Helping you to support your children or teenagers
This page contains a range of resources and information about organisations providing support that may be helpful for adults supporting children and teenagers when someone close to them has a cancer diagnosis. We do ask that if you choose to share any of the links or details from this page with your child or teenager that you just see that that the content is suitable for each of them. There are some really useful activities, videos, forums, peer support and many other resources that can be accessed through the websites. Your child’s safety is paramount, so please ensure they know how to stay safe when online.
Before talking with young people | When someone close is living with serious illness | Emotional support and counselling | Finding support away from Suffolk | Mindfulness | Young Carers | If someone close is near the end of their life | If someone close has died | For Teachers
Preparation: Before talking with young people
Both Macmillan and Cancer Research UK have a great range of information to help adults prepare for talking to children or teenagers when someone close to them has a cancer diagnosis. Reading through these webpages should give you encouragement to have conversations that are at a level appropriate for each young person, covering, for example, emotional support, how to explain what cancer is, their reaction to conversations and questions that you may be asked.
Macmillan: Talking to children and teenagers
Macmillan: Understanding children’s and teenager’s reactions
Cancer Research UK: Talking to children
Fruitfly Collective has produced an extensive range of booklets, toys and youtube videos to help parents talk to their children about cancer and to help answer children's questions. They have also produced activity and resource kits that families can order. Under the Help menu are links to downloads, podcasts and videos from other organisations.
If you child or teenager has autism or ADHD and you need help to talk and support your child, you may wish to consider contacting either
Autism and ADHD, a Suffolk-based charity offering support support to those in need (no firm diagnosis of autism or ADHD is required).
Tel: 07915 908432, e-mail: info@autismandahd.org
or
National Autistic Society via e-mail, web form or tel: 0808 800 4104. Contact details are available at this link.
Information for young people where family members are living with serious illness
BUPA | Riprap | Hope Support
BUPA: Booklets for 7-11 year olds “I know someone with cancer”
BUPA, a private heathcare provider, has published a set of four illustrated booklets that help explain cancer to children aged seven to 11, clearly and sensitively. The booklets are full of advice and information – from ideas for dealing with feelings to simple explanations about what cancer is and the different types of treatments. They include contributions from children who have been in a similar situation, aiming to help reassure young readers that they’re not alone.
Riprap: For teenagers who have a parent with cancer
This site is developed especially for teenagers who have a parent with cancer. In riprap, you can learn more about cancer and its treatment and through real stories you can read the experiences of other young people and, if you wish, share your own story through a discussion forum.
Hope Support
This is a charity which provides online support for young people aged 11- 25 when a close family member has a serious illness such as cancer. A private Facebook group is provided for peer support from other young people, and one-to-one confidential chats can be held with trained professionals via Facebook Messenger (age 13+) or Skype (age 11+). An information pack “Coping with University life through a family health crisis” provides useful advice and guidance for young people starting at or attending University if a family member has a serious illness.
Emotional support and counselling (not specific to cancer)
Childline | Kooth | Relate - Norfolk and Suffolk | Healthwatch Suffolk | Suffolk Young People Health Project (4YP) | Recovery Hub Ipswich | The Source | Young Minds (for parents) | Student Minds | MindEd for Families
Childline
Childline is best known as a helpline for young people: a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. Of course, this includes concerns that children or teenagers may have if someone close to them has cancer. Young people can get support by phone, 1-2-1 chat with counsellors, message boards or online forms.
Childline, tel: 0800 11 11
In addition, Childline provides a great toolbox that children and teenagers may find helpful, including activities and suggestions of things that might help a young person feel calm or find new ways to handle their emotions. Try out the “Expressive and relaxing” games, or the Calm Zone.
Kooth
For many years, Kooth has been the UK’s leading provider to the NHS in effective online mental health support. Kooth is aimed at children and teenagers, whilst Kooth Student is for University students.
Kooth provides free, safe and anonymous online support and counselling for children and teenagers through methods such as live chat with the Kooth Team, sharing of personal experiences and discussion boards.
Kooth Student offers University students access to a safe and confidential space to share experiences and gain support from the online community and qualified professionals.
Kooth and Kooth Student
Relate – Norfolk and Suffolk
Relate offers counselling service for children and young people, although not necessarily at all of the locations where Relate operates. There may be a cost for this service – please enquire.
Relate, tel: 01473 254118
Healthwatch Suffolk
These webpages provide information to help young people up to the age of 25 who may need support for their emotional wellbeing. The first link is primarily for young people, the second has a wider scope including local support for parents/ families to be able to support the younger members of their families. You can find out more about the service in this video.
Healthwatch Suffolk: Young people’s emotional wellbeing in Suffolk (aimed at young people)
Healthwatch Suffolk: The Suffolk emotional wellbeing hub (young people and families). From this page there are a number of links to other resources, including
Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing Gateway, tel: 0345 600 2090 (8am – 7:30pm Mon-Fri)
Suffolk Young People Health Project (4YP)
Suffolk Young People's Health Project (also known as 4YP) is a local charity, providing and services that improve the social, emotional, and physical health and wellbeing of young people in Suffolk, aged 12-25. Amongst a range of service, the charity provides free short-term counselling (6-8 weeks) for emotional support.
