From the devastating moment of diagnosis, patients and families are faced with a daunting and overwhelming volume of information under unimaginable strain and pressure. Where young patients are involved, parents also have to deal with the additional heart-breaking challenge of how to communicate information to their child.

The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust is a local charity that supports paediatric oncology communities and local cancer and leukaemia services and is helping to fund the development and maintenance of a new app, the first of its kind, for oncology patients and families. This inspiring app will give children and families fighting cancer easy access to comprehensive, dynamic, high quality, evidence-based education resources in one centralised place direct to their phone or tablet. Using a combination of interactive text, animation and short videos, the app will empower and equip families with all the information they need that is user-friendly, with age-appropriate content to engage, inform and reassure young patients. It is designed to allay information overwhelm, alleviate stress and feelings of isolation, optimise patient experience and improve health outcomes for patients.

Over 4,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year and this app has the huge potential to make a very significant impact on a regional and national scale, bringing great benefits to not only oncology families but also medical professionals. 

As part of the charity’s ongoing commitment to enhance cancer care for young people, the charity also funds and maintains a small army of AV1 No Isolation robots – simple, ingenious technology giving young oncology patients access to education during and after treatment – virtually attending school, socialising with classmates and remaining connected to support networks and communities. The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust is the first charity to fund these life-changing robots in our local hospitals and schools and we are working hard to expand the use of this technology in the UK. 

The charity relies on the local community, businesses and those who have been affected or suffering with cancer for support. Donate, sponsor, leave a legacy, be a patron, join an event of any shape, size or challenge, whether it’s a skydive, run or walk, cycle, dinner or gala evening, we have something to suit anyone of all ages.