Charities for Children with Cancer
This family factsheet provides information about cancer charities that offer support to children who have been diagnosed with cancer, and their families. Thankfully, the majority of childhood cancers respond well to treatment. However, for some, it may be discussed with you that treatment is given alongside palliative care (known as parallel planning) or if curative treatment does not work, palliative care support options will be explored with you.
For all families who have a child who has been diagnosed with cancer, support is likely to be needed. The following charities offer a number of services including financial and emotional support and practical help, to children living with cancer. Some of these charities also offer respite breaks and accommodation for families during treatment, help dealing with life after cancer and offer bereavement support.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and you can call our Helpline on 08088088 100 for details of charities in your local area or for charities that support children with specific types of cancer.
National Charities
The Brain Tumour Charity
The Brain Tumour Charity supports children, young people and their families affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. As well as providing information and support; they put on Family Fun Days for families to have days out together, and operate a Family Facebook Group so families can meet other parents of under 18s with brain tumours. The charity also has a specific dedicated service for teenagers and young adults, which helps connect them with others who are going through similar experiences, and offers support and information tailored to them.
Support & Information: 0808 800 0004
Email: enquiries@thebraintumourcharity.org
Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group
Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group is a leading children’s cancer charity hub for childhood cancer through the specialist expertise of their members. They bring together childhood cancer professionals to ensure all children, teenagers and young adults receive the best possible treatment and care. They help young patients and their families with their information resources which are written by experts.
Tel: 0333 050 7654
Email: info@cclg.org.uk
Young Lives Vs Cancer
Young Lives Vs Cancer staff work in hospitals around the UK offering practical support and advice to children and young people with cancer, and their families. Their website provides avenues of support and a wide range of resources for children, young people, families and professionals, developed in line with the Information Standard quality assurance framework. Young Lives Vs Cancer also offer one-off grants to families of children under 16 years old and 16 – 24 year olds who have been diagnosed with cancer, to help with the unexpected costs that a cancer diagnosis brings.
Live Chat available from 10am to 4pm, weekdays at: www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk
Tel: 0300 330 0803
Kids Cancer Charity
Kids Cancer Charity offers a range of support services for children and teenagers affected by cancer which includes those who have cancer themselves, their siblings and those bereaved by cancer. Their support services include play therapy for children and counselling for teenagers to help them communicate their feelings and experiences, thus helping them come to terms with their situation. Befriending support provides someone to talk to face to face, on the phone or via email. Their holiday programme includes: Disneyland Paris, Florida and luxury caravans on Holiday Parks in Wales.
Tel: 01792 480500
Email: enquiries@kidscancercharity.org
Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund
Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund offers support through two main projects – respite breaks in the UK and financial care grants. They also can provide emotional support over the phone or via email.
Tel: 01708 734366
Email: info@lennoxccf.org.uk
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for young people with cancer aged between 13 and 24. Teenage Cancer Trust funds and builds specialist units in NHS hospitals and provides dedicated staff, bringing young people together so they can be treated by teenage cancer experts in the best place for them. Teenage Cancer Trust also educates young people in schools about cancer to help improve the speed and quality of diagnosis.
Tel: 020 7612 0370
Email: hello@teenagecancertrust.org
Macmillan
Macmillan Cancer Support provide information and support from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. They provide support and information for those with cancer, and their families.
Live chat available daily, 8am to 8pm at: www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/chat-online
Tel: 0808 808 00 00
Email: contact@macmillan.org.uk
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK fund scientists, doctors and nurses to help beat cancer sooner as well as provide cancer information to the public. They carry out world-class research and develop evidence-based policy to inform Government decision related to cancer and research.
Tel: 0300 123 1022
Email: supporter.services@cancer.org.uk
Children with Cancer UK
Children with Cancer UK is the leading national children’s charity dedicated to fighting childhood cancer. Every day 12 families in the UK receive the news that their child has cancer. Through funding ground breaking research Children with Cancer UK has accelerated breakthroughs to improve childhood cancer survival rates and find kinder, more effective treatments to reduce long-term side effects. Knowing treatment can be especially challenging for family life, Children with Cancer UK also helps fund patient family accommodation near hospitals so families can stay together during their children’s treatment. Children with Cancer UK helps more children with cancer to ring the end of treatment bell and keeps families together.
Tel: 0800 222 9000
Email: info@childrenwithcancer.org.uk
Regional charities
Cancer Fund for Children – Northern Ireland
Cancer Fund for Children supports children and young people up to age 24 across the island of Ireland who are living with cancer. It also supports children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer, siblings and bereaved families. The charity provides practical, emotional and financial support. It also offers residential stays and free therapeutic breaks for families affected by cancer.
Tel: 0044 2890 80 5599
Email: info@cancerfundforchildren.com
Children with Cancer and Leukaemia – Scotland
Children with Cancer and Leukaemia is an Edinburgh based charity that runs a drop in centre for children and young people with cancer and parents, providing somewhere to meet and talk with others who have had similar experiences. They also provide other services including a helpline and short breaks.
Tel: 0800 222 9000
Email: info@cclasp.co.uk
LATCH – Wales
LATCH Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity is a charity based at the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff that provides support for children who are receiving treatment at the hospital. LATCH provides family on-site accommodation free of charge to keep families together during their child’s stay in hospital. LATCH funds three dedicated social workers who ensure families receive practical, emotional and financial support.
Tel: 02921 848859
Email: info@latchwales.org
Click here to download a PDF of this resource.
Special thanks to Children with Cancer UK for supporting the development of this resource.