Candlelighters In Your Community

Why was Candlelighters in Your Community introduced?

At Candlelighters, we are always looking at new ways to support our families. In 2019 Candlelighters conducted a research project with families and professionals to see how we could further expand our support services. We found that families felt increasingly isolated when they returned home from hospital or after a bereavement, and they wanted more support closer to home.

We want our families to know that Candlelighters' support is here for them for as long as they need it. So, we have launched Candlelighters in Your Community to ensure families feel well supported across Yorkshire, no matter the distance.

A team of Candlelighters community support workers are based in communities across Yorkshire providing all of our support services to families at home and in their local area.

How does Candlelighters in Your Community benefit families?

Candlelighters in Your Community aims to reduce the barriers that some families face when trying to access support and makes our services more accessible to all families across Yorkshire. Our Community Support Team work flexibly to ensure families have the support they need when they need it most.

This support can take many forms:

  • 1-1 support to assess a family's needs - this could be a phone call, email or in-person to discuss any emotional, practical or financial support.
  • Walks & talks in local areas with other families affected by childhood cancer.
  • Wellbeing Days where families can book a massage or relaxation treatment.
  • Groups and events for all family members, allowing them to meet others on a similar journey.
  • Fundraising advice
  • Introduction to other charities and organisations

These support services aim to reduce isolation, allow families to meet others affected by childhood cancer and take the services offered at The Square across Yorkshire. Whatever type of support families need, they will be sure to meet a friendly face who will do their best to help them.

How can families access community support?

Candlelighters have Community Support Workers who cover all areas of Yorkshire. To find out more about the Community Support Worker for your area, email us at [email protected].

Alternatively, families can speak to their Social Worker or Outreach Nurse, who will put them in touch with the team.

A Community Support Worker will contact a newly diagnosed family once they have received their new patient grant from Candlelighters. An email will be sent out to families with an introduction from the Community Support Worker, detailing what support they can provide and how families can access it.

Our stories

Eckersley House Cheque Presentation
23-11-21Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
We are delighted to announce that Candlelighters has granted £15,000 to The Sick Children’s Trust for essential running costs of Eckersley House, a home from home accommodation opposite the Clarendon Wing. As one of only 21 Principal Treatment Centres for children’s cancer in the UK and only two in Yorkshire, we know that many children …
Company of the Month… Maths Made Easy!
23-11-21Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
We’re so excited to announce our October Company of the Month as the amazing Maths Made Easy! Earlier in 2021, Maths Made Easy chose Candlelighters as their Charity of the Year, and in July, an army of fundraisers from Maths Made Easy also took part in Total Warrior for us! Raising a fantastic amount of …
Young Dreamers Dream Big for Candlelighters
22-11-21Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
Over 45 years Candlelighters have continually evolved to provide superb support for children and their families, spanning emotional, practical and financial support, and investment in vital childhood cancer research. Candlelighters strive to embed the needs and wants of children at a strategic level, ensuring our support is the best it possibly can be and that …
Company of the Month… Thai Leisure Group!
25-10-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’re overjoyed to announce our September Company of the Month as the fabulous Thai Leisure Group! With Thai Leisure Group, who own Chaophraya, Thaikhun, Yee Rah and ChaoBaby restaurants across the country, launching a ‘Charity of the Quarter’ initiative, we were incredibly grateful to be chosen as the first charity to be supported earlier this …
Memories of Candlelighters: Amy
07-10-21Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
As we celebrate our 45th birthday this year, we’ve been talking to people with memories of Candlelighters through the years. Amy, now 38, from Wakefield, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 1995, aged 12. Amy particularly remembers some of the events and holidays provided by Candlelighters when she was on treatment, as well as …
Candlelighters at UoL Fertility Research
27-09-21Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
We are excited to share the results of a new piece of research by Candlelighters undertaken at the University of Leeds. As well as supporting families daily through childhood cancer, we bring hope by investing in vital research to improve the outcomes and lives of children with cancer. For nearly 40 years we have invested …
Candlelighters at 45 – Research
23-09-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
Did you know over our 45-year history, we’ve been involved in many childhood cancer research programmes and projects? In the last 20 years alone, we’ve invested over £9m into research to improve the lives and outcomes of children with cancer. In 1992, Professor Sue Burchill became the first scientist to be fully funded by Candlelighters …
Company of the Month… Slumberdown!
23-09-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’re pleased to announce that our August Company of the Month is Slumberdown! Slumberdown have supported Candlelighters since early 2021 when they initially joined our Team 500 – helping to bring in vital funds needed to continue our services through the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Slumberdown have been keen supporters, using and sharing their resources …
Candlelighters GO GOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Press Release
16-09-21Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
Candlelighters aims to raise funds and awareness this September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM). #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth takes place in September each year. At Candlelighters, along with many other children’s cancer charities across the globe, the charity marks CCAM each year to help increase the awareness of childhood cancers, as well as the work they do …

Your stories

Supporter Spotlight: Kingswood Dearne Valley
13-09-21Your stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
We were thrilled to announce the return of our annual Sibling Residential trip this year, to Kingswood Dearne Valley. This trip is for all of our siblings to have a fun time, enjoy being children and make special friendships with other siblings who have been affected by childhood cancer. They had lots and lots of …