Child Cancer & growing pressure of cost of living

Aim

Chills,fever & persistent coughs are common for children with cancer. Emotional & financial support is needed to ease cost of living crisis

CHILDHOOD CANCER & THE GROWING PRESSURE OF COST OF LIVING

SUMMARY: 

Before the cost of living crisis, it was estimated to cost an additional £600 per month for families to care for a child with cancer. Now these costs are soaring for the 6,200 families in the UK caring for their child with a life-threatening or life-limiting cancer. A quarter of the all the families we support say that are struggling to cope and in desperate need.

THE PROBLEM:

The cost of living crisis is creating additional trauma to already very traumatic lives of the families we support. Many of these children have a brain tumour, they are robbed of their eyesight, mobility, voice and have exceptional health needs. One parent, sometimes both are unable to work yet during lengthy stays in hospital they are unable to receive financial benefits such as Disability Living Allowance nor Carers Allowance. 

The needs of caring for a seriously ill child at home are complex e.g. a forever boiling kettle to sterilise equipment, extra heating for the critically ill, an endless running of a washing machine and tumble dryer due to incontinence, the extra fuel costs for frequent hospital visits. (Average round trip in 60 miles)

Fatigue, chills, fever, weight loss and persistent cough are common for children with cancer.  They are more susceptible to feeling cold in “normal” temperatures, especially after receiving cancer treatment.

COMPLICATION

Parents are increasing asked to fill the void left by staff shortages in the NHS (Children’s nurses account for just 6% of the Uk’s total nurse population).  Families are falling through the ever widening gaps in health and social care and this is putting an  immense and relentless strain onto these families.

This relentlessness pressure of 24/7 care combined with the financial cost of living crisis is impacting on parent’s wellbeing and mental health.

35% of parents show signs of acute stress

24% of parents have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

70% of parents have been prescribed anti depressants and/or sleeping pills

We'll use funds raised to:

To focus on the complex challenges of families caring for their child by providing emotional support via support workers and by promoting our grants (funds have to designated) to provide financial grants for heating and fuel.  Families need to feel supported, emotionally and practically and have some of their financial worries eased. 

Joss Searchlight believes that every child with cancer should be kept warm, be well fed and their families should have enough funds for fuel, for travel to hospital visits. 

WE'LL USE FUNDS TO: 

Reach the most vulnerable families.

Enable poorly children to have the best chance to thrive

Fund Support Worker services to address emotional needs

Financial grants and signposting to address the cost of living crisis

To give families ‘a voice’ and to place the needs of families in the public spotlight

“Joss Searchlight has really helped our family. We’ve been able to connect with other families and have received the support of a psychologist and also received a financial grant. We no longer feel so isolated and alone. We’ve joined a community who understands our pain and the struggles we have no choice but to endure”

Sam, parent of child with a brain tumour 

This project successfully funded on 17th January 2023