PCaSO
Prostate Cancor Support Organlsatlon
Dorset Hampshire Sussex
Trustees Annual Report
Year ending 31" March 2021
Charity Name: PCaSO Prostate Cancer Support Organisation
Charlty Re8iStration Number: 1170536
Postal Address.. PO Box 10, Emsworth, Hants POIO 7ZP
Website: www.pcaso.org
The charity has no offices so the regISte￿d add￿$S with the Charity Commisslon is the Honorary
Secretsrfs home address.
Hlstory
PCaSO is a charitable incorporated or8anisation registered with the Charity Commisslon and wlth the
Informatlon Commission. A group wa5 originally set up in 1999 by the late David Rowlands and others In
Emsworth, Hampshlre, under the auspices of another charity. It became a separate unincorporated
associatSon In 2002 and in 2016117 moved to the new form of governance. The previous charity number
may still be seen in some older Siterature.
Executlve Commlttee
For the year ending 3151 March 2021
All Trustees are members of the ExecutNe Committee.
Roger Bacon
Vivian Miles
David Hurst
Nicky Annells
Allan Higgin
Derek Pilllng
Barry Taylor
Peter Weir
Chairman
Treasurer, became seriously ill in July 2020 and resigned on 31 August 2020.
Secretary
At the Annual General Meeting held on 26 August 2021 all remalnlng Trustees stood down and all were
re-elected by the assembled membership. Lance Allen and Kevin Simon5 were invited to become Trustees
and the members at the AGM ratified that decision.

Purposes and Alrns
The objects of PCaSO as laid down in the Constitution are:
l. To promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of prostate cancer and their
families and carers, those at risk of prostate cancer and those who have been bereaved through
prostate cancer by the provision of support, education and practical advice.
2. To advance the education of the general publlc in all areas relating to prostate cancer.
The Or8anlsatlon of PCaSO.
PCaSO does not own or rent any offices and has no employees. Everything is handled by volunteers
working from home. Meetings are held in rooms usually rented for that purpose.
PCaSO is a membership or8anisation with, currently. 901 members across the three branches described
below includin8 some from around the country who have either joined through contact via the internet or
have moved away from our branch areas after joining. There are also two now livin8 abroad.
PCaSO works across four counties along the south coast, East Sussex and West Sussex, Hampshire and
Dorset. It is or8anised into three Branches, namely. Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset, and each Branch has its
own committee and each has its own bank account. The Executlve Committee had agreed at the meeting
on 29, October 2019 that it would not seek to expand beyond the current area. Each Branch has rented a
commercial self-storage unit to store Itterature. publicity material and miscellaneous equipment.
Under the Constitutlon PCaSO can have up to 12 Trustees and currently aims to have th￿e from each
Branch. For most of the year under consideration Hampshire had just one and in July 2020 the treasurer.
Vlv Miles, was taken ill and resigned on 31 Au8USt and later died. For the rest of the year so there were six
Trustees as named above and all sit on the Executive Committee which meets quarterly to oversee the
management of the charity.
PCaSO is also a member of the National Federation of Prostste Cancer Support Groups, which operates as
Tackle Prostate Cancer or just as Tackle. This is made up of some 90 support groups from across the
country.
The effects of the COVID pandemlc
PCaSO's maln work Involves face-to-face meetings of groups of members and public who want to know
more about prostate cancer and its effects and a series of events where we offer free PSA blood tests to
men who have booked appointments. In addition there are usually re8ular face-to-face committee
meetings.
In line with the government regulations it was not practical to hold any of these events durin8 the year so
all planned meeting and test events were cancelled.
We continued the committee meetings online by usingzoom and aftera few months decided to start
holding meetings for members also using Zoom. These were usually talks by clinicians and others and
advertised by invitations to members by email.
The Updates newsletter was published as usual three times a year and circuloted by both post and email.

