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Here for financial support

Childhood cancer brings unexpected extra costs, like travel, food, heating, and time off work

Almost £700 extra a month spent by young cancer patients and their families following a cancer diagnosis. 

Childhood cancer brings unexpected extra costs, like travel, food, heating, and time off work. In a recent study conducted by Young Loves Vs Cancer, they found that 70% of patients and families experience a loss in income and earnings following a cancer diagnosis. 

Latch financial grants help ease this strain so families can focus on what matters most: your child’s care and wellbeing. We’re here for childhood cancer in Wales, supporting families in practical ways when every penny counts.

In the last twelve months Latch has distributed more than £230,000 in grants to families and awarded more than 740 grants. 

Latch grants are broken down into four funds: the responsive, practical, compassionate and hope funds.

In the last twelve months Latch has distributed more than £230,000 in grants to families and awarded more than 740 grants in total. 

Compassionate fund

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The Compassionate Fund is designed to support emotional and mental well-being for families, focusing especially on moments of crisis, bereavement, or significant emotional strain.

  • Supports emotional well-being during crisis points in treatment, bereavement and crisis breaks.
  • Provides memory-making opportunities and reduces feelings of isolation.

Practical fund

BSC landing

The Practical Fund provides financial support to ensure patients can access treatment and to help families stay together during treatment.

  • Ensures access to treatment by covering family accommodation and travel costs for appointments and in-patient stays.
  • Reduces financial strain by contributing to subsistence and parking expenses.

Responsive fund

WNS 050625 Latch Ward Matilda Apsee and Mum 25

 

The Responsive Fund is intended to respond to the financial impact of having a child with cancer.

  • Relieves immediate financial pressure.
  • Provides crisis relief during exceptional or urgent circumstance.

Hope fund

Betsy and sister with bubbles

The Hope Fund provides opportunities for families to create lasting, positive memories during and after their cancer journey.

  • To support celebration of key cultural events and/or birthdays whilst in-patient.
  • To support children and their families to create lasting memories during holidays or days out.

Applications are usually submitted by a social worker on behalf of families. 
Travel expenses can be submitted to the Latch office to be processed.

Your Social Worker is on hand to chat about any financial difficulties you may be facing and how to get help. 

We can help with applications for Disability Living Allowance and put you in touch with advice teams to help with budgeting. We can also help find other grants and support you may be entitled to from other organisations.

There are also a number of organisations that can provide you with information about all the benefits that you may be entitled to.

  • Carers UK – advice and support for unpaid carers
  • Turn2Us – helping people gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services
  • Citizens Advice Bureau – information and advice on benefits

"Our lives have turned completely upside down. If I didn't have Latch and Hayley, our Latch Social Worker, and everything that the charity has provided, I don't know what I would have done. They have been there from the beginning."

Ann -Marie

Hayden's mum

Darcy 2 1

We are also beyond grateful for Latch. From the very first day we met Hayley, we clicked. She made sure to visit us every time we were in hospital and was always checking in, whether it was helping me deal with a parking ticket, loss of earnings, or arranging sibling trips and wellbeing support. She helped us learn to navigate our “new normal.”

Jardine

Darcy's mum

Rose 5

"Our Latch Social worker is Helen Clark. Helen has been a life line throughout this horrible time, offering support and actively looking for ways she can help. Most importantly she has been a hand to hold during the darkest times."

Grace

Rose's mum

Many grant schemes can be opened and closed at quite short notice, and what’s more your individual circumstances will affect what support you are eligible to receive. Your Social Worker will assist you in identifying grants. Below is a list of other charities that offer grants or financial advice. 

Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity supports children over 15 years old. They offer grants that are for a cost that you are finding hard to pay for that has been caused by your cancer diagnosis. The grant amount is £400.

REACT are a charity working to improve the quality of life for financially disadvantaged children with life-limiting illnesses living in the UK. The charity provides grants and holidays.

My Shining Star offer grants is to help people in the UK to meet the financial needs that can arise from childhood cancer or its treatment. As part of the application process you will be required to upload supporting documents such as bills, receipts, bank statements, a letter from the consultant etc. Please do not start the application process until you have the required documents / photos.

The Hospital Saturday Fund- Provides varied financial support including for specialised mobility equipment, therapeutic treatment and equipment, and home adaptations 

The Family Fund Mobility Support programme is aimed at families raising a disabled or seriously ill child under three years old with significant mobility needs. Through the programme, we can provide a car-leasing package for a limited period to make transport for your child easier and more practical, so you can take your child to medical appointments, or even just get around day-to-day.

Young Lives vs Cancer offer Welfare Benefits and Housing Support Service, it is open Monday – Friday from 10am – 4pm. You can contact the welfare advisers by calling 0800 915 4439 or by emailing.