Help and support for childhood cancer

We’ve provided a list of organisations that provide a variety of different forms of support and help for families affected by childhood cancer. Click the organisation name to visit their website.

Cancer organisations

Anthony Nolan

Matches blood stem cell and bone marrow donors to people with blood cancer and blood disorders. Also provides support to patients and conducts research into bone marrow treatments.

Blood Cancer UK

Formerly known as Bloodwise, Blood Cancer UK is dedicated to beating blood cancer, by funding research and supporting those affected by blood cancers.

Childhood Cancer Parents Alliance (CCPA)

Provides support, encouragement and advice to families whose children have a cancer diagnosis: both during and after treatment.

Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital

Children’s hospital located in Central London. Accepts applications from international patients.

Kids Cancer Charity

Provides family support, counselling, advice and organises stress-free holidays and staycations to support children with cancer and their families.

Leukaemia Care

A national blood cancer charity that organises support groups, a 24 hour helpline, hospital travel funds and information on leukaemia.

Macmillan

Offers emotional, physical, financial and practical support for people going through cancer.

Momentum

Set up by parents, aims to help children with cancer and their families in the Surrey and South West London area.

Neuroblastoma UK

Raises funds for Neuroblastoma research and offers information and support for families.

Solving Kids Cancer

Provides support for families of children affected by neuroblastoma, including access to treatments and clinical trials if they are not available on the NHS.

Teenage Cancer Trust

Improves the lives of teenagers and young people with cancer with specialist units across the UK.

The Brain Tumour Charity

Funds research into child and adult brain tumours, and offers support and information to anyone diagnosed with a brain tumour and their carers.

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

A charity dedicated to helping people affected by retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer.

Young Lives vs. Cancer (Formerly CLIC Sargent)

Offers day to day support for families affected by childhood cancer as well as financial grants, accommodation and bereavement support.

Financial support

Family Fund

Provides grants to low income families caring for a disabled or seriously ill child.

Mitchells Miracles Neuroblastoma Charity

Offers financial assistance and support for families affected by Neuroblastoma.

The Bradley Lowery Foundation

Aims to help and support campaigns to raise funds for medical treatment/equipment not available on the NHS.

Practical support

Beads of Courage UK

The Beads of Courage UK programme offers support and strength to families when they need it most. 

JD Travel Insurance

Arranges travel insurance for people with a serious illness or pre-existing medical conditions.

Little Princess Trust

Provide real hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

Pyjama Fairies

Provide free surgical gowns or pyjamas for babies and children in hospital, up to age 16.

SimPal

Provides free pre-paid SIM cards and mobile phones (when available) to those living with cancer.

Whizz-Kidz

Provides specialised equipment, support and life skills for disabled children.

Emotional support and advice

Child Bereavement UK 

Offers support when a child is bereaved, or when a child has a terminal illness. See their online shop for books and information for professionals and families.

Child Death Helpline

A helpline for anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, from pre-birth to adult, under any circumstances, however recent or long ago.

Counselling Directory

A confidential service that can help you find a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist in your local area.

Home Start

A network of trained parent volunteers who support struggling parents.

Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund

Offers practical, financial and emotional support to families affected by childhood cancer including respite breaks, financial grants and support groups.

Place2be

Offers support and counselling for children’s mental health in schools.

Rainbow Trust

Provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness through support workers.

Together for Short Lives

Support for families who have a child with a life-limiting illness including a helpline, as well as legal advice service.

Winston’s Wish

Provider of services to bereaved children, young people and their families.

Holidays and experiences for children with cancer

Barretstown

Barretstown offers free, specially designed camps and programmes in Ireland for children and their families living with a serious illness – supported behind the scenes by 24 hour on site medical and nursing care.

Children’s Wish Foundation International

Based in the US, they organise treats and days out for children with life threatening illnesses.

Destination Florida

Organises life enhancing biennial trips to Florida for around 72 children from across the North of England.

Ellen MacArthur Trust

Rebuilds confidence after cancer, using sailing to support, empower and inspire young people between the ages of 8-24 in embracing their future with optimism.

Emily Ash Trust

Charity in Surrey that provides day trips, short breaks and holidays for families of children with cancer. Also receives special requests, often for gifts or wishes, to make hospital stays a little more bearable.

Eva’s Angels

Provides short breaks in a caravan on the Kent coast, for families who are affected by childhood cancer. Set up in memory of Eva.

Give Kids the World

A resort in Florida where children with critical illnesses and their families are treated to weeklong, cost-free vacations.

Hannah’s Appeal

Holiday homes in the New Forest and Hayling Island for families of children who have cancer and life limiting illnesses.

Happy Days Charity

Provides respite breaks for individuals, families and groups who support children with additional needs, including life limiting illnesses.

OMV (Order of Malta Volunteers)

Organise holidays for sick or disabled children and adults.

Over the Wall

Runs activity camps for children and young people aged 8-17 who are affected by serious and life-limiting illnesses.

Ruddi’s Retreat

Huddersfield based charity that provides holidays for children and their families who have been affected by cancer, life limiting illness and bereavement.

Starlight Children’s Foundation

Offers play and distraction services in hospitals, grants wishes and organises events for children  with serious illnesses including private film screens, flying days and boat parties.

Willow Foundation

Organises special days out for seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40.

Wish Granters

Dreams Come True

Makes dreams come true for seriously and terminally ill children across the UK.

Make a Wish Foundation

Grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Rays of Sunshine

Grants wishes for seriously ill children in the UK aged three to 18 years. Can grant hospital ward wishes and organise outings and large scale events.

Round Table Children’s Wish

Grants ‘handcrafted’ wishes for children and young people with life threatening illnesses across the UK and Ireland.

Gifts

Cyclists Fighting Cancer

Help children with cancer regain their physical fitness, strength, mental wellness and confidence by giving them bikes, tandems and specially adapted trikes to children and young people who have been affected by cancer.

Fatboys Cancer Charity

Every year, Fatboys Charity delivers Christmas gifts to children who are suffering from cancer or other life threatening illnesses.

Supershoes

Personalised, hand-painted shoes for children and young people living with cancer. These shoes can capture the child and all their favourite things: games, sports team, music, animals, colours, TV programmes and more.

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