There were requests for literature by hospitals and individuals which were handled by post and occasional
phone calls to offKers from men needing infomiation.
The focus of our work
In normal years- and when the COVID regulations are relaxed again - PCaSO has two main area5 of work
and is developing a third area. The main centre of work is to encourage the early diagnosis of prostate
cancer. If the cancer is diagnosed before it causes symptoms then it is almost always curable. However,
althou8h prostate cancer is now diagnosed more often than any other cancer. the knowledge of prostate
cancer in the population at large is very limited. Consequently men at risk often ignore or do not realise
the significance of symptoms and the eventual diagnosis is often tenninal.
PCaSO devotes much resource to running public events to offer any men between 45 and 80 years a free
PSA test. These are discussed in more detail below. These events encourage men to talk about prostate
cancer and in turn they encourage their friends to be tested, so spreading knowledge and building
awareness. In addition PCaSO volunteers will take part in 'Wellbeing' events put on by other organisations
to discuss health matters. We publish a series of leaflets on prostate cancer which are distributed free of
harge at such events.
PCaSO runs open public meetings to give a place where men and their partners can come and talk about
their diagnosis or treatment and perhaps hear from expert speakers about aspects of treatments. The
frequency and make-up of the meetings depends on many factors. Some are monthly while others are
quarterly. Some are discussions between individuals while others concentrate more on the speaker and his
or her subject.
PCaSO encourages its active members to talk Open￿ about prostate cancer and the Trustees together with
other members will take phone calls from men - or their partrbe￿-who have concerns or maybe are
concerned about friends or relations. It is important for men to ￿arn about the cancer and understand the
treatments offered and this knowledge often Starts with a tentatNe enquiry.
An area which PCaSO is moving into is living with cancer. Many men diagnosed with prostate cancer may
not be able to be cleared of cancer but will live with it for many years following various treatments. It has
been shown that diet and exercise tan be important in reducing the effects of cancer so PCaSO ha5
provided extensive information within recent editions of Updates magazine and talked to the Penny Brohn
organisation, who run courses for those suffering with cancer, to explore the possibilities and costs ot them
running a series of courses free to PCaSO members when regulations allow.
How our activities deliver publlc benefft
PCaSO has members but the membership 15 as much about spreading information and knowledge of
prostate cancer as it is about getting any benefits to help improve their personal situation. Many people
who join are those who have been diagnosed eady and cured and now want'to put something back, as
those who are seeking to improve their knowledge of the cancer they have. However the price of
membership - £12 to be a life member- is not consi(lered like￿ to put people off joining.
We follow a membership pattern mainly for the credibility it gives us when talking to clinicians and those in
authority. To say we have around 900 members and that we represent the patients will make them pay
attention.
Almost all our attivities are aimed at men and their partners who are in the age bracket likely to be
dia8nosed with prostate cancer i.e. men over 40. We run public prostate cancer screening events (called

PSA testin8 eventsl several times a year (see below for details). The PSA testing events are restricted to
those in the age bracket likely to be at risk of prostste can￿r but the public meetings are advertised as
open to anyone who might be interested.
In January 2020 we published an updated and expanded edition of our comprehensive 76-page booklet on
prostste cancer written, as we say, by patients for patients and this is 8iven away to anyone who wants it
free of charge. Doctors have complimented u5 on it and some hospita15 take bulk copies to g¢ve to patients.
Tackle have adopted this booklet for distribution to all their 90 support groups. Since we have not had
group meeting5 nor test events we have a large stock of these booklets so may hold off updating it for
another year.
In addition there are four other leaflets 8iven away free of charge aimed at particular areas of concern. The
Sussex Branch has produced leaflets for local hospitals explalning brachytherapy and radiotherapy
procedure5. The hospita15 produce the text and PCaS0 organise and pay for the design and printing of the
leaflet in return for having an advertlsement sayin8 that the charity 15 available to help patients.
PCaSO also provlde radiotherapy unlts In three local hospitals with SLXiml biodegradable bottles for those
patients havin8 treatment for prostate cancer. Each patient has to drink half a litre before treatment and
the bottles replace single-use plastic cups.
Who uses our sebylces
The vast majority of those making contatt with PCaSO live in our three branch areas. We do get contact
from those who live elsewhere in UK and, very occasionally. in other countries but those are generally
through the internet following a search for a particular aspert of prostate cancer. We do not seek those
¢onta¢ts but will happily answer their querie5 and di5CU55 their problems.
Many of the initial contacts are by women who are concemed about their partners and we have produced
leaflet written by some of our female members aimed particularly at those contacts. However the tar8et
Is to get men aged over 45 to learn about prostate cancer, to consider their vulnerabllity to prostate cancer
and decide to have a PSA test. A high percentage of those tested, 92.5% is our average, will have a normal
reading but those who have a raised reoding will be referred to their GP for further action and that often
means referrin8 onwards to a hospital for fijrther checks and possible diagnosis. Men sometimes return to
PCaSO for more information when they are offered a choice of treatments by doctors Of when the cancer
has spread from the prostate and they are faced wlth Ilving with the cancer as the doctors follow
treatments to control further spread.
Men are notorlous for Ignoring symptoms and being too busy, important, embarrassed or Ignorant to check
symptoms by going to their doctor. Many men do not know what a prostate does, where it is or even117%
according to one survey) that they have one. So education is important, especially as if symptoms are
evldent the cancer has probably progressed too far to be cured.
In the last decade research has discovered that tt is likely that if dose relatives (father, brother, uncle) have
had prostate cancer then it is twice as likely that you will get it. Men of Afro-caribbean descent are also in
the frame. There is a shared gene between breast and prostate cancer. so those men with a family history
of breast cancer can also be at risk of having prostate cancer. PCaSO wants to get this irrformation better
known as it is most important that these men get Checked early.

