Candlelighters Trust

Candlelighters Trust, established in 1976 by parents and medical staff in response to the isolation faced by families of children with cancer, is a Yorkshire-based charity dedicated to bringing light and hope to every family affected by childhood cancer in the region. Rooted in compassion, its mission addresses emotional, practical, and financial challenges from diagnosis through treatment and beyond, while investing in research to enhance outcomes and quality of life. Core values—service, empathy, accountability, strong governance, and evidence-based support—shine through its high governance ratings, staff engagement, and family-centered ethos, blending direct aid with strategic partnerships at Leeds Children’s Hospital’s Regional Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Unit.

The Trust funds holistic family support, including talking therapies, peer groups, specialist workers, wellbeing activities, accommodation like Candlelighters Cottage, travel aid, play specialists, holidays, and hardship grants. It also backs regionally focused research, clinical staff training, medical equipment, and community projects under 'Candlelighters In Your Community,' exclusively for children with cancer/leukaemia treated at the Leeds centre and their immediate families, serving over 150 new diagnoses annually.

Eligible entities are invite-only UK-registered charities or academic institutions in Yorkshire, partnered with the Leeds unit; no unsolicited applications are accepted—family support occurs via hospital referral, while research/staffing follows strategic collaborations. Typical grants range from £500–£2,000 for family hardship to £5,000–£250,000 for larger projects, awarded needs-led without fixed deadlines or open rounds.

Candlelighters excludes general health causes, core costs, capital projects, or activities beyond Yorkshire paediatric oncology, distinguishing itself through its singular regional focus, hybrid direct/emotional support with research innovation, trustee expertise from lived experience, and unwavering commitment to the full cancer pathway, including bereavement.