Tel: 01473 252607, e-mail: enquiries@syphp.org.uk, 14 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AP
Recovery Hub Ipswich
Talk to Addiction Therapists, Psychiatrists, Psychologists & Counsellors at drug and alcohol addiction treatment centres in Ipswich.
The Source
This website hosts a very wide range of information and guidance for young people in Suffolk, provided by the Children and Young People’s team within Suffolk County Council. Of particular relevance may be the sections on the website My Health and My Relationships
Student Minds
This organisation is a mental health charity for UK university students. The website contains a range of resources and information on emotional support for students (including peer support) and a section on support for parents of students.
Young Minds (for parents)
This organisation promotes good mental health to children and young people. Of specific interest may be a section of the Young Minds website which is for parents who may be worried about a child or young person’s mental health.
Young Minds: For parents Parent helpline Tel: 08088 025544 (9:30am-4pm Mon-Fri)
MindEd for Families
An free learning resource for parents about the mental health of children and young people, provided by NHS Health Education England.
Support for young people living away from Suffolk
Many of the organisations listed in the previous sections provide on-line support, which is available irrespective of your location. If you prefer to access support face-to-face, these two information sources may help young people find local support in selected larger towns and cities.
Macmillan Cancer Support and Information Centres | Maggie’s Centre
Macmillan Cancer Support and Information Centres
Macmillan provides a directory of cancer information and support available across the UK. If you use the link, please filter the results on “information and support centres”. Not all centres are run by Macmillan, so if there is no centre highlighted please enquire via the local hospital.
Maggie’s Centre
The centres offer support to anyone with cancer and their families as a drop-in service. There are around 25 Maggie’s Centres alongside NHS hospitals across the UK. Online support is also available.
Tel: 0300 123 1801, e-mail: enquiries@maggies.org
The nearest Centre to Ipswich is at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
Tel: 01223 249220, e-mail: cambridge@maggies.org
Mindfulness
This is a way of relaxing the mind and being in the moment. It is a way of emptying the mind of busy thoughts. The techniques work for children and young people too. If your children or teenagers are finding it hard to cope with their feelings right now you might find mindfulness might help them and may be you as well. Lots of schools are introducing mindfulness into the school day, so you could ask the school for any contacts or details.
YouTube hosts many mindfulness videos of varying duration from a couple of minutes upwards, with a variety of age-appropriate relaxation techniques. If you choose to let your child or teenager use the links below or to search for mindfulness videos, please remember that adverts may be shown and that the “next” video may play automatically: these might not be appropriate for your child or teenager. It may be best if an adult watches videos first or supervises the child or teenager whilst they are viewing videos or searching for content.
Here are just a few mindfulness videos for children to give an example of what can be found from searching for “mindfulness and children”, selective a few that may be helpful.
Be the pond: A 5 minute video, probably appropriate for age 4 -10 years. In the video, a cartoon character tries out breathing techniques to help. The video uses the idea of a pond (representing the mind) full of different fish (representing our feelings). Focus on the pond and not the fish. Feelings come and go: they can be observed without getting swept up by them.
Mindful Ozzy: A 3 minute video, probably appropriate for age 3-5 years. Mindful Ozzy, a cartoon owl, talks about the superpower of mindfulness, focusing on breathing techniques to help with feelings that you don’t like.
Guided Imagery: a 15 minute video, probably appropriate for age 6-12 years. This is a relaxing video of fish swimming around in the sea, while the narrator talks about breathing methods and how these, combined with imagination can help you to relax and let go of emotions such as sadness, anger or fear.
Young carers
A young carer is a child or young person aged between 5 to 25 years old whose life is in some way different or restricted because they provide, or intend to provide, practical or emotional support to someone else.
Guide for young carers | Suffolk County Council | Suffolk Family Carers | Activities Unlimited | Max Card
A guide for young people looking after someone with cancer
Macmillan has produced a guide for young people under the age of 18. It has been put together with the help of young carers. The guide plains what it means to be a young carer, where you can get help and support, how to look after yourself and how to cope with practical, emotional and financial issues.
Macmillan: A guide for young people looking after someone with cancer
Suffolk County Council – Support for young carers in Suffolk
This site provides information and support and signposts to other useful information, including Suffolk Family Carers (below)
Suffolk County Council – Support for young carers in Suffolk
This site provides information and support and signposts to other useful information, including Suffolk Family Carers (below)
Suffolk County Council – Support for young carers in Suffolk
Suffolk Family Carers
Suffolk Family Carers is an established charity, helping family carers of all ages across Suffolk get the support they need to live fuller lives. Support is available for young people caring for or emotionally affected by family members who has an illness or disability. Online spaces are provided for 5-13 and 14-25 age groups: both contain a wide range of material and opportunities to join other young carers in different activities.
Activities Unlimited
Suffolk County Council works with a number of organisations to provide activities for young carers.
