Trusts & Foundations

Every day at Candlelighters we continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity and dedication of our supporters. We are lucky to work with a number of charitable trusts and foundations from Yorkshire and across the UK, who are vital in helping Candlelighters to deliver our mission of bringing light and hope to families facing childhood cancer.  The difference that these grants have made, and continue to make, is truly life-changing: making the unbearable a little more bearable for ordinary families facing extraordinary circumstances.

Trusts and foundations can support Candlelighters through a variety of channels, from annual donations which are instrumental in helping us achieve our priorities as a charity, to working with us to fund a specific element of our family support or research projects.

Your Journey with Candlelighters

We want to build mutually beneficial partnerships with our supporters. Whether you want to fund a specific project or support our wider goals as a Charity, a dedicated member of our team will bring you detailed, personal reporting on the impact of your grant, bringing you even closer to the people you are supporting. We also love welcoming trusts and foundations to The Square, our family support centre, to see first-hand how their support is changing lives.

Who Supports Us?

The Kentown Wizard Foundation were one of the pivotal founding donors to the Candlelighters Cottage, which we bought and renovated to provide free 'home away from home' accommodation for families, located a stone’s throw away from the Leeds Children’s Hospital.

Without this accommodation, parents can be away from their child with cancer or siblings for extended periods of time. The Candlelighters Cottage enables families to stay together, helping to keep some kind of sense of normality at a time when it can feel like everything around them is falling apart.

Contact Us

We are always looking to develop new relationships with Trusts and Foundations that share our values. If you are involved with a Trust or Foundation and would consider supporting Candlelighters, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We would love the opportunity to meet or send you more information. Bernadette Sampson is our Philanthropy Specialist and looks after our brilliant Trust and Foundation supporters. You can contact Bernadette by emailing [email protected]

Our stories

‘I’m looking forward to being able to come back into The Square once the go-ahead is given, but I’m certainly being looked after in the meantime and appreciate the fantastic virtual sessions that have been provided.’
26-08-20Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
Clare has been a part of our Candlelighters family for just over seven years. Here’s her story and how Candlelighters are still supporting Clare and her family throughout the pandemic. “I’m Mummy to Neve and Belle, twin girls born in November 2012. In May 2013 both my girls were diagnosed with Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia …
Company of the Month… Bettys Bakery and Cookery School!
21-08-20Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
This month’s Company of the Month is Bettys Bakery and Cookery School! Bettys Bakery and Cookery School, based in Harrogate, chose to support Candlelighters in October 2019 and the team set a huge target to raise £14,000 for Candlelighters over their year of fundraising, through various initiatives including staff sales, challenges and raffles. They have …
Meet Melissa
11-08-20Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
Melissa was diagnosed with an Orbital Rhabdomyosarcoma last Summer and had nine cycles of chemotherapy as well as 25 sessions of proton therapy away from home in Germany. Melissa had just rung the bell to celebrate finishing treatment when Covid-19 hit and lockdown happened. This meant that all of the things she’d been planning, that …
‘I am so lucky and privileged to be welcomed into our family’s homes at such a difficult time and to be part of their journey is a real honour.’
10-08-20Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
At Candlelighters we offer funding support for roles at Leeds Children’s Hospital. You might have met some of these friendly faces before! Like, our Dinner Lady Elaine, Play Leaders, Social Workers, the Advanced Nurse Practitioners on the ward and many more! Here’s a little about Tracy West and her role with families we support. Name: …
“Tracy was there for us all, she supported the whole family in a way that worked for everyone. She’s made life a lot easier for all of us”
04-08-20Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
“Candlelighters have been there from day one. Over the years we’ve had many special memories, made possible by Candlelighters” Elsa was first diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in 2016, a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma when she was just two years old. Elsa and her family, including Mum Hayley, Dad John, Sister Amelia and older …
Meet Leo
29-07-20Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
Please be the spark that keeps our candle burning so we can bring light to families in these darkest of times. Meet eight year old Leo. Leo was diagnosed in September 2019 with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.   Leo’s Mum said, ‘From day one, Leo has received continued support from the amazing Candlelighters team, on …
The Family Support Team launch their Virtual Summer Events!
17-07-20Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
Get ready for some Summer time puns, as we launch our virtual Summer Events!! … Water you doing this Summer? Whatever floats your boat, we have a jam-packed virtual event diary for over the 6 weeks holidays for families we support! Tis the sea-sun to join in with some Candlelighters fun, catch up with friends …
Company of the Month… Shoosmiths
09-07-20Our stories • Posted by Candlelighters Marketing
This month’s Company of the Month is Shoosmiths Leeds! The Leeds Shoosmiths office have been supporting Candlelighters since early 2019. They have taken on many challenges since then including a Three Peaks walk in the pouring rain, Leeds 10k, bake sales, the Great North Run, office raffles and much more! Their amazing efforts have been …

Your stories

Graham & Anya
06-08-20Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
‘My name is Graham Morris and I am the dad of a family supported by Candlelighters. In 2015 my daughter, Anya, was diagnosed with a type of brain tumour called clival chordoma. Anya underwent 2 surgeries on her brain at Leeds General Infirmary to remove as much of the tumour as possible. We then spent …
‘You just have to live, live, live!’
14-07-20Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
14-07-20 Team Rueben’s Coast to Coast Challenge! Rueben’s amazing family are preparing to take on an absolutely incredible challenge. From 4th August, Rueben’s dad Stephen, step-mum Liz and their two sons Otis (aged 9) and Sidney (aged 8), will be walking 196 miles from St Bee’s and finishing at Robin Hoods Bay, which was Rueben’s …