Helen Gravestock

A quote card with a photo of Helen Gravestock, Director of Policy, Communications and Voice. The quote says: "Whilst the UK Government's change in approach to keep PIP in place for those currently claiming is welcomed for young people facing cancer now, the changes still risk young people diagnosed with cancer in the future not receiving this vital financial support. A two-tier benefits system is not right or fair and we cannot let this happen. No young person chooses to get cancer, and be met with the spiralling unavoidable costs that it brings. We encourage everyone to contact their MP and ask them to vote against the changes to PIP to protect young people with cancer."

PIP is essential for young people with cancer, both those facing it now and everyone who will face it in the future. The upcoming PIP changes still risk those in the future not receiving this vital support. We cannot let that happen – email your MP now: ow.ly/xxlA50Whmo3

⏱️ Just a few hours left to have your say on the Cancer Plan for England

👇🏽 Check out the handy guide below for details on how

A woman is running the London Marathon wearing a Young Lives vs Cancer vest. She's holding her fist up in the air and is smiling.

A man is running the London Marathon in a Young Lives vs Cancer vest. He's holding his left fist up. Behind them there are other people running.

A woman is running the London Marathon in a Young Lives vs Cancer vest. She's holding both arms up and is looking straight ahead, smiling.

Three people are posing together in a park. They're all wearing Young Lives vs Cancer running vests and are smiling.

THEY DID IT. A huge congratulations to our London Marathon runners for crossing the finish line yesterday. We’re so proud of Team Young Lives for coming together to support children and young people with cancer. 👏

An expo board featuring facts about Young Lives Vs Cancer, the names of all our runners this year, and some Polaroids of runners stuck to the wall

A door covered in Polaroid photos of Young Lives Vs Cancer runners

The legend that is David Yin (Yimmy) chatting with some runners and showing off his many, many marathon medals

The queue forms around the Young Lives Vs Cancer stand for David Yim (Yimmy) as he arrived

Been at the London Marathon running show today seeing our amazing @younglivesvscancer.bsky.social runners, and also the London Marathon LEGEND that is Yimmy! (If you've run the marathon, there's a decent chance you know the name)

Love this! 🧡

Good luck Alex, Jasper, Ben and Jim! You can do it!

Thanks for running for @younglivesvscancer.bsky.social

Thanks to @sharonbarbourbbc.bsky.social and BBC Look North for sharing Jake's story this Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month #TYACAM

Join our Team Young Lives Board of Trustees As a Trustee you will play a vital role in helping Young Lives vs Cancer to thrive so that failies do not face cancer alone.

Are you a senior Children’s or TYA cancer nurse with significant experience leading services at PTC, Shared Care, Community, Cancer Network or Research setting? @younglivesvscancer.bsky.social is looking for a new Trustee with your expertise. www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/support-us/g...

📣 If you’ve found an Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey on your doormat recently, make sure to make your voice heard

📣 Share your experiences and help shape future services 👇🏽

Loving this ‘Tumour Humour’ poem from Aagoon 👇🏽
#TYACAM #WorldArtDay

If you want to find out more about the approach Shine Cancer Support, Alike, @younglivesvscancer.bsky.social @cclguk.bsky.social @frankfletcher.bsky.social are building to shape the system for 0-25 year olds with cancer, please get in touch 😊

Great to spend the day with these guys exploring how we can best work together to build a better future for children and young people with cancer.
Refreshing to part of a project where organisations genuinely put brand and ego aside in pursuit of collaborative change

What is 'Voice' at Young Lives vs Cancer? Emma Wood, Voice Manager talks about the crucial work of bringing young people with lived experience into our work.

Emma Wood, Voice Manager at Young Lives vs Cancer talks about how we bring young people with lived experience of cancer and their families into our work and decision-making, and how you can get involved.

Read more: ow.ly/oTmu50VwjQk

👨 Are you a young man (>16yrs):

✅ diagnosed with cancer aged 11-25?
 
We would love to hear your views on a new resource, designed to help young males with #cancer with their #fertility & #FertilityPreservation. If you can help or want to learn more please get in touch 👇

Black and plum graphic. Text reads: Over 50% of those diagnosed with cancer as a teenager or young adult say they need help dealing with their sadness, anger and frustration. Young Lives vs Cancer logo in top right corner.

