The team at children’s cancer charity Candlelighters is celebrating after winning two awards. They were awarded the Charity Excellence prize in the Yorkshire Choice Awards. These awards are designed to recognise the achievements of Yorkshire’s most inspiring individuals and organisations. They also took top place in the prestigious Charity Governance Awards, in the Challenge to Change category.
Candlelighters CEO Emily Wragg comments: “We’re thrilled to have our work recognised by two independent award panels. We were one of 38 Yorkshire-based charities to have been nominated by members of the public for the Yorkshire Choice Awards. We’re absolutely delighted and grateful to the Awards panel for their choice of us as the winner.”
“We received the Charity Governance Award for our work in setting up Champs Pantry, a food service for families whose children are receiving hospital cancer treatment.”
“An unseen difficulty of hospital stays, for the parents of children with cancer, is the cost of food for parents, as the NHS only provides food for the child patients.”
She adds: “Even before the cost-of-living crisis, research found that families were spending an additional £600 a month on average due to their children’s illnesses, which could now be as much as £730 a month. With families facing increased financial strain, extra costs like travel, hospital parking and meals add to their burden. Our trustees saw an urgent need to address the issue in a sustainable way.
“In response, we decided to pilot Champ’s Pantry, a dedicated food service based in Candlelighters’ family support centre, The Square. The pantry is stocked with a range of healthy meals, snacks, and essential food items, all provided free of charge to the parents and siblings of children undergoing cancer treatment at Leeds Children’s Hospital.”
This initiative was carefully trialled and tested and – based on its initial success – Champ’s Pantry (named after the charity’s elephant mascot ) is now a fully established part of Candlelighters’ support services.
The Charity Governance Awards, now in their tenth year, recognise exceptional charity governance, while sharing exemplary work that inspires and informs boards and trustees across the country.
“We receive no government funding. We’re able to provide specialised services for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, as well as investing in life-changing research, because of the wonderful people, communities, and businesses that support Candlelighters. These awards are as much a testament to their dedication to improving the lives of children with cancer, and I can’t say thank you enough to everyone, thank you!”
Each year, around 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer. When a child is diagnosed, lives are turned upside down instantly for the whole family. Candlelighters offers family support in many forms, from practical financial support for families and funded holidays, to talking therapies, wellbeing treatments and support groups for siblings.
Learn more about what Candlelighters do, and how you can make a difference for children: https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/how-you-can-help/fundraise/