Young Lives vs Cancer plans new accommodation for families in Newcastle

Families travelling long distances to Newcastle for their child’s cancer treatment could soon have somewhere to stay for free. 

Young Lives vs Cancer has launched a £452,000 fundraising appeal to transform two properties into Homes from Home close to the Freeman Hospital. The charity has secured the properties but needs support to turn them into welcoming homes close to hospital, as frontline staff report parents sleeping in cars to stay near their child during treatment. The Newcastle team supports more than 300 children and young people with cancer each year. 

We want to raise enough money to refurbish and equip the properties and meet their running costs for three years.  

More than 300 children and young people with cancer travel to Newcastle for treatment at the Freeman and Royal Victoria Infirmary hospitals, with journeys averaging 62 miles.  

Research shows that seven in ten young cancer patients and families struggle to afford the cost of travelling to and from treatment and some turn to savings or additional debt. One in ten face delaying or missing treatment and care because they cannot afford the travel costs. 

A Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Worker based in Newcastle says: “Parents in Newcastle are sleeping in their cars as there is nowhere for them to stay.”  

This new accommodation would help families like Eli’s, he was diagnosed at eight years old with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Eli was transferred to Newcastle for immediate treatment. 

For the next two years his parents travelled over 90 miles between home and hospital, making a two-hour journey up to four times a week while juggling their jobs and caring for Eli’s brother.  

The two proposed Homes from Home will provide flexible, self-contained accommodation where families can stay free of charge during their child’s cancer treatment. 

The homes will offer facilities including: 

• Fully equipped kitchens 

• Laundry facilities 

• Living and dining spaces for families to spend time together 

• A welcoming environment away from the hospital ward 

• Access to emotional and practical support from Young Lives vs Cancer Specialist Social Workers 

This is a proposed design for the layout of these flats: 

We currently have nine Homes from Home around the UK. Last year 560 families stayed in them, accessing 22,223 nights of free accommodation and support.  

The Newcastle homes are intended to support families travelling from communities across Northumberland, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and the wider North East.  

If you would like to donate to the fundraising appeal to help us transform these two properties into Homes from Home please contact corporate@younglivesvscancer.org.uk.