The PSA tsst
Organising and runnin8 PSA testing events is a large commiknent by a relatively small group of volunteers.
Each Branch is responsible for organising events in their a￿a and the￿ 15 man who takes the lead for
that area.
The prostate produces a protein. Prostate Specific Anti8en. which is secreted into the blood and can be
measured in a pathology laboratory. A small vial of b1(￿d is taken from the arm by a phlebotomist and sent
to the laboratory. The result comes back in a few days. This does not indicate can￿r but can Indicate a
problem with the prostate.
The test is not completely accurate and can give false p05itive5 and frdlse negative5 but it IS the only quick
and easy test that yet exists. The NHS declines to spend the money required to have a universal screenlng
proces5 when the test is not completely accurate so charities such as PCaSO have tried to fill the gap.
PCaSO wlll organise an event, often working with a local Lions. Rotary or Masons group, where, on a
specific day, men can have a blood test and then be Sent the ￿$￿It a week or two later. Those with a
raised readin8 are recommended to speak to their GP to di5CUS5 the result. At no time does PCaSO
diagnose anything, merely reports the result and recommends further action. There is no charge to the
men though contributions to costs are suggested.
We usually limit the testing to any men between the ages of 45 and 80 as these are men most Ilkely to be
at risk.
In calendar year 2019, across Sussex, Hampshlre and Dorset, PCaSO held 25 free PSA testlng events and
tested 5,776 men. We found 401 men with a raised PSA level, about 7% of those tested. Those men with a
ralsed PSA were recommended to see their GP to discuss their result. Since we started testlng in 2011 we
have tested 19,286 men in our area.
Every man attendlng the event Is given a briefing on the test and its pros and cons. We know that this has
resulted in men talking about prostate cancer with families. friends and colleagues. At almost every test
event men say that they came because x*meone they know had been befo￿.
Before the current year all bookings were made by telephone which was onerous on the person acceptin8
the calls. All the admlnistration was on paper with the consequent need to check and double check.
Many other groups around the country now run their own events. The cential point Is the Graham Fulford
Charitable Trust IGFCTI whlch has a system where consultant urologlsts check the results and then the
Trust de5patche5 the emails and letters to the Indivlduals. Thls system was being overwhelmed with paper
and has been computerised. PCaSO. through the IT consultsnt members. devised an online booking Svstem
which automated the administration beforehand and on the day. This was then extended so that the
pathology labs used by PCaSO could add the individual results to a spreadsheet and then the results were
elertronlcally despatched to GFCT for checking and despatch.
PCaSO is keen to restart the PSA test events a5 500n a5 it is safe to do so and at the time of writin8
discussions are underway with interested parties.
Regulatory Notlce
PCaSO is a registered charity and as such is re8ulated by the Charlties Commission. We are additionallv
mindful of the recommendations of the Fundraislng Regulator.
PCaSO 15 fortunate to have a trustee who ha5 developed expertise in the Data Protection Regulatlons and
he has accepted the voluntary position of Data Protection Officer. Under his guidance the Trustees are

confident that the charity complies with the requirements of the Regulation5. The subject is permanently
on the agenda of the Executive Committee.
Flnanc5al Report
This was a very unus¥Jal year with very little activity because of the COVID pandemic resultin8 in turnover
being 77% down on the previous year. Receipts totalled £22,750, almost entirely through donations and
the resulting Grft Aid.
Payments totalled £15,994. Governance at £2,492 was mainly annual fees for services such as storage, the
PO Box, etc. The newsletter cost £1,561,. the cost of printing literature and other Awareness matters was
£5,132 and there were donations out totalling £3,056.
Cash balances increased over the year by E6,756 from £136,240 to £142,996. The trustees consider that
our funds are more than adequate to continue our activities durin8 this difficult time.
Reserves. At the meeting of the Executwe Committee on 2t July 2021 the Trustees agreed a policy on
reseNes that there would be a minimum reserve comprising two years of operating costs lexcluding PSA
events) plus one year of PSA testing event costs. The policy and the figures would be reviewed annually.
Statements
No Trustee received any payment for services beyond normal expenses and no Trustee had any interest in
any organisation receiving any payments from PCaSO.
The Trustees are not aware of any funds received from abroad nor of any payments made to an overseas
body.
The Trustees declare that they are not aware of any serious Incidents or other matters that they should
have ￿ported to the Commission and have not done w.
Approved by the Executlve Commlttee and slgned on their behalf
7 202/
David Hurst
Honorary Secretary

