This month we are joining with other charities and organisations to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is the most common cause of death for children under 15 years old, with more than 70 children and young people diagnosed with cancer every single week.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month helps to highlight the impact of cancer on the child and their family and support system. Together, we can work to improve the care that children with cancer receive – whether that is at home, in hospital or in a hospice.
Thankfully more children are surviving cancer. Children with Cancer UK report that in 1990 63.7% of children with cancer survived, compared to a predicted 84% in 2017. And while we should celebrate those whose treatment has been successful, we must work hard to ensure that those who do not get to ring the bell receive the highest quality children’s palliative care.
Together for Short Lives’ Family Support Hub offers a range of services to try and ease the loneliness and isolation felt by families caring for a child with a terminal illness. The Hub offers emotional as well as practical support connecting families to other families and services when they need a helping hand.
Our resources
Together for Short Lives’ resources offer a wealth of support and guidance from diagnosis to end of life. From care planning in advance to emotional support and counselling, our resources are here to guide you through a maze of difficult and heart-breaking decisions.
Our helpline
If you are a parent or carer who looks after or knows a child or young person who has a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, our helpline is here if you have questions, need support or just want somebody to talk to. The helpline is open from 10am until 4pm, Monday – Friday. Outside of these hours and at weekends and Bank Holidays, you can leave a message on our answerphone and we will respond as soon as possible. Call 0808 8088 100.
Families Together Facebook support group
Our private Facebook group is a supportive community that allows families caring for a seriously ill child to connect, share and support one another. Families say that being part of the community helps them feel less alone, and that they really value talking to other people who just ‘get it’.
Legal advice service
The Together for Short Lives legal advice service matches families with legally trained experts who act on their behalf, assisting families with specific problems they may be facing. This service can help families access support they are entitled to whether that be housing adaptations or having the right care package in place.
One Mum recently said: “We are so grateful to Together for Short Lives for connecting us to a voluntary lawyer who in turn helped us to solve our son’s school transport issues. Thank you so much, this has made such a difference to our family!”
