Our dedicated team are based in the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff and in the community. They provide emotional, practical and financial support to families affected by cancer. Here, they share more about what they do, why they do it and the impact their work has on the families we support.
Lowri recently joined the Latch team in February 2026, where she supports Latch families alongside Helen and Hayley.
From the moment I left school, I've been drawn to roles that support children and families. Those early experiences shaped my passion for helping others and led me into social work, where I've spent the last 12 years working with child and their families.
Joining the Latch team truly feels like an honour. Having been through a similar journey within my own family, I know how invaluable it is to have the right support during the most frightening and uncertain moments. I understand how overwhelming a diagnosis can be, how it can turn your life upside down and fill your days with information, appointments, and emotions that feel impossible to process.
I truly hope that I can now support other families through their own journeys and feel honoured to be able to give something back to a community that means so much to me. I'm committed to being a compassionate presence for families as they navigate one of the toughest journeys of their lives. I hope to be a helping hand, a calm voice and a safe person to lean on, always upholding the Latch ethos and recognising the profound impact cancer has on every part of family life.
I'll be based in West Wales, supporting families in their communities and strengthening our connections with local hospitals to ensure that distance never limits the care families receive. I'm looking forward to building strong local networks and to create meaningful local groups and events for our children and their families.
We cannot change childhood cancer, but we can make sure that no family faces it alone. The right support can't take away the pain of a diagnosis, but our bespoke support is here to bring hope, comfort, advocacy and the practical help that families need to keep going.
Helen is our longest serving team member, supporting families affected by cancer for over 10 years.
“When I had my 10-year work anniversary, some of the things families have said about the support they received were shared on the Latch social media account. It made me realise the impact that we make. I didn't realise how integral we become to a family network. I also see it when families I’ve worked with years ago send me photos of their children to show me how they are and have changed.
Latch scaffold around families and help them as much as we possibly can. Every day is completely different. I see families on the wards at least two days a week and do home visits too. I do quite a lot of palliative work with children who are dying, and bereavement work with families.
Feedback from bereaved families has helped me to appreciate what a difference our role makes to them. They have said that they knew nothing was going to stop their child dying but they knew we were there.
I feel really proud that I work for Latch. I would describe it as the bread and butter for families. You've got other charities popping up, doing amazing things, but you need bread and butter to survive. We’re about being consistent, seeing families through their journeys, however they may be.
Hayley has been working in statutory and voluntary sector 16 years and joined Latch in January 2025.
“My Nan always donated to children’s cancer charities. So I have donated to them over the years too. When she died, a job came up at the charity, and it felt like it was meant to be when I got it.
This role is like a vocation. It’s a huge privilege to be able to give your time to families, during what is probably the most difficult journey in their lives and take a bit of pressure off.
I use the counselling training I have done, including my active listening skills, to offer families a safe space to talk, vent and reflect. We're very solution focused. So I’ll be thinking what I could do to help, like applying for a Latch grant or Blue Badge.
Every morning when I’m in the hospital, I check if my families have been admitted or are in for the day. I’ll spend some time with them and check if they need anything, whether it’s a coffee or help with their finances.
Sometimes, I go into medical team meetings with families to make sure their voices are being heard and to support them. Family members can be in such a state of stress, they might not hear everything as it's being presented. I always put myself in the shoes of the family member and advocate for them, thinking about the emotional impact.
I’ve enjoyed organising events like the summer party and pizza making for siblings. Their lives change too when their brother or sister is having treatment. I love seeing the smiles on their faces.
We can't change a child having cancer, but we can cushion families’ journeys. Without Latch’s support, their journey would be a lot bleaker. We provide that little bit of hope and that little bit of light.”
