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

Eli’s Story
16-04-21Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
My name is Naomi, and I’m Eli’s Mum. I’m 27 years old. Eli was two and a half when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). He was diagnosed on the 18th of September 2019. He is now four years old, and due to finish treatment the day before his sixth birthday. At the …
Every Step of the Way…Rhian’s Story
09-04-21Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
Hi everyone. We are Julie and Andy, parents to Rhian and Keeley.  Rhian was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) shortly after her fifth birthday in 2015. She completed her treatment in August 2017 and was clear of cancer for 20 months. She sadly relapsed in April 2019 and then during her treatment for this …
Company of the Month – Squire Patton Boggs
07-04-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’re delighted to announce that our company of the month for March is the fabulous team at Squire Patton Boggs, Leeds. They chose Candlelighters as their charity of the year for 2021 and have been going great guns to raise funds for us, despite the challenges of fundraising when most of the team are working …
Jensen’s Story
18-03-21Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
We are mum Beverley, dad Jason, big brother Ethan and Jensen from Huddersfield. Jensen, now six, is a fun-loving, adventurous little boy who always keeps us on our toes. Jensen was diagnosed with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in September 2018. We had been worried about his health for a while, going back and forth to the …
Children’s Cancer Charity draws attention to cause during Brain Tumour Awareness Month
16-03-21Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
Children and families worldwide are devastated daily by brain tumour diagnoses, with around 50 children diagnosed with brain and other central nervous system tumours each year in Yorkshire alone. During Brain Tumour Awareness Month, Yorkshire children’s cancer charity Candlelighters aims to raise awareness of brain tumours and the need for greater research funding. Brain tumours …
Talking Brain Tumour Research with Ryan Mathew
08-03-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
Candlelighters has funded research into the understanding and treatment of childhood cancers for 30 years. Academic neurosurgeon, Ryan Mathew, has been supported by Candlelighters since 2018, as part of a four year funding programme to enhance brain tumour research. Ryan qualified as a doctor in 2005 from the University of Leeds. Following hispassions of neurosurgery …
Ralph’s Story
05-03-21Our stories • Posted by Sean Donnelly
Ralph was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma at the age of six. It was a complete and utter shock to the whole family as Ralph had always been a very healthy little boy. He had been unwell with suspected tonsillitis for a few weeks. We’d been back and forth to our GP and an overnight stay …
Our February 2021 Company of the Month is… FluidIT Consulting!
26-02-21Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We are delighted to announce that our February 2021 Company of the Month is FluidIT Consulting! FluidIT began supporting Candlelighters last year, in response to our pandemic appeal and promptly became members of Candlelighters ‘Team 500’, by making a donation of £500. The team were keen to support in other ways too and decided that …

Your stories

David’s 10k Challenge
08-04-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
Today we’d like to recognise the fabulous David Slater, who is undertaking a mammoth challenge to run 10k EVERY DAY for 10 weeks to raise funds for Candlelighters and Mind, hoping to raise an epic £10,000 to split between both charities!   David, Chief Operating Officer at The Property Buying Company, aptly began his challenge …
Hughie’s Legacy Hoorah
12-03-21Your stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
‘Hughie Wilson Eyles was born on 14th October 2019. At four weeks old, Hughie developed a high fever and a rash. With his mum, Chloe, being a qualified nurse of nine years, she knew something wasn’t quite right with our little boy. After a phone call to 111, an ambulance was sent, and Hughie was …