Information
For all health professionals/cancer information centres/nurses/social workers/GPs/Parent support Groups.
Welcome to the Youth Cancer Trust website hospitals and professionals section. This section has been designed to enable you to access as much information about our charity holidays as possible in order for you to answer any questions you or a patient may have.
If you would like to order any leaflets, posters, information or booking forms to promote the Youth Cancer Trust holidays, please email us
About the Youth Cancer Trust experience
The Youth Cancer Trust (YCT) provides free therapeutic wellbeing holidays and secure online support for young people, over 18 and diagnosed with cancer before the age of 30.
We take groups of 12 each week during the school holidays at our new location in Dorset, which are made up of appropriately aged youngsters – of similar ages.
When young people are diagnosed with cancer, the effects upon them, their families, their friends, arguably their school and local community are profound. Testimonial evidence confirms that these young people desperately need to meet with peers who are undergoing similar trauma in their lives, relieving the sense of isolation they feel during illness and at such a critical age. The emphasis at The Youth Cancer Trust is upon regular activity holidays, relaxation with peers and communication.
There is no other organisation, charitable or otherwise, which specifically targets this need as its core function. It sounds simple – but it is subtle and much needed.
This charity provides a service which was born out of the experiences of one mother (Brenda) who sadly lost her only daughter to cancer and because of that, it has an authentic understanding of what teenagers with cancer actually need. We also believe that the charity she has created delivers a complementary part of ‘treatment’ which will one day become an orthodox norm and be seen as a significant part of the overall jigsaw of recovery or loss. What she spotted was this:
These young people need to meet each other, talk to each other, do activities which are fun and increase their sense of self-esteem and worthiness. They need to behave like ‘normal’ teenagers for a while in groups of other young people going through a similar experience.
The Youth Cancer Trust accepts youngsters from all areas of the UK and Ireland. All the costs of the holiday are paid for by the Trust which doesn’t receive any statutory funding.
We undertake an evaluation of the charity by the use of a simple questionnaire process given to all the guests who stay with us. These questionnaires are evaluated free of charge by a social research consultant. Last year, of the 230 young cancer patients who stayed with us, 91% reported feeling an increase in confidence since their YCT holiday.
“Patients who have sampled the delights at YCT have returned refreshed, excited and perhaps most importantly ‘with renewed optimism for life and their future”.
(Senior Social Worker, Hilary Hollingsworth, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital,Birmingham).
Click here to read testimonies from young people who have experienced a YCT holiday
Click here to read testimonials from health professionals, parents and other cancer related organisations
Safeguarding vulnerable young adults
The Youth Cancer Trust takes the safety and care of young people very seriously – Please email us for a copy of our policies.
We can provide holidays for young people with the following criteria:
- Aged over 18 and diagnosed with cancer before the age of 30.
- Attending a hospital/GP in the UK or Irish Republic for cancer treatment including check ups
- Living with late effects
- Guests who have already had a holiday at YCT.
- Guests can bring a sibling or friend of a similar age.
Can you help us spread the word?
If you come in contact with any young cancer patient who could benefit from one of our holidays please would you be kind enough to help us by promoting our holidays in your workplace?
We need to raise awareness about The Youth Cancer Trust across the UK & Ireland in hospital wards, doctor’s surgeries and cancer information centres. It has been reported to be a positive moment when offering a holiday to a young person who is going through treatment – it can give them something exciting to look forward to and is being recognised as part of the holistic approach in treating young cancer patients.
We have a range of FREE promotional material available to you which includes A4 or A5 laminated posters, A5 leaflets, application forms, newsletters and videos.