At Latch, we’re here for childhood cancer in Wales. We understand that with frequent and sometimes long hospital stays, children miss the stimulation and structure of their normal school and family life.
Latch organises a range of activities and treats for children and their families.
Helping children stay connected
Since 2017, Latch has been gifting iPads to children as soon as our support starts. They offer children a near-endless world of entertainment, helping to reduce anxiety and fear, and providing a sense of connection and normality during a challenging time.
The benefits for children are numerous and include:
- Staying connected with family and friends through video calls, social media, and email.
- Keeping up with schoolwork and extra-curricular activities, helping them maintain a sense of routine.
- Communicating with doctors and nurses more easily during treatment.
- Managing symptoms and improving their understanding of treatment through educational content.
- Reducing boredom with games, online streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, and other forms of entertainment.
- Preparing for radiotherapy with interactive tools and videos that help explain the process.
- Expressing emotions using innovative psychology apps designed to help children communicate how they feel.
By providing these iPads, Latch helps make the hospital experience a little easier, giving children the tools they need to stay engaged, informed, and connected.
Activities for families, siblings and in-hospital
Latch offers a range of activities and events that give much-needed respite, peer support, and opportunities for families to create lasting memories.
In addition to Rainbow Ward-based activities, we offer special events for siblings and families, giving them a chance to step away from the hospital environment and enjoy quality time together. Our activities include Build-A-Bear parties, sibling days out, family outings, and community coffee mornings. These events offer families the chance to connect, relax, and simply enjoy themselves in a supportive and uplifting setting.
These experiences make a significant difference by providing emotional relief and helping families cope with the challenges of childhood cancer. They create opportunities for positive memory-making and moments of joy during difficult times. Based on family feedback, events like Build-A-Bear parties and family days out have been especially beneficial, offering much-needed fun and respite.
We are thrilled that Latch has been awarded National Lottery funding through the Awards for All Wales programme to provide these vital wellbeing events and activities throughout 2025 that support children being treated for cancer and their families. The funding will enable us to deliver these much-needed respite events throughout 2025, offering emotional relief, peer support, and memorable experiences for families facing the challenges of childhood cancer.
