What our Voice Board means to us

Our Voice Board is made up of remarkable young people, parents, carers and siblings who share a powerful connection through their lived experience of childhood or young adult cancer. They use their experience to influence decision making and shape what we do here at Young Lives vs Cancer and they are committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with cancer and their families. A crucial part of our team, they bring unique insight and experiences to ensure our community are at the heart of all we do.

Since the Voice Board began in 2023, they have been involved in numerous projects using their experiences to influence decision making and supporting the charity in so many ways. Our Voice Board has brought us on a  journey where we are learning and evolving every step of the way. From supporting the development of the Charity strategy, building on our values, helping create our North Star vision, shaping our approach to Voice, and developing campaigns they bring different perspectives and experiences and share unique insight to make a difference.

The team have just been shortlisted for Volunteer Team of the Year in the Third Sector Awards, and we couldn’t be prouder. They are an incredible force for good, and they demonstrate their passion and dedication in all they do. Not only this but they are a strong team with a shared understanding and a common goal – to improve cancer services and the system for children and young people and their families.

We are now looking to grow our Voice Board and hear different voices and experiences. This will be the third cohort and new members will be joining 13 young people, siblings, and parents. We’d love to hear from siblings, parents and carers, and young people aged 16 plus who have lived experience of childhood or young adult cancer. It’s so important we hear different perspectives and understand the issues faced across the cancer community.

Therefore, we especially encourage applications from;

• Siblings
• Bereaved parents/carers and siblings
• Parents and carers
• Young people and their families from minoritised ethnic communities
• Young people and families from devolved the nations and northern England
• Males
• Young people and their families with experiences of neurodivergence

This role is about young people and their families bringing their experiences of cancer to help ensure we are doing our best for our community. We hope that by being part of the team, young people and their families will be able to take part in new opportunities, build confidence, learn new skills and connect with others who ‘get it’ in a supportive team who’ve all been affected by cancer.

Our Voice Board meet monthly online and twice at in-person training events each year. They collaborate with other Voice Board members and staff across the organisation using their experiences to help create change. They do this by providing honest feedback and bringing lived experience to trustees and directors to influence decisions that impact young people and their families affected by cancer. The board help us develop new ideas, plan our work and reach more children young people and their families while ensuring we are keeping them at the heart of everything we do.

It’s a privilege to work with them and we are so grateful for all they do.

Here Paul dad to Ruby and one of our original Voice Board Members shares his reflections on being part of the board;

Recruitment for new Voice Board members is open until 11th August. If you’re a young person, sibling or parent or carer we’d love to hear from you. Or if you know someone who meets the criteria and is passionate about improving the lives of young people and their families affected by cancer, please do share this opportunity with them. To find out more and to apply please visit our Voice Board recruitment page.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to know more about our voice work our Voice Team is here to help, please get in touch at voice@younglivesvscancer.org.uk