This April, we're joining other cancer charities to raise awareness of the unique set of challenges facing young people with cancer during Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month. Help us amplify their voices this #TYACAM. Read more 👉 ow.ly/Q5SQ50Vs5MS

The It's Never You logo. The words 'it's never' are in black and 'you' is in orange. An orange line drawing of a butterfly flies above the words

Our friends at It's Never You are campaigning for better financial support for parents of seriously ill children. Sign their petition today to show your support for #HughsLaw

👉 bit.ly/3QZmbXb

Really proud to be working in collaboration with other CYP cancer charities this #TYACAM. Coming together and working in genuine partnership we better amplify the voice of young cancer patients and highlight their support needs. We're #BetterTogether

We’re working to change the system around children and young people with cancer - help us to understand the system better so we know what needs to happen: join us for one of our free online workshops ⬇️

We're hosting a series of workshops to deepen our understanding of the system around CYP with cancer & their families

These are open to everyone - in particular YP, practitioners & thought leaders in system thinking 👇

@younglivesvscancer.bsky.social
@cclguk.bsky.social
@frankfletcher.bsky.social

Photo of Nic and his parents outside a hospital. There is a text overlay which reads, "My experience shaped who I am today, and whole I wouldn't wish this journey on anyone, I wouldn't change what it has taught me and the experience I can use to help others."

Nic, a brain tumour survivor, is dedicated to helping other young people through our Involvement Network and Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Insights Panel 💪 

Passionate about making a difference? Join our Involvement Network and help us beat cancer: cruk.ink/3DKedOG

So excited that the launch of Hawkins Laxton & Co has been featured in @prweekuk.bsky.social

Check out our new consultancy and all the services we offer here 👇

www.hawkinslaxton.com

A graphic image with white text on a plum background. It reads: 'Do you have lived experience of cancer? Take our social media survey'. The Young Lives vs Cancer logo is sitting above the text, and the Bluesky logo below.

Do you have lived experience of cancer? We’re created a short survey to find out more about how you use social media, so that we can share relevant content on the channels that work for you.

Answer our short survey. It will only take 3 minutes: ow.ly/EbAy50VneqT

Another missed opportunity to support the needs of young cancer patients & their families

Read our response to today’s Spring Statement below👇🏽

@younglivesvscancer.bsky.social will continue to amplify voices of children & young people with cancer until a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund is here

A section of our conference stand. A white background with the title: Cancer is more than medical: what psychosocial challenges are children and young people with cancer facing? Write your thoughts below. Cancer professionals have written their answers in different coloured pens. Examples include anxiety, being behind at school, fitting in, additional costs, cost of living, feeling different to friends/peers and vulnerability

Our stand at CCLG conference. The background is mainly plum coloured with orange, blue and green accents. There is a white rectangle with handwriting on one of the panels. At the front is a table with a Young Lives vs Cancer table cloth. Sonia, a woman, is sat at the table smiling at the camera. On the table are leaflets and books.

It’s day two of #CCLG2025! We were blown away by how many people stopped to see us yesterday. Thank you to everyone who chatted about the psychosocial challenges faced by the families we support. If you’re here and haven’t had chance to see us yet, we’re at stand 12 👋

The cost of waiting Children and young people with cancer and their families need a better benefits system

New research published by @younglivesvscancer.bsky.social looks at the experiences of children and young people with cancer and their families as they navigate the process of claiming disability benefits following their diagnosis. 

www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/support-us/c...

Hope it goes well! 🙌🏽

A presentation cover slide with a lilac background. Text says Exploring the long-term wellbeing of young cancer survivors. Rich Hughes - Policy, Evidence & Research Manager, Young Lives vs Cancer. March 2025.

A presentation cover slide with a yellow background. Text says 'North star vision and collective impact initiative. CCLG conference 2025 lunch time showcase. Roseanna Thomasoo - Associate Director: Leaning & Systemic Design, Young Lives vs Cancer. Rich Hughes - Policy, Evidence & Research Manager, Young Lives vs Cancer

We’re excited to present our sector research at #CCLG2025. Starting at 1.15pm in hall 8, we’ll be sharing our North Star Vision and Collective Impact Initiative, followed by our oral abstract exploring the long term wellbeing of young cancer survivors at 1.45pm 👇

A graphic image of our conference schedule. The text reads: 'Find us during the conference: All day - exhibition stand 12. Monday 5.30-7 - Poster showcase (Hall 3). Tuesday 11.30-12.45 - Introduction to our online bereavement group (Hall 4). Tuesday 1.15-1.30 - Spotlight Talk: North Star Vision & Collective Impact Initiative (Hall 8). Tuesday 1.45 - Oral abstract: Exploring the long-term wellbeing of young cancer survivors (Hall 8).

We’ll be presenting our spotlight talk at 1:15 on Tuesday at #CCLG2025. Come along to hear more about our research into long term wellbeing, our North Star Vision and Collective Impact Initiative.

Our Young Lives vs Cancer stand at the conference. There is a table with tote bags, storybooks and other goods, and there are two staff members standing behind it, smiling. Behind them there are posters with information about Young Lives vs Cancer's mission.

We’re here at #CCLG2025 conference and looking forward to sharing our work and discussing important topics with professionals working in children and young people’s cancer.

Have a brilliant day - loving the blazer!

Feeling good that today I gave my 3rd blood donation 🙌🏽

I got well looked after, had a nice chat with the nurses, had a chance to sit down and got access to all the snacks!

1 hour out of your day can make a big difference. To find out how to become a donor go to: www.blood.co.uk