Young Lives vs Cancer to close Oxford Home from Home

Young Lives vs Cancer, UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people and their families, has today announced its Home from Home in Oxford, CLIC Court, will close, subject to consultation with directly impacted staff.  

The decision comes after the charity identified other accommodation available on site at the local hospital which is well suited to the needs of families of children with cancer. 

The charity has been looking at the changing needs of families’ accommodation needs including their Homes from Home service. Since the Coronavirus Pandemic, there has been an increase in families wanting to have their own en-suite bathrooms. CLIC Court has only two of the five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms which has resulted in there often being bedrooms vacant.    
 
For families who use CLIC Court, alternative accommodation is available. Young Lives vs Cancer is working closely with them and another charity in Oxford.   

A charity review found that there was a duplication of accommodation services in Oxford. Young Lives vs Cancer is committed to working collaboratively with partner charities and the NHS to ensure children and young people with cancer, and their families have access to services across the UK.    

Lynn Charlton, Director of Services and Impact at Young Lives vs Cancer said: “It’s not been an easy decision to close CLIC Court, but as a charity that does not receive sustained Government funding, we have a responsibility to make sure that all the funding raised for us is having the maximum possible impact for the children, young people and families we are here to support.   We’re working closely with families to share this news with them and to offer support and assurance at this time. We will work locally with another charity so families can access the accommodation service that they offer which is on the hospital site and consists of bedrooms that are all en-suite. The wellbeing of families is of utmost importance to us, and we’re putting plans in place to make this change and transition period is as easy as possible for them.”   

ENDS 
 
Notes to Editor 
 
Young Lives vs Cancer’s Homes from Homes, which are located across the UK, offer young people and families a free place to stay nearby to hospital when their child is going through cancer treatment. 
 
CLIC Court was opened 30 years ago, in 1993.  It is situated close to the Oxford Children’s Hospital and the John Radcliffe Hospital site.