Supporting your child’s wellbeing as routines change
Written by Amy Cottrill, Assistant Psychologist and Family Liaison Co-ordinator at Tom’s Trust. In this blog, Amy shares practical tips to help parents and carers of children with brain tumours support their child’s wellbeing, manage worries and navigate changes in routine. New routines and transitions can bring a mixture of emotions for children and […]
A Day in the Life of a Tom’s Trust Clinical Psychologist
A piece written by Dr Emily Townsend, our Tom’s Trust clinical psychologist at Oxford Children’s Hospital. Last month our Oxford service celebrated it’s on-year anniversary. Working as a Tom’s Trust Clinical Psychologist means no two days are the same! To provide the best care for a child and their family, there is a lot of […]
Thames Valley region service celebrates one year anniversary
In October 2024 Tom’s Trust opened our fourth clinical psychology service at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford, to provide much-needed psychological support to children and young people facing a brain tumour diagnosis, and their families. The paediatric neuro-oncology service at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford is the Principal Treatment Centre (PTC) for the Thames Valley […]
Our Thames Valley service holds a Beads of Life session
“I’m not alone and that I’ve been through hard stuff and it is not my fault.” One of our attendees when reflecting on what they learnt about themself at the session. This Summer our Tom’s Trust Network Fund paid for a Beads of Life session at our Thames Valley service centre in Oxford. The Tom’s […]
Tom’s Trust funds specialist training for the Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Specialist Interest Group
Last week core members of the Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Specialist Interest Group (SIG) gathered in London for a full day of specialist training in a cutting-edge, evidence-based approach to supporting NHS teams. Organised by the chairs of the SIG, funded by Tom’s Trust, and hosted by the Royal Marsden Hospital, the event brought together professionals from […]
Grandparent support
At Tom’s Trust, we know that a childhood brain tumour diagnosis doesn’t just change life for the child and their parents – it affects the whole family. Grandparents are often the quiet, unseen heroes, stepping in with love, strength, and stability at a time when everything feels uncertain. To mark Grandparents’ Day (5 Oct), we’re […]
New resources launched for families of children with brain tumours
Tom’s Trust has just launched four new guides to support parents of children facing a brain tumour diagnosis. The guides, which are available as both physical copies and as online downloads, were collaboratively created with the Neuro-oncology team at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. They tackle four key subjects; ‘Helping your child with thinking and planning […]
An interview with Caitlin Gray, Tom’s Trust assistant psychologist at Addenbrooke’s, Cambridge
“A supported transition from a child-centred healthcare system to an adult-oriented one can make a massive difference to a young person diagnosed with a brain tumour. It can improve their confidence in their ability to manage their health, their long-term health outcomes, and their health-related quality of life.” Caitlin Gray is our Tom’s Trust Assistant […]
Better Together with the first ever Tom’s Trust camp!
Last weekend Tom’s Trust held the first ever Tom’s Trust Better Together Camp. We took 15 girls aged between eight and 12 years old, all of whom are living with a brain tumour, to Calvert Lakes in the Lake District for a fun packed weekend full of opportunities to make friends and have new adventures. […]
Welcoming Faris to the Young Ambassador team
“Speaking with Anna helps me vent my feelings, speak my mind and flush all the doubt and worry out of my head. It has been difficult and Anna has really helped me to reframe my thinking to a more positive approach. I’m so grateful for the work she’s done with me – it’s been brilliant.” […]
Playmobil MRI kits to help children facing brain tumour treatment
Our Tom’s Trust Network Fund provides grants to clinical psychologists and paediatricians across the UK, to further clinical development, provide training, or to fund tools that support the clinicians in their work with children and young people who are facing a brain tumour diagnosis and their families. In the past we have funded the Sibling […]
Father’s mental health by our clinical psychologist, Dr Emily Townsend
This Men’s Health Week, we want to take a moment to acknowledge a group whose voices are underrepresented in both the hospital environment and research: the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers and male caregivers of children with brain tumours. We are lucky to work with some incredible male caregivers, and we want to give their experiences their […]