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

Company of the Month… The Property Buying Company!
15-06-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We are delighted to announce The Property Buying Company as our Company of the Month for May! The Property Buying Company began supporting Candlelighters in March 2020, with Chief Operating Officer, David Slater, deciding to undertake a mammoth fundraising challenge in aid of Candlelighters and Mind. Beginning on 10th March, David challenged himself to run …
PINK Up Your Window Competition!
11-06-21Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
This year PINK IT UP takes place from the 28th June – 5th July AND our BEST PINK Window Competition is back!! Calling all shop windows – florists, hairdressers, independent shops, cafes, schools, businesses and more! Do you have a shop, school or office window that you would like to decorate to support Candlelighters throughout …
Dortech are our April 2021 Company of the Month!
07-05-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We are delighted to announce Dortech Architectural Systems as our Company of the Month for April! The team at Dortech have bowled us over with their enthusiasm and creativity to come up with various ways of supporting Candlelighters. Through the Dortech Doors arm of the business, they are donating £100 for each door sold in …

Your stories

Supporter Spotlight – Jerome
10-06-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’d like to say a big big thank you to supporter Jerome who, on Saturday 29th May 2021, along with his friends Tom and Ant, completed a mammoth 85 mile bike ride from Leeds Children’s Hospital to Blackpool. Jerome said, ‘At just a four months old, my two godsons Emre and Elijah were sadly diagnosed …
Supporter Spotlight – Team Eleanor
08-06-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’d like to say a huge thank you to the incredible Eleanor and her mum, Emily. In summer 2020, ten year old Eleanor was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, two very rare haematological disorders, requiring a bone marrow transplant. Eleanor and her mum are originally from Cambridge, but Eleanor received her bone …
Supporter Spotlight – Junior Team George
23-05-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
Today we’d like to say a massive thank you and good luck to the members of Junior Team George who will be scaling the famous Penyghent of the Yorkshire Dales.   The group of children aged 8-15 will take on the 11km scramble today in aid of Candlelighters and as part of the wider Team …
Supporter Spotlight – Stacy Procter
20-05-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We were delighted to see our volunteer and supporter Stacy was featured in the press recently for her Captain Tom 100 challenge in aid of Candlelighters! Upon hearing of the Captain Tom 100 – a fundraising challenge in memory of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore – Stacy decided to rally friends and family to …
Kingsley’s Ultra-marathon
14-05-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
Today we’d like to recognise the incredible fundraising efforts of Kingsley Dove, who will complete an intense 100-mile ultra-marathon later this year and has already raised over £2,500 for Candlelighters in support of his cousin’s son, George. George’s mum, Emma, said, ‘On 9th September 2019, I turned up at the Leeds General Infirmary A&E department, …
Supporter Spotlight – Leila-Louise
02-05-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
Today we’d like to say an enormous thank you to the amazingly selfless Leila-Louise for deciding to shave her hair to support Candlelighters and The Little Princess Trust.  Leila-Louise decided she wanted to do something to help after her best friend’s little brother, Jackson, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in July 2019. Jackson’s mum …
Ramadan Mubarak!
22-04-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’re now well into the holy month of #Ramadan for all our Muslim families and supporters.    Ramadan is a special time for Muslims around the world, with a focus on fasting, prayer, reflection and community. During Ramadan in 2020, one of our fabulous supporters, Shaukat Patel, set up a fundraising page to encourage his …