New £10m fund for travel costs in National Cancer Plan will be ‘transformative’ for young people with cancer and families

After nearly a decade of campaigning, today Young Lives vs Cancer is celebrating the news that, as part of the National Cancer Plan, the UK Government has responded to their campaign and announced a £10 million fund to help children, young people with cancer and families with the cost of travel to hospital. 

• £10 million a year fund to support all children and young people with cancer and their families regardless of income with the cost of travelling to and from cancer care 

• Young Lives vs Cancer have campaigned for a £10 million Fund through their ‘Running on Empty’ campaign 

• Young Lives vs Cancer research shows children and young people with cancer (0-25) and their families currently spend an average of £250 a month on travel to and from treatment including petrol, congestion charges, public transport and taxi fares 

• 71% of families said they struggle to meet these travel costs 

• One in 10 missing or delaying treatment because they couldn’t afford to travel 

Young Lives vs Cancer’s research found 71% of young people and families have been struggling to pay for their travel, with one in ten missing or delaying appointments because of the costs. Young people and families face an additional £700 a month in costs when they or their child is diagnosed with cancer including food, heating bills and childcare. Travel is often the most expensive of those costs at £250 extra a month. The charity’s Chief Executive says today’s news will be transformative in taking away some of these financial worries at an already stressful time.

UK Government have committed to provide a £10 million fund to support travel costs each year. The fund will be available to all children and young people with cancer (0-24) and their families regardless of income to support with the cost of travelling to and from cancer care. 

Young Lives vs Cancer has been calling for a fund of £10 million for many years, based on their research and proposed Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund model. The charity has been part of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce, alongside charity partners and lived experience representatives, and championed their proposed £10 million fund to the Taskforce, which has now been committed to in the Plan. 

Young Lives vs Cancer is committed to working closely with the Government to help implement this vital support and ensure it reaches the people who need it.

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer, says: “After almost a decade of campaigning, this is the news that children and young people with cancer, and their families, have been waiting for. This is a long overdue moment – we have finally secured the support needed to help ensure children, young people and families can afford to get to hospital without facing impossible financial choices. 

“Our charity was founded 60 years ago to help young people and families struggling with travel costs, this has continued to be one of the biggest pressures they face. 

“For years, young people and families have faced an extra £250 every month to travel to hospital, at a time when they are 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 for young cancer patients is an historic win in making sure no child, young person or family is left struggling simply to reach their treatment or has to make these difficult decisions again. We’re ready to work with the government every step of the way so every child, young person and family gets the support they need.

“We haven’t achieved this alone. Thank you to all of 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, as their voices and experiences have been recognised to get this vital financial support that they so desperately need.”

Young cancer survivor Victoria Ward, 25 from Isle of Wight, was delighted to hear that support is being introduced for young people with cancer and families after campaigning for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund with Young Lives vs Cancer.

She said: “It’s brilliant news. I really struggled to keep on top of the costs of getting to and from hospital so it’s great to know that other young people will get support to face these challenges like I did and can focus on getting their treatment.”  

Victoria knocked on the door of 10 Downing Street on 12 September 2023 to hand in Young Lives vs Cancer’s petition for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund. 

She was diagnosed with lymphoma at 21 and received treatment at Southampton General Hospital. She would have to travel from her home on the Isle of Wight to the hospital via ferry and then either drive or get a taxi to the hospital once she reached the mainland. The ferry return ticket alone could cost anywhere between £80 to £200 at peak times. 

Victoria said: “If I was having my chemo in the morning and my clinic was 8am during rush hour, a taxi could be anywhere from £12 to 15 just to go up the road. The parking alone would cost us £20 to 23 a go. As much as people say ‘it’s only £20’, that £20 is my week’s food.” 

On top of having to pay out for travel, Victoria also had to stop work so struggled to face these costs as well as her other bills at home. This led to her having to give up her flat.  

Victoria said: “It was a case of I either I keep my own safe space or die. I was previously homeless a year or so before I started my cancer treatment so my flat was my achievement, so it was sad giving that up but it had to be done.”

The announcement comes as part of the UK Government’s National Cancer Plan for England which will be published in full on World Cancer Day, Wednesday 4 February, and will include further commitments to support children and young people with cancer. 

Rachel says: “We’re pleased to see the National Cancer Plan will provide dedicated support that children and young people need, achieved by true sector collaboration. Young Lives vs Cancer has worked with our colleagues at CCLG and other charity partners over many years and through the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce to ensure the experiences of children and young people with cancer are considered within the National Cancer Plan.”

*Around 3,600 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer per year in England