Independent exarnln•rf$ reportto the trustees of PCaSO Pr051ate Cancer Support Oryanlsatlon.
tharity number 1170536.
Report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 3151 March 2021, which are set out on
pages 2 and 3.
R¢spectlve responslbllltles of the trustees and examiner
The charltvs trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charltls trustees
consider that an audit is not required for this year under sertion 144 of the Charltles Act 2011 Ithe
Charities Actl and that an Independent examination is needed.
It is my responslblllty to:_
examine the accounts under sertion 145 of the Charltles Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the 8eneral Directions glven by the Charlty
Commission lunder section 14515llbl of the Charltles Art, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basls of the Independent examlnerfs rtport
My examlnatlon was carrled out In accordance wlth the general Directions glven by the Charlty
Commlsslon. An examinatlon Includes a revlew of the accountlng records kept by the charlty and a
comparlson of the accounts presented wfth those ￿CordS. It also Includes conslderatlon of any
unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from the trustees concernlng
any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be
required In an audit. and consequently no opinion Is given as to whether the accounts present a
'true and falrf vlew and the report Is Ilmlted to those matters set out In the ststement below.
Indopend•nt examln8rf$ sl•tsment
In connection with my examination. no material matters have come to my attention which glves me
cause to belleve that In any material respert:
accounting records were not kept In accordance wlth sertlon 130 of the Charlties Act or
the •ccounts do not accord wtth the accountln8 records
I have come across no other matters in connectlon with the examlnatlon to whlch attentlon should
be drawn In order to enable a proper understandln8 of the accounts to be reached.
RQue
Greenford, Batts Lane. Pull)orough RH20 2ED
Date

.PCaSO Prostats Cancer Support Or8anlsatioft
Ciwrity number. 1170536
IReceipt$ and Payments Account for the year ended 3tst March 2021
2020
Unrestrirted lle$trk￿ ,' Totslfiinds I
fvnds
Ti>tal
funds
.Recelpts
Member5, subscriptlons
. Donatlons: members j
Donatlons: non-members
Donatlons: corporate
Donatlons at PSA testlng events
Fundrai5in8: public meetin8S
, Fundralsln8: colle¢tlon5
Fundra15in8: events
Interest on deposlt account
Gift Aid
Other
96
240
10,854 .:
1,592
4,420 '.
1,592
4,420
3,545
18,058 i
47,705
1,379
2,147
246 ',
604
6,126
550
97.959
75
22,750
75
22,750
Payments '
Governance
Trustee & Public Liablllty Insurance
. Charttable artlvlty.. newsletter
'.Charltable activlty: support to members
.Charitable actlvlty: awa￿neSS
'.Charitable activlty: PSA Testing
',Charltable athlty: donatlons to charltles
Fundralslng
Advert15in8
other
2,492
646
1.561
2,492 .
646
1.561
2,249
751
3.057
5,038
5,132
2,971
5.132
722
136 ;,
15,YJ4
15,994
88,327
IAsset and Investment purthases
3,704
3,704
Totsl payments
15.994
15,994
92,031
,Net feceSpts/lpayments)
Transfers between lunds
Cash funds at be8innln8 of year
Cosh funds at end of year
6,756
6,756
5,928
136,240
142,996
130,312 1
1 136,240
142,996

PCaSO Prostate Cancer Support Orpnis•thy)
Ch*ity number. 1170536
.Statement of assets •Thi iiabilltles as at 31st M•rth
2021
Unfestrf¥tri '. Restrfrted ;, Total funds
funds
'Cash fund$
Deposlt accounts
Icurrent accounts
81,812
81.812
61.186
142.998
142.998
Other monetsry •sstts
Glft Ald re¢overable
1.298
1,298
1.298
1.298
Ass•t$ r•tslned for the tharlty's own use
Offlce Equipment
Llabllltles
Amounts owed to suppllers
Approved by the trustees and signed on thelr behalf by:
Davld Hurst
Trustee
Date: