Projects
The Prostate Cancer Charity has a significant track record of work related to prostate cancer within the African Caribbean population. This has included funding research into prostate cancer risk and working in local communities to raise awareness.
We believe that with concentrated effort, a significant and positive difference can be made to the impact of prostate cancer on African Caribbean men.
One of the Charity’s five strategic goals is that by 2020 all African Caribbean men and women will know more about prostate cancer and will act on that knowledge and we hope to achieve this through a number of projects.
Older & Wiser Project
The Older & Wiser Project aims to recruit, train and support African Caribbean volunteers affected by prostate cancer to become Community Champions to raise awareness within their own community.
The project, funded by the City Bridge Trust, will be aligned with our national volunteer training programme, but will be a pilot to investigate the best way to involve and support African Caribbean volunteers in the future. Initial work is focusing on the London Boroughs of Hackney, Lambeth and Newham.
We currently have 11 newly trained Community Champions in Newham and Lambeth, who are working to raise awareness in the community by distributing information materials, holding information stands at events and giving prostate cancer awareness presentations to local groups.
John, 68, recently trained as a Community Champion in Newham, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. He is currently receiving active surveillance. He wants to help raise awareness and says
"A lot of people are not aware of this problem. I did not have any symptoms. I just felt that because of my age I should get checked out. But there are signs that men can look out for and it is better to be aware because the longer you leave it, the worse it can get.”
Recruiting Volunteers for Hackney
We are currently recruiting volunteers for the borough of Hackney, where training will take place at the end of July.
Find out more about the role and duties of a Community Champion.
For more information, or if you are interested in becoming a Community Champion please contact:
Sarah Toule
Project Manager (African Caribbean Communities
Email:sarah.toule@prostate-cancer.org.uk
Tel: 020 8222 7149
Raising Awareness in the West Midlands
The Charity has appointed one of its Specialist Information and Support Nurse Suresh Rambaran, to carry out awareness raising work with African Caribbean communities in the West Midlands.
Suresh has established several links within the West Midlands area together with local Health care workers within the community, Health Professionals and the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network. Several prostate cancer awareness events have been organised and have taken place in West Bromwich, Sandwell, Walsall and Leicester in the East Midlands. Further sessions are planned for other areas such Aston, Dudley and Wolverhampton. This initiative is being extended to cover others areas in the South West regions where there are high AC population.
If you are located within the West Midlands area and would like to request we deliver a Prostate Cancer Awareness talk to your community group please email: talks@prostate-cancer.org.uk.
