Our Sibling Toolkit – one year on
This time last year we launched our Sibling Toolkit – the UK’s first ever resource designed to support the siblings of children with cancer. The toolkit addresses the ongoing challenges and needs of children who experience the trauma of the diagnosis, treatment, after-effects, and sometimes bereavement of their sibling from cancer and is designed to help […]
New service is already making a big impact
The new mental health support service, that Tom’s Trust launched at the Oxford Children’s Hospital in October 2024 is already reporting significant impact. Improvements have been reported in access to appointments, waiting lists for both cognitive assessment and therapeutic work have been cleared and Dr Emily Townsend, the Tom’s Trust clinical psychologist, has begun collaborating […]
Get moving and help children with brain tumours this January
This January we are asking our supporters to sign up to our Mile for a Child ‘half marathon your way’, challenge. It is a challenge that invites you to take on a half marathon in whatever way suits you, over whatever time frame suits you. You’re in control. Run, walk, swim, cycle, get your dog out […]
Join our Mile for a Child campaign
Sign up to the Tom’s Trust Mile for a Child ‘half marathon your way’ challenge this January. With our ‘half marathon your way’ challenge you can cover 13.1 miles in whatever way suits you, over whatever time frame suits you. You’re in control. Run, walk, swim, cycle, get your dog out for walkies or skip […]
Spreading festive cheer
Children who are currently being treated at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, and the Great North Children’s Hospital have been gifted Christmas goody bags from Tom’s Trust, to bring festive joy to the children’s hospital wards this season. The carefully crafted surprises were pulled together, and delivered to the children currently attending […]
Cambridge Business & Professional Club Charity of the Year
Tom’s Trust is delighted to have been chosen as the Charity of the Year for the Cambridge Business and Professional Club (CBPC), a partnership that was celebrated at the prestigious organisation’s annual luncheon on 6 December 2024 at Queen’s College, Cambridge. Thanks to the generosity of CBPC members, an amazing £1,600 was raised at the […]
Where to find support when grieving
If you or your family are struggling through grief do reach out to one or all of these services. Help is out there. You are not alone. If you have access to one, please also reach out to your Tom’s Trust clinical psychologist. Find out where we work. Other organisations: At A Loss and The […]
Supporting children through bereavement
Grieving is a long and sometimes difficult process. It can be tricky to know what is normal and when you might need to access more support. Grief is messy We no longer tend to think about grief as happening in stages, so don’t worry if you or your child are not going through the stages […]
Six things to remember when talking to children about death and dying
Our Director of Services Development and clinical psychologist, Dr Lynda Teape, offers guidance on talking to children after the death of a loved one. 1. Keep talking It can be difficult to know where to start and what language to use. You may have never had to talk to a child about death before and […]
Ten ways to support a grieving parent
Our Director of Services Development, and clinical psychologist, Dr Lynda Teape offers guidance on how to support a grieving parent. 1. Acknowledge your own grief and discomfort. This will likely bring up lots of difficult feelings for you and so it’s important to make sure that you are looking after yourself. You likely knew the […]
Navigating grief after the death of a child
When a child dies, it is a pain like no other, and that pain can be emotional, psychological and physical. We not only lose that child, but we also lose the imagined future for them and for us. It disrupts the whole family system and impacts your relationships with the other parent and any other […]
Facing grief
Monday 2 December marks the start of Grief Awareness Week. Tom’s Trust itself was born out of the death of a child, beautiful Tom. Tom was eight when he was diagnosed with a huge Medulloblastoma brain tumour, he died eight months after his initial symptoms. Debs Mitchell, Tom’s mum and Co-Founder of Tom’s Trust says: […]