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About Us
LATCH supports families affected by childhood cancer and is here to ensure they get the help and care they need, and never face the journey alone
Supporting Families Through a Difficult Time
Having a child diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia comes as a devastating blow.
LATCH is the leading Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families who are under the care of the Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Unit at the Children’s Hospital for Wales.
Children and young people undergoing cancer treatment often face a long, gruelling and uncertain journey, which impacts the entire family, including siblings. LATCH is right here for families affected by childhood cancer, whatever the journey holds, providing bespoke emotional support, information, practical and financial help.
We understand and fund improvements in families’ hospital experiences and enable healthcare professionals to improve care for children and young people. We also give hope to families, through funding research, listening and responding to their needs, and lifting the voices of children and young people with cancer and their loved ones, in Wales.
What Does LATCH Do?
LATCH is here for every family affected by childhood cancer, whatever their journey holds. We provide bespoke emotional support, information, practical assistance, and financial help to ensure families never feel alone.
Every year, around 80 children in Wales are diagnosed with cancer. At any given time, LATCH supports approximately 120 families, offering a lifeline when they need it most.
In 2024, we supported more than 155 families and 500 individuals, provided 1,789 nights of free accommodation, and awarded over £320,000 in financial grants to help families during difficult times.
In 2024, we supported more than 155 families and 500 individuals, provided 1,789 nights of free accommodation, and awarded over £320,000 in financial grants to help families during difficult times.
What We Provide
A key part of LATCH’s work is our dedicated Social Work Service. We fund a team of four specialist social workers who are always available to be there with families through the many challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. Our social workers host a variety of activities for parents, carers, siblings, and patients, including coffee mornings on the ward, sibling surfing days, remembrance walks, and pamper sessions. These events offer families the chance to connect with others while providing much-needed relaxation and support.
Our free, recently refreshed, on-site family accommodation is a home away from home for families while their child is receiving inpatient treatment. We offer eight comfortable bedrooms—six with en-suite bathrooms—equipped with TVs and desks. The shared facilities include a kitchen, laundry room, and cosy lounges, giving families a welcoming space to stay together during their child’s hospital journey.
We understand the significant financial strain that comes with a child’s cancer treatment, frequent hospital visits, lengthy stays far from home, and rising energy bills can quickly become overwhelming. Travel costs, and even everyday living expenses add further pressure when many parents have no choice but to reduce their working hours or stop work altogether to focus on their child’s care. LATCH helps ease this burden by through our grants. By alleviating some of the financial stress, we enable families to focus on what matters most—the health and wellbeing of their child.
We offer families the chance to enjoy a much-needed break at one of our caravans in Porthcawl or Tenby, as well as organising fun family days out, from private cinema screenings to visits to Build-A-Bear workshops.
At diagnosis, each child is given an iPad to help provide distraction and entertainment during hospital stays while keeping them connected with family and friends.
At diagnosis, each child is given an iPad to help provide distraction and entertainment during hospital stays while keeping them connected with family and friends.
LATCH needs to raise over £900,000 annually to provide this vital support to families. We rely on the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our incredible supporters to make this possible.
We are here for families affected by childhood cancer, whatever their journey holds—offering bespoke emotional support, practical assistance, financial help, and reliable information.
It’s only thanks to the unwavering support of individuals and organisations across the country that we can be there for families when they need us most.