The Hospital

Support for anyone who has faced similar situations to those in the programme.

Information and support

Macmillan Cancer Support (www.macmillan.org.uk) free helpline for cancer patients, their families and their friends. Staffed by experienced cancer information nurse specialists, they can answer questions on any cancer including treatments, emotional support, practical advice and details of local support groups.  Call 0800 500 800 (free Mondays - Fridays 9am - 8pm) or go to the website for masses of information, or to share your experiences and talk to other people affected by cancer.

If you're between 12 and 21 and need to talk to someone call the Macmillan YouthLine 0808 808 0800 (free, confidential, Monday - Fri 9am - 8pm) or email youthline@macmillan.org.uk.

Teen Info on Cancer (www.click4tic.org.uk) an off shoot of Macmillan Cancer Support, with cancer information written specifically for young people. There’s advice and support on how to cope with cancer, plus  the opportunity to make friends, write a blog and share your experiences with others who know what you’re dealing with.

Every day in the UK six young people are told they have cancer. At a time when your body is changing, your social life is everything and you’re still trying to figure out who you are, getting cancer can seem like an impossible blow to take. With the help of Teenage Cancer Trust (www.teenagecancertrust.org), thousands of teenagers are taking it, and coming out fighting. To find how they provide the best possible care and professional support for young people with cancer and their families throughout their cancer journey, go to the website or call 020 7612 0370 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

CLIC Sargent (www.clicsargent.org.uk) cares for children and young people with cancer and their families in hospital and the community. Call their free child cancer helpline 0800 197 0068 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

ACT (www.act.org.uk) works to achieve a better quality of life and care for every life-limited or life-threatened child or young person and their family. The ACT helpline service supports professionals and informs families by signposting them to information, help and relevant services. It's also there for you if you just need someone to talk to. Call 0845 108 2201 (local rate, Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm). Also call this number or go the website for information on the ACT DVD ‘Talk About Change’ which is aimed at helping young people in transition from child to young adult care.

Siblinks (www.siblinks.org) provides social, practical and emotional support for brothers and sisters of young people with cancer. Find out more about their network of young people aged 13 to 25 on the website.

Over The Wall (www.otw.org.uk) residential activity camps for children and young peole affected by serious and life limiting illnesses.

Palliative and Hospice Care

If you’re caring for someone who is terminally ill, Hospice Information (www.helpthehospices.org.uk/hospiceinformation) offers details on hospice and palliative care services. They help patients, families and carers to identify services and resources. Call 0207 520 8222 (Monday – Friday 9am - 5pm) or access their website where you can search for hospice services in your area.

There are 41 children's hospices across the UK, helping children, young people and their families with the emotional and physical challenges they face, and enabling them to make the most of life.  To find out more about the work of Children's Hospices UK (www.childhospice.org.uk) and children's hospice services go to the website.

Research and Treatment

The young people in this programme were treated at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham (www.uhb.nhs.uk/Home/Home.aspx) and The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham (www.roh.nhs.uk/welcome) for more about the work of these hospitals visit their websites.

The Bone Cancer Research Trust (www.bonecancerresearch.org.uk) promotes research into the causes and treatment of bone cancer. To find out about their work or to donate to the research, visit their website.

Bereavement

The Child Death Helpline (www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk)) offers support to anyone affected by the death of a child, whatever age. The line is staffed by bereaved parents and you can call 0800 282 986 (free, any evening throughout the year 7pm - 10pm, Monday to Friday 10am - 1pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 1pm – 4pm).
Cruse Bereavement Care (www.cruse.org.uk) supports all bereaved people. They offer advice, support, help and information, no matter how recently or long ago your loved one died.  To find out about all the Cruse services, call their helpline on 0844 477 9400 (Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm).The number of  your local branch will be in the phone book or you can visit their website.

Cruse also run services aimed specifically at supporting young people aged 12 to 18 on a free phone helpline 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm) and at the website www.rd4u.org.uk.

Winston's Wish (www.winstonswish.org.uk) helps bereaved children and young people rebuild their lives after a family death. They offer practical support and guidance to families, professionals and anyone concerned about a grieving child. The Winston's Wish family line offers practical support and guidance to anyone concerned about a grieving child on 08452 03 04 05 (Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm). The website contains a lot of material to support young people and a special adult free zone. 

If you’re feeling distressed and need someone to talk to, you can phone Samaritans at any time of day or night on 08457 90 90 90.  E mail support is available through jo@samaritans.org and their website is at www.samaritans.org.

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