Helping young people affected by cancer feel less alone, build resilience and regain a sense of hope.
A multi-year grant awarded in 2022 has funded a full-time Cancer Support Specialist to provide vital emotional and therapeutic support to children and young people aged 5 to 24 affected by cancer across Northern Ireland. This includes those diagnosed and those living with a parent or carer with cancer or experiencing bereavement.
The funding has ensured consistent, responsive help for families, with services delivered in homes, hospitals, and local communities. It has also provided access to group programmes, helping young people connect with others who share similar experiences.
The impact on the young people supported has been wide-ranging. They are better able to understand and manage their feelings, while developing coping strategies to navigate the challenges cancer brings. The support has also strengthened family relationships, helping young people and parents communicate more openly during difficult times. Families describe the service as transformative with long lasting impact.
"Having individual support during the last 6 months for my son has been priceless, he has been able to learn to start to open up more about his feelings to me as his mum and to not be afraid of showing them and communicating his needs."
You can see more about Cancer Fund for Children and their Group work Programme on the YouTube video here.
