Latch Welsh Children's Cancer Charity

Latch Welsh Children's Cancer Charity, established in 1982 by parents and clinicians in response to the unmet needs of children, young people, and families facing cancer or leukaemia in Wales, focuses exclusively on those treated at the Paediatric Oncology Principal Treatment Centre at the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff. Its mission is to enhance quality of life through family-centred, unconditional support across the cancer journey, guided by values of empathy, dignity, responsiveness, and inclusivity. Distinctive for its embedded NHS partnership, direct service delivery via hospital-based staff, and holistic approach addressing emotional, practical, and financial burdens, Latch ensures no family faces childhood cancer alone while advocating for care improvements.

It funds bespoke assistance for eligible children under Cardiff's oncology team and their immediate families (including siblings) across Wales, including free hospital accommodation (over 1,600 nights last year), social work for advocacy, benefits access, bereavement support, group activities, holidays, specialist equipment, facility enhancements, and occasional research/policy work. Grants via responsive, practical, compassionate, and hope funds—totaling over £230,000 across 700+ awards annually—cover travel, lost income, and household costs, supporting 120–150 families at a time.

Unsolicited applications from charities or organisations are not accepted; support is requested solely by Latch social workers on behalf of qualifying families, with no income thresholds, entity requirements, or geographic limits beyond Wales residency and Cardiff treatment. Typical grants range £200–£1,000 on a rolling, needs-led basis with prompt decisions and no deadlines. Exclusions include external projects, unrestricted/core funding to organisations, or non-Welsh childhood cancer cases; Latch stands out for its specialised, direct-to-family model in UK childhood cancer support.