Breaking News: Campaign Win! UK Government commit to £10 million travel Fund in National Cancer Plan for England  

For years, the cost of getting to cancer treatment has caused significant financial strain for children, young people and their families. Following years of campaigning and amplifying their needs and voices, today (3 Feb), Young Lives vs Cancer and our supporters heard the news that a new Fund to support with travel costs will be introduced.  

UK Government have committed to a brand new £10 million travel Fund for all children and young people (0-24) with cancer in England* and their families, regardless of income to support the cost of travelling to and from cancer care. This historic package of support will transform the lives of those we support, helping ease the biggest financial burden they face and allow them to focus on getting through treatment, instead of worrying about the cost of getting there. 

Young Lives vs Cancer has been campaigning for almost a decade for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund, and supporting families with the cost of travel was one of the core principles our charity was founded on.  

Our research shows that young people and families spend an average £250 a month and travel 350 miles just to vital specialist treatment. Those in rural areas can be spending even more and travelling even further. These costs can mean falling behind on bills, getting into debt, and even missing or delaying treatment because of the cost.  

Our modelling suggested a Fund of £10 million would be able to support all those impacted by travel costs, so we’re delighted that the Fund announced today will deliver this milestone £10 million support. Now we’re ready to work with the Government to help implement this vital support and ensure it reaches everyone who needs it. 

The Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce (led by Prof. Darren Hargrave, Dr Sharna Shanmugavadivel, Caroline Dinenage MP and championed by Charlotte Fairall (Sophie’s Legacy)) brought together sector expertise, academics, clinicians, and lived experience to put forward key recommendations for the children and young people’s section of the National Cancer Plan. Working as part of the Taskforce and with our sector partners to champion the need for a Fund, the calls for this support have been heard. 

Thank you to everyone who has campaigned with us and shared their experiences, demonstrating why this Fund is so important.  

In response to the news, Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer, says: “This is the news that children and young people with cancer, and their families, have been waiting for – we’ve finally secured the  financial support they need to help ensure they can afford to get to hospital without facing impossible financial choices.   

 “For years, young people and families have faced an average extra £250 every month just to travel to hospital, at a time when they’re coming to terms with a life-changing diagnosis. I’ve heard from families struggling to pay rent, others juggling mounting credit card debt and some even missing or delaying treatment because of these costs.   

“This commitment to travel costs support is an historic win in helping make sure no child, young person or family is left struggling, or has to make these difficult decisions, simply to reach their treatment. We’re ready to work with the government every step of the way so everyone gets the support they need.  

 “Thank you to all the young people and families who have shared their experiences as part of our campaign, to demonstrate the real need for this new Fund. We’ve been proud to champion our Travel Fund proposal through the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce, alongside sector partners, as part of the development of the National Cancer Plan.  

 “Today is a huge win for the families we support – their voices and experiences have been recognised to get this vital financial support they so desperately need.”  

This announcement comes as part of the National Cancer Plan for England*, being published in full on World Cancer Day (Feb 4), which itself is historic for children and young people who will, for the first time, have a dedicated chapter dedicated to their unique needs. This is so essential, because their needs are unique and cancer in this age group is less common, more aggressive, requires specialist treatment far from home and bring impacts for the whole family.  

Rachel says: “We’re pleased to see the National Cancer Plan will provide dedicated support that children and young people need, which has been achieved by true sector collaboration. We’ve worked with our colleagues at CCLG and many of our charity partners over many years – including through the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce – to ensure the National Cancer Plan delivers for children, young people and their families.”  

Young Lives vs Cancer stands ready to support the further development and implementation of the Fund and the National Cancer Plan, to help shape a system that is fair, accessible and responsive to families’ needs. We look forward to working with all our partners to make this a success.  

For media enquiries please contact mediarelations@younglivesvscancer.org.uk or call 0844 848 1189. For our full press release on this announcement please see here.

*The National Cancer Plan applies to England only, but it is yet to be confirmed whether the new travel Fund will have any implications for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Young Lives vs Cancer is analysing today’s announcement and will share more information in due course.