Returning to school and bullying
Tom’s Trust has pledged to support the Anti Bullying Alliance’s ‘Anti-Bullying Week 2024’ and we are using the week to highlight the real problem and worry that bullying is for those children we support. We know that bullying is sadly, an all-too-common experience for school-aged children. As many as one in four of all children […]
An interview with Dr Meghan Owens, Clinical Psychologist at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
As we celebrated a year of the Tom’s Trust service at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital we took the opportunity to interview Dr Meghan Owens, our clinical lead at the centre, about the past year, challenges, how our funding helps, and looking to the future. Before the Tom’s Trust Clinical Psychologist team came on board at […]
Investing in the development of Neuro Oncology Clinical Psychologists
Dr Catherine Harter is a consultant paediatric neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist, and Tom’s Trust is very proud to have her as a Trustee. She has worked for over 25 years within the NHS and independent practice, including neuro-oncology, acquired brain injury, neurodevelopmental (autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, rare genetic conditions) and child mental health services. Currently, […]
Three ways you can help Tom’s Trust today
Tom’s Trust Clinical Psychologists support hundreds of children, and thousands of families, within hospitals in the East, North-East and North-West, helping children from diagnosis, through their brutal treatment and as they return to life at home. One of the mums we support said: “When my son was first diagnosed with his tumour, my fear of […]
Talking to schools about a family cancer diagnosis
Impact of a cancer diagnosis There are around 375,000 new cancer cases in the UK every year.* 1800 of these are in children, and 600 of those children are diagnosed with a brain tumour. We know the impact that a diagnosis of cancer can have on families, in particular children. It is important to give […]
Conquering mountains: A fundraising journey
In 2009, under unfriendly October skies, I attempted the National Three Peaks Challenge, but the weather forced us to turn back, prioritising safety over success. This year, I undertook the challenge again with two friends, and the odds seemed stacked against us from the start. Our group hailed from the Woodbridge Football Club Veterans team, […]
An interview with the clinical psychologists
As Tom’s Trust celebrates the NHS taking over the funding of our Cambridge psychologists, we interviewed the team – Angela Kirby, Lead Clinical Pyshologist, Dr Philippa Lewington, Clinical Psychologist, and Mariana Decheva
“She was the sunshine in our family.” Emily’s story, as told by her parents.
This is the story of Emily Smith, a little girl who died of a brain tumour last year when she was just eight years-old. Her parents, Andy and Sarah Smith, have bravely shared their story in the hopes of raising awareness of brain tumours in children, and the work we’re doing at Tom’s Trust. The […]
One family’s journey of hope and courage
By Martin Shave, Tom’s Trust Trustee and father to Camille, Tom’s Trust Young Ambassador As we are in the midst of Tumour Awareness Month, I am reminded of how a single moment, a single event can change your life forever. Our journey started almost fourteen years ago, in 2009, when my wife and I were […]
Proudly marking ten years of Tom’s Trust
By Debs Mitchell, Co-founder of Tom’s Trust This June, Tom’s Trust will be proudly marking 10 years of funding vital psychological care to children with brain tumours and their families. From the triumphant moment when we funded our very first psychologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, to now helping to fund enough psychologists in hospitals […]
Deb’s story about Tom and founding Tom’s Trust
I’m not sure I could have ever predicted my life! … … And while there are parts of it that I would change just to see my son Tom again, to have my three children by my side, I really love what I do now. In 2010 our world changed forever when Tom was diagnosed […]