Prostate Project

The Prostate Project is a UK-registered charity founded in 1998 by prostate cancer survivor Colin Stokes and urological surgeon John Davies, dedicated to combating prostate cancer through funding research, raising awareness, and enhancing diagnosis and treatment at leading hospitals in Surrey and Hampshire, such as Royal Surrey County Hospital and St Luke’s Cancer Centre. With a volunteer-led model keeping admin costs at just 5%, it emphasises direct patient benefit, close collaboration among medical experts, trustees, researchers, and survivors, and a patient-centred ethos focused on early diagnosis to boost survival rates and quality of life. Distinctive for its role in co-founding the Stokes Centre for Urology and a world-class research unit at the University of Surrey, it bridges translational research with frontline care.

It prioritises clinical and laboratory research into immunotherapy, vaccines, metastatic disease, tumour microbiomes, and disparities in Black men's outcomes; funds specialist nursing, diagnostic equipment, and innovative outreach like the ‘Man Van’ mobile PSA testing for men aged 50+ (45+ for high-risk groups); and supports awareness campaigns for symptoms, risks, and GP referrals. Beneficiaries include men with or at risk of prostate cancer, families, and regional healthcare ecosystems, via partnerships with NHS trusts, universities, and aligned charities.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions in Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire—typically large NHS hospital trusts or university research teams; small grassroots groups are not supported. Funding is strictly invitation-only with no unsolicited applications, open rounds, or deadlines; trustees and advisors select projects ad hoc in collaboration with partners. Typical grants range £50,000–£250,000 for research, equipment, staff, or capital projects, excluding core costs or unrelated activities. Its regional depth, low-overhead efficiency, and focus on measurable translational impact set it apart from national cancer funders.