About us
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity providing specialised nursing care and expert youth support for young people with cancer. We’re here for anyone diagnosed with cancer aged 13-24, and their loved ones too.
Every day in the UK, seven young people aged 13-24 hear the words “you have cancer”.
It’s the last thing you expect to hear when you’re young. But sadly, cancer kills more young people than any other disease. And for those who survive, going through it at such a crucial life stage without the right support can still have a devastating long-term impact.
But young people with cancer risk being forgotten. They can find themselves shunted into services designed for children or older adults that can’t meet their age group’s unique needs. They might never meet someone else their age who knows what they’re going through, compounding the loneliness that often comes with cancer.
And too often, their voices aren’t heard. They don’t have a say on matters which affect them, or enough influence on their treatment and care. We’re dedicated to making sure every young person with cancer receives specialist, age appropriate care and support, from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.
Our vision:
A world where cancer doesn’t stop young people from living their lives.
Our purpose:
To ensure every young person with cancer has the best treatment, care and support.
Our values:
We put young people at the heart of what we do. We’re determined, united, spirited and kind.
Our big goal:
By 2040, young people with cancer in the UK will have the best outcomes and quality of life in the world.
I’ve got a second chance of life, I can just go for it and do all the things I’ve always wanted to do. That’s thanks to Teenage Cancer Trust.
KEESLEE
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: our Statement and Strategy
We exist to make sure that every young person with cancer in the UK has the best treatment, care and support. This means every young person regardless of who they are.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion is central and crucial to achieving our purpose as a charity.
What this means now is that to deliver our purpose fully we must change.
Global events such as the killing of George Floyd, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Covid-19 pandemic have acted as catalysts to changing views of the world.
These events have exposed the stark, systemic inequalities in society, particularly amongst people of colour, disabled people and LGBTQ+ people, as well as other marginalised groups and communities.
These deep-rooted problems are structural and ones that we do not face alone – they are reflected in the wider charity and health care sectors.
However just because we do not face them alone does not mean we cannot act and make change happen at Teenage Cancer Trust.
At Teenage Cancer Trust, we are committed to building a workplace where equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are at the heart of everything we do and this extends to the services we provide for young people. Our EDI strategy, which you can view here, gives a flavour of our ongoing commitment. Please note that this strategy is currently up for review and will be refreshed in partnership with the leadership team to ensure it reflects our ambitions and the evolving needs of our organisation
This is our public commitment to all young people with cancer and their families that we are dedicated to putting Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at the core of everything we do.
