Supporting young adults (18-24) and teenagers (13-17) with cancer and those who matter to you.
Cancer Fund for Children is part of the regional Adolescent and Young Adult Service (AYA) for Northern Ireland, alongside a range of other charities and all Health Trusts. We understand that a cancer diagnosis for young adults can carry its own unique experiences and challenges. These require equally unique and specific support. Our job is to meet you where you are, to provide support that is engaging and informal and, provided you’re comfortable, to facilitate connections with others of the same age who are navigating a similar experience to you.
In Hospital
(13-24 yrs)
We have two Youth Support Workers who provide support across the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast City Hospital, Ulster Hospital, Antrim Area Hospital, Altnagelvin Area Hospital and Craigavon Area Hospital. They provide one-to one support while you’re an inpatient or are receiving treatment on the day ward or clinics. Support is informal, engaging and delivered through a range of creative age-appropriate activities. Our staff can also be a listening ear if needed; exploring how we can provide the right support at the right time for you.
At Home
We have a team of Cancer Support Specialists who provide support on an individual basis. This is someone who will get to know you and your needs and provide social and emotional support in an informal way. This support can take place in your home, in the local community, a coffee shop, or incorporate nature and the outdoors.
Time Away
We offer all those we support with opportunities to avail of short breaks at our therapeutic centre, Daisy Lodge in Newcastle. You can decide who to bring with you.
Hearing From Others
We co-host a podcast in collaboration with Young Lives vs Cancer, sharing the experiences of teenagers and young adults diagnosed with cancer:
Listen Here
Meeting Others
For a lot of young adults, there is significant benefit in meeting other young people of a similar age who also have cancer. There are a number of ways we facilitate this, and we will work with you to determine the best option for your experience. Check out some opportunities below or contact our services team for the most up to date group work information.
We support your siblings by offering one-to-one informal therapeutic support. Support can be for you and your siblings together or individually. It’s about supporting you all in the way that works best for you. This can take place with one of our Cancer Support Specialists in your own home, school, or local community.
We also provide group work opportunities for siblings aged between 8-11 years old, and 12-17 years old at our Narnia Log Cabin in Newcastle Co Down. This is a chance for siblings to meet other young people who understand the impact of a cancer diagnosis within the family.
Our Parental Support Specialist can provide informal therapeutic support to parents. This can be one-to-one support for an individual parent, or for two parents together. We provide peer support opportunities through our parental coffee mornings, and through health and wellbeing overnights at Daisy Lodge.
We run short breaks for young adults once a year at Daisy Lodge as an opportunity for you to meet other young people of a similar age with a cancer diagnosis and engage in a programme of fun and therapeutic activities together. The break runs over a weekend and is usually held around September or October.
‘The C Tea’ is a collaborative podcast between Cancer Fund for Children and Young Lives vs Cancer, sharing the experiences of teenagers and young adults with cancer, as well as parents and siblings too. Episodes explore themes such as hair loss, identity, mental health, fertility and more, with a good dose of humour thrown in along the way. This podcast series allows you, or your family members to hear the experiences of others at your own pace, and when the time is right for you.
Charlotte's Story
April is Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month. Charlotte is sharing her thoughts to shed light…
If you would like to find out more about Hospital Group Support for your child, please contact your cancer support specialist.
