Our projects

Supporting children and young people diagnosed with cancer and their families

We understand the devastating impact on the physical, financial and emotional health and wellbeing of the whole family, both during and after treatment and beyond. To assist with this, Abby’s Heroes supports families with a range of practical measures and programmes to help families going through the harsh reality of childhood cancer.

Care & Comfort Bags

For our families on the Piam Brown Ward, we hand out our care and comfort bags. We know that 53% of our families are admitted to the ward through the Emergency Department at UHS so often arrive with a poorly child, a mobile phone and little else. Each newly diagnosed family are given a bag with essentials with toiletries, phone charger, coffee cups and water bottles, a comforting blanket and a few toys to help them get through the first few days in hospital.

Early Day's Gifts

Each family on the Piam Brown Ward and patients on the Teenage and Young Adult Ward (TYA) are given an immediate grant of £200 to help towards those unexpected costs when they have their diagnosis and are admitted to UHS.

Welfare Packs

Each family of a newly diagnosed child on either the Piam Brown or the Teenage and Young Adult Unit (TYA) will receive a Welfare Pack which has a voucher for the Hospital Car Park and Gift Cards for the Hospital Outlets at M&S and Costa to help with the initial costs (approx. £120) These are delivered to a family by an Abby's Heroes Family Support Worker on the Piam Brown Ward. On the TYA Ward we have posters and a QR code that is located within the TYA to register.

Financial Hardship Grants

We offer financial grants to help with the additional costs of caring for your child, teenager, young person during their diagnosis and immediate months following. To access a grant from Abby's Heroes you can use the link below or speak to an Abby's Heroes Family Support Worker who can apply on your behalf. Our grants can be used for a variety of reasons such as help towards the rent or mortgage payment, travel costs to hospital, living costs in hospital, equipment, etc. Using the link below will connect you to one of our Grants Advisors who will assist you in making the application. We pride ourselves in being responsive and understanding to your family's situation and if approved, grants can be completed within the week.

Apply for Grant

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End of Treatment Awards

We want children and Young People, together with their families, to acknowledge their courage, strength and determination by “Ringing the Bell” and celebrate with our End of Treatment Award. We understand the gruelling treatment and invasive procedures they have gone through as well as all the missed special occasions they have been too unwell to join in. Each child or Young Person who “Rings the Bell” on Piam Brown or TYA will receive £200 to spend on a treat for themselves. When your child “Rings the Bell” on the Ward, you will be given an envelope and asked to get in touch with us. For TYA, please speak to your YLvsC Social Worker.

Counselling Service

We know that the impact of cancer is far wider than the immediate or ongoing treatment, together with the long term effect on a child or the Young Person diagnosed with cancer. We understand the huge range of emotions you may experiencing such as anxiety, fear, exhaustion, feelings of sadness, anger at your family’s situation, loneliness or feelings of helplessness. Many family members continue to juggle the demands of work and childcare which can add to feelings of stress, fatigue and generally being overloaded.

We believe that many parents may find it easier to talk to someone outside of their friends and family and may benefit from speaking to a professional Counsellor. The Counsellor will listen to you and will help you to discuss your feelings and worries. They will help you identify some emotional and physical coping mechanisms. Counselling is completely unique because you can talk freely and with complete honesty as a Counsellor will never judge you or criticise you. They are an impartial individual who sits completely out with your circle of family and friends.

Whether you're in the midst of treatment or are years beyond – it’s vital to get the support you need to cope. We want to ensure that no parent feels alone and unable to seek professional help to support them through the challenges of childhood cancer. Please contact us at info@abbys-heroes.org if you wish to use this service.

Weekly Food Deliveries

Our Family Support Workers arrange food deliveries to the Piam Brown Ward four times a week. Wednesday is a picnic lunch and Thursday is a ready meal. On Friday evenings we alternate between pizza and chippy tea. Pizza night is a firm favourite with children and parents alike, and we always order an extra pizza for the hardworking nursing staff.

We have recently renovated the Family Kitchen, where families can cook their own meals from scratch. On days when parents can’t leave their child for long, there is also a selection of nutritious ready meals in the freezer.

Parents are not provided for while their child is in hospital, and many are unable to leave a desperately ill child alone to buy food from the expensive outlets downstairs.

Family Room

Our Family Room on the Piam Brown Ward is a 'home away from home'. This space has table and chairs, a washing machine with tumble dryer, a fridge with food and ready meals, a coffee making machine and kettle for a cup of tea. This little oasis is a space where families can decompress from the pressures of being on the ward, grab a coffee and chat to other families on the ward. Check out the notice boards as there are always special activities planned for Grandparents, siblings and when their brother or sister is well enough, the whole family can go to a show or a theme park thanks to our incredible supporters.

Family Kitchen

At the end of 2025, thanks to our incredible supporters we have been able to renovate the Family Kitchen on the ward.

We have refitted Kitchen units and replaced all the appliances within the kitchen so that everything within the kitchen is fresh and new.

Our Family Support Workers regularly replace and keep equipment within the kitchen to a hgih standard so families can cook for themselves and their children or use the facilities to warm something preprepared.

Play Therapy

Play Therapy is a type of therapy that helps children to explore their feelings, express themselves and make sense of their life experiences. Play is children’s natural medium to learn, communicate and to explore their worlds.

We understand that a child’s cancer diagnosis has a huge impact on children and siblings and so Abby's Heroes will fund Play Therapy for your family, please contact us at info@abbys-heroes.org if you wish to use this service.

We want to provide the services you need to help you at this most difficult time. If there are any additional services you think might be helpful for families, please do get in touch.