How Can We Support You?
Prostate cancer affects each person differently—no two journeys are ever quite the same. That’s why our befriending support service is designed to meet the unique needs of every individual. Our approach is personal, compassionate, and always confidential.
While our volunteers are approved and trained by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, most are not medical professionals or qualified counsellors. They are individuals who have experienced prostate cancer themselves. The support they offer is therefore rooted in practical understanding and lived experience.
If you need clinical advice, our dedicated PROSTaid nurses are available to provide specialist medical support (please see below for details).
We don’t claim to have all the answers, and we won’t intrude on your personal choices. But we can walk alongside you—offering a listening ear, practical insights, and the reassurance that you’re not alone.
How We Can Help
We are here to respond with care and empathy by:
- Listening to you and connecting you with a community of people who understand what you’re going through.
- Providing up-to-date information about the latest treatments and care options relevant to your circumstances.
- Helping you make sense of your journey, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
- Offering guidance on practical matters, including benefits and available support services—and how to access them.
- Creating a safe space for you to share your concerns and questions with others who’ve had similar experiences, either one-on-one or through our support groups.
Support Groups
PROSTaid runs several support groups across Leicester and Leicestershire, led by volunteers who have themselves faced prostate cancer. These groups offer understanding, shared experience, and companionship—for you and your partner—at any stage of your journey.
Our PROSTaid nurses regularly attend these meetings, along with local consultants, oncologists, specialist nurses, researchers, and other healthcare professionals dedicated to improving prostate cancer care in the region.
Group Details:
Leicester Social Support Group
Cradock Arms, 201 Knighton Rd, Leicester LE2 3TT– 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00pm
Contact: Rob Banner (Office) 0116 2888188
Birstall Support Group
2nd Wednesday of every month, 7:00–9:00pm (in partnership with Birstall Bags Breast Cancer Charity): for Birstall Venue for this month see “Support Groups”
Contact: Nicki Bakewell 0116 2584490 or Rob Banner 0116 2888188
Melton Support Group
Gloucester House 3 Norman Way, Melton Mowbray LE13 1JE – 1st Wednesday of every month, 7:00–9:00pm
Contact: Bob White, Group Leader on 07766 162963 or 01664 563313
African and African-Caribbean Men’s Group
Talk prostate health and play dominoes in a friendly setting. Open to all Black gentlemen of African heritage. Meetings at venues across Central Leicester.
Contact: Howard Morris on 07850 033291
Supporting Your Loved Ones
We’re here not only for you but for your family and close friends too. You choose the kind of support that suits you best—on your terms and at your pace.
What Next?
Wherever you are on your prostate cancer journey—whether newly diagnosed, in treatment, or beyond—we’re here for you. You might want information, or simply to talk with someone, a patient, or a PROSTaid nurse who truly understands.
Contact Us
For a friendly, informal conversation with a fellow patient or a member of our befriending team:
For specialist medical advice: