gathering of Men’s Sheds. Both events were brilliant opportunities for us to be in spaces packed with men who rarely get time to stop, let alone think about their health. Thank you to all the volunteers who supported these events.  I want to take a moment to thank those of you who have sent kind messages following the news that Bruce is undergoing treatment for Stage 4 Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Your words and warmth have meant more than I can say. Bruce and I are taking each day as it comes, finding small moments of joy and holding on to hope. I’m so grateful to our small and mighty team who’ve stepped up to keep things moving smoothly during a time that is personally quite challenging. If I’ve been a little slower than usual to respond to emails or messages, I hope you’ll understand and know that I remain as committed as ever to supporting you and our wider network. In this month’s briefing, you’ll find:Our Year 1 National Lottery Report – it’s packed with real impact and evidence of what we’ve achieved together. A huge thank you to Stuart, Adam, and the team for their phenomenal work over the past 12 months.An update on our ICB letter campaign—we’ve already been contacted by several Integrated Care Boards interested in working with us. There’s more on that inside.And of course, July’s edition of Hot Topics—please do share it with your group members. It’s full of useful updates, events, and opportunities.As always, we’d love to hear from you. What’s happening in your locality? Are there challenges you’re grappling with, or small wins worth celebrating? Is there anything you’ve tried recently that’s helped your group thrive? Drop us a line, we love hearing your news and sharing it across the network. I’ll leave you with one of my favourite reflections from a group leader this year: “Being part of Tackle means I’m never leading alone. I’ve got tools, support, and a network that helps me make a real difference.” That’s what we’re all about. Let’s keep moving forward together. Warmest wishes, Sarah

Hot Topics

Please share this month’s Hot Topics with your group members. Highlights include:New Podcast Series Alert! A brilliant new set of short podcasts explores choosing and managing prostate cancer treatment, as well as how to talk with loved ones. Ideal for sharing with your group members or listening on the go.Game-Changing Research: A promising new AI test could help identify which men benefit most from targeted prostate cancer therapies, exciting developments in the pipeline!Tony on Targeted Therapy: Don’t miss our Vice Chair Tony Collier’s appearance on a podcast about Targeted Alpha Therapy, which could revolutionise how we treat prostate cancer in the UK.Specialist Support Groups Continue: Upcoming dates for our Partners, Advanced PCa, and Brachytherapy Zoom support groups are now live; please share with anyone who might benefit.

Click here to download July’s Hot Topics

Group Leaders Meeting

Let’s make sure that more people can benefit from the vital support you all provide.At our next Support Group Leaders Meeting on Monday 5th August at 11.00am, we’ll be continuing the important conversations we began this month, how we can raise the profile of support groups and make sure newly diagnosed people know we’re here for them. We’ll be sharing ideas, resources, and practical tips to help you promote your group more effectively in your local area.But most importantly, we want to hear from you. The real strength of our network lies in the experience, creativity, and generosity of group leaders like you. Whether you’ve found something that works brilliantly, or you’re looking for advice and fresh ideas, this is your meeting, where we all learn from each other. Come along, be part of the conversation, and help shape how we support more people, more effectively.

Join Our August Support Group Leaders Meeting

Celebrating Year 1 of our National Lottery Programme

We’ve just wrapped up our Year 1 National Lottery Report, and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together. In just 12 months, we’ve grown from supporting 125 groups to 146, launched eight new support groups, including tailored ones for working-aged men and partners, and made over 50 group visits. Thanks to Lottery funding, we’ve been able to step up our game, building stronger partnerships with NHS teams, creating brand-new resources, and developing tools like our co-produced website template to help groups thrive. None of this would have been possible without our small but mighty team, and without you. Group leaders across the country have continued to inspire us with their commitment, creativity, and care. One group member put it simply: “Joining the group took away the loneliness in dealing with the disease… I can’t imagine what my life would be like without the support.” That’s why we do what we do. You can read the full report by clicking the link below, and if you have any thoughts, feedback or questions, do drop me a line. As always, your voice helps shape where we go next.

Read the first year Lottery report here

Success of our letter to ICBs across England

As part of our ongoing commitment to use our collective voice to campaign for earlier diagnosis, we’ve written to all 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England. For those less familiar, ICBs are the regional bodies responsible for planning and commissioning NHS services locally, including what guidance is given to GP practices. We took this step because we are hearing too many stories from you, our group leaders, about men, some at high risk, being denied a PSA blood test, despite clear national guidelines supporting informed choice. We made it clear to every ICB that this is not acceptable. Men aged 50 and over, and men over 45 in high-risk groups, including Black men and those with a family history, have the right to request a PSA test and make an informed decision with their GP. We’re pleased to report that several ICBs have responded positively. Some have offered to meet with us directly, and others have invited us to deliver Protected Learning Time sessions to GPs to help improve awareness and consistency in practice, we are working alongside PCUK to deliver these sessions. This is how we make your voices heard, by backing up local concerns with national action. If you’ve experienced challenges locally or would like to work with us on this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Members Portal

Don’t forget that the Members Portal is your one-stop shop for helpful resources to support your group. From safeguarding templates to tips on running hybrid meetings or opening a community bank account, everything is designed to make your life easier. As one group leader put it, “The Portal’s been a lifesaver, it’s given me confidence and the tools to keep our group running smoothly.” While you’re there, why not get in touch with us to order your free C-Cards, small, eye-catching fold-out cards that are perfect for raising awareness about your group in clinics, libraries, gyms or anywhere local men might be. Just drop us a line and we’ll pop some in the post!