Every day, 12 children and young people hear the devastating news they have cancer.

As a services manager for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading charity for under 25’s with cancer, my team of social workers are there to support those young people and their families living with cancer from Hampshire. However, due to the coronavirus crisis, the future of our charity and our ability to continue to be there for families is uncertain.

Despite our urgent calls on the government for financial support, we have been unable to access any of the £750m Government package for charities to help keep their vital services running.

We provide frontline services alongside the NHS in every children’s and young people’s principal treatment centre across the UK.

This includes emotional and practical support, a place to stay near hospitals for families travelling for treatment and vital financial support and grants.

After seeing a 60 per cent drop in income during the pandemic, CLIC Sargent urgently need financial support from the Government.

We are calling on the Government to provide £750,000 which will help us provide social care support for around 1,200 families, for up to six months.

I am urging readers to help CLIC Sargent by calling on their local MP to sign their support.

You can help by asking your MP to sign an open letter backing our call. CLIC Sargent have put together information about how people can contact their MP for those who wish to help.

Further information can be found at www.clicsargent.org.uk/email-your-mp/.

Cancer has not stopped for coronavirus.

From providing families with hardship grants to put food on the table and petrol in the car, to holding a parent’s hand when their child has passed away, now, more than ever, we need to be there for those families at a time when they need us most.

No child, young person or family should have to face cancer alone.

Darren Northall

CLIC Sargent Service Manager for Hampshire.