Max Card
The Max Card is a discount card for young carers and their families to help with the cost of selected days out. Please see the website for further information, including to see where it can be used.
Support if someone close to a young person is near the end of their life
This section contains information for adults who are supporting children or teenagers when someone close to them is near the end of their life.
St Elizabeth Hospice | Marie Curie | Child Bereavement UK | Winston’s Wish
St Elizabeth Hospice
If the person with cancer is being supported by St Elizabeth Hospice, their children and teenagers are able to receive support from a range of services that can be accessed through their Family Support Team at the Hospice.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie offers care and support through terminal illness. The Marie Curie website has many useful resources about talking to children when someone close to them has been given told that they are near then end of their life.
Marie Curie: Recently diagnosed, select the link “talking to children”. Here you will find a range of pages of information, including:
Marie Curie: Telling a child someone is dying
Marie Curie: How children might react
Marie Curie: Questions children may ask when someone’s ill
Marie Curie: Practical ways to support children
Marie Curie: Preparing a child for when someone dies
Marie Curie also offer a Support Line for emotional support if you are living with or caring for someone who has a terminal illness. Tel: 0800 090 2309
Child Bereavement UK
This link will take you to a video that you may find helpful in preparing to talk to a child or teenager where someone close to them is not expected to live. You may find other areas of the Child Bereavement UK website useful
Winston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish provides bereavement support to children, young people and their families, along with online resources for professionals. Contact can be made by calling the Winston’s Wish helpline, e-mail or online chat.
Helpline Tel: 08088 020 021 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm), ASK e-mail via web form at this link, Online chat at this link (Tuesday 1-5pm and Friday 9:30am-1pm)
Winston’s Wish: How to prepare a child for the death of a parent by cancer. This webpage contains a range of ideas, guidance and links to resources, including a booklet produced jointly by Macmillan and Winston’s Wish, “Preparing a child for loss”
Support if someone close to a young person has died
This section contains information for adults who are supporting children or teenagers when someone close to them has died.
Marie Curie | Child Bereavement UK | Young Minds | Suffolk Young People’s Project | Winston’s Wish
Marie Curie
Marie Curie offers care and support through terminal illness. The Marie Curie website has many useful resources about talking to children when someone close to them has died.
Marie Curie: When someone dies, select the link “supporting a child when someone dies”. Here you will find a range of pages of information, including:
Marie Curie: How grief may affect children
Marie Curie: Questions children may ask
Marie Curie: Talking to children about death
Marie Curie: How to include a child in a funeral
Child Bereavement UK
This organisation provides a wide range of support, information and resources to help children and young people, parents and families rebuild their lives when a child grieves. There is an app for 11- 25 year olds that keeps them connected so they do not feel alone
In particular, the first two links immediately below will take you to videos that you may find helpful.
Child Bereavement UK: Telling a child that someone has died
Child Bereavement UK: How do I explain a funeral to a young child
Child Bereavement UK: Animations to help explain funerals and cremations to young children
Child Bereavement UK: Grief support for young people is an app created by a group of bereaved young people which will allow people to get support in their own space and time.
Child Bereavement UK, helpline Tel: 0800 02 888 40 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday), e-mail: support@childbereavementuk.org
Young Minds
Young Minds is an organisation that aims to make sure that young people get the best possible mental health support and have resilience to overcome difficulties. The website recognises that everyone reacts in their own way, and provides guidance on where to get help if you’re finding it hard to cope.
Young Minds: Grief and loss, includes a short video by young people for young people
Suffolk Young People Health Project (4YP)
Suffolk Young People's Health Project (also known as 4YP) is a local charity, providing and services that improve the social, emotional, and physical health and wellbeing of young people in Suffolk, aged 12-25.
To support young people affected by bereavement, 4YP offers drop-in sessions where people can talk as part of a small group in confidence about their experiences and fears. These are led by a St Elizabeth Hospice Children and Young People's Bereavement Counsellor. The Counsellor offers support and advice, and the participants offer a level of peer support
Suffolk Young People Health Project (4YP): Dying to Talk
Tel: 07810 481308 (Rob Ilett, St Elizabeth Hospice), e-mail: robert.ilet@stelizabethhospice.org.uk
Suffolk Young People Health Project (4YP), 14 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AP
Winston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish provides bereavement support to children, young people and their families, along with online resources for professionals. Contact can be made by calling the Winston’s Wish helpline, e-mail or online chat.
Helpline Tel: 08088 020 021 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm), ASK e-mail via web form at this link, Online chat at this link (Tuesday 1-5pm and Friday 9:30am-1pm)
Winston’s Wish: 10 ways to remember people on special days when someone close has died.
Resources for Teachers
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK offers information, guidance and resources for teachers and schools who are supporting a child or teenager who has a person close to them who is terminally ill or has died.
Child Bereavement UK: What we provide for the education sector
Child Bereavement UK: Early years, Primary school, Secondary school, Further/Higher Education
Child Bereavement UK, helpline Tel: 0800 02 888 40 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday), e-mail: support@childbereavementuk.org