We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded National Lottery funding through the Awards for All Wales programme to provide vital wellbeing events and activities throughout 2025 that support children being treated for cancer and their families. This funding will enable us to deliver a series of much-needed respite events throughout 2025, offering emotional relief, peer support, and memorable experiences for families facing the challenges of childhood cancer.
Throughout the year, LATCH holds a number of events for families, from activities and entertainment on the ward to surfing days for siblings, to parties and days out for the whole family. These events, which bring smiles and joy to children and their families whilst undergoing treatment, ensure families continue to create lasting memories during a challenging period.
A Positive Impact on Family Wellbeing
In October, at LATCH’s annual Build-a-Bear events more than 100 children created their own special bears to take home, enjoyed lunch together, and spent time with their peers.
Events like Build-a-Bear play a crucial role in supporting the emotional and mental wellbeing of children with cancer and their families. They provide a break from the stress of hospital stays and treatment routines, allowing children to simply be children and spend quality time with their loved ones. Parents and siblings also benefit from these opportunities to relax and connect with other families facing similar experiences, fostering a strong sense of community and peer support.
LATCH’s ongoing commitment to the wellbeing of families is strengthened by the National Lottery funding, which will support a wide range of activities in 2025, including weekly inpatient ward entertainers, siblings, and family days out, and community coffee mornings. These activities are offered free of charge, ensuring that all families—regardless of their financial circumstances—can participate in these uplifting experiences.
A Special Thanks to The National Lottery LATCH would like to extend sincere thanks to The National Lottery and all its players for their incredible support. The funds raised by National Lottery players will make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families affected by childhood cancer, providing them with moments of joy and respite.
LATCH’s Chief Executive, Menai Owen-Jones, said: “Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be traumatic and overwhelming. The physical, emotional, social, and psychological impact on children and their families during cancer treatment, and beyond, is significant and complex.
Thank you to The National Lottery Awards for All Wales, for supporting LATCH to be able to provide such a vital programme of wellbeing activities and events to help children and their families during such an extremely challenging time for them.”
To keep up to date with LATCH’s upcoming events and activities, or to find out more about how to support LATCH activities you can subscribe to our newsletter here.
To find out more about funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, visit their website: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
