Hundreds of children with brain tumours and their families from around the country will continue to receive support thanks to a grant of £15,000 from Cambridgeshire Freemasons to the charity Tom’s Trust.
Tom’s Trust provides clinical psychologists in hospitals to support more than 330 children who are diagnosed with brain tumours and around 1100 family members every year. They aim to improve their quality of life and wellbeing. Every single child helped by Tom’s Trust shows an improvement in their cognitive and emotional state.
Brain tumours are the most common childhood tumour and claim more lives than any other cancer in children under 16. The impact of both the tumours and the treatment on developing children means that the majority of those who survive are left with long-term, life-altering disabilities such as blindness, deafness, cognitive impairment and learning disabilities.
There is little to no statutory support available to children with brain tumours across the UK and the basic NHS provision is not designed to manage the complex psychological requirements of young people with this condition.
The grant will not only support the charity’s existing services at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Great North Children’s Hospital but also help launch new centres for children’s brain tumours around the UK. The aim is to fund a new clinical psychologist service in 2022 and a further two centres in the next five years in addition to existing services.
The grant from Cambridgeshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Rebecca Wood, CEO at Tom’s Trust, said:
“We’re very grateful to Cambridgeshire Freemasons for their generous grant to Tom’s Trust is the only mental health support charity dedicated to helping children with brain tumours and their families in the UK. This support helps us to move closer to achieving our vision that dedicated ongoing expert psychological support will be provided for every child with a brain tumour and their family.”
Michael Hinton from Cambridgeshire Freemasons, said:
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Tom’s Trust with their hugely important work in supporting children with brain tumours. Children with this condition are likely to have long-term life altering disabilities and every single child supported by this wonderful charity shows improvement in their conditions as a result.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Photo shows – Mariana, Angela, David and Deborah meet up at Addenbrookes Hospital
About Tom’s Trust:
Tom’s Trust’s clinical psychologists support children who are diagnosed with brain tumours and their families, to improve their quality of life and wellbeing. The charity’s support starts at diagnosis and continues through adolescence as the children’s needs change. The charity supports 17% of all new paediatric brain tumour diagnoses in the UK and offers support to more than 350 children. Of all the children the charity supports, 100 percent saw improvements in their cognitive and emotional states. For further information about Tom’s Trust, please contact Jessica Harrison, Communications Manager, jessicah@tomstrust.org.uk / 07411 321681
About Cambridgeshire Freemasonry:
The Masonic Province of Cambridgeshire is relatively small, with Masonic Centres in Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, March, Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech. There are around 1500 Freemasons and 32 individual lodges. We pride ourselves on our friendliness and inclusivity, with members drawn from all walks of life and professional backgrounds. We welcome enquiries from anyone who is curious about our values and our history.
More information is available on our website https://www.cambridgeshirefreemasons.org.uk/ and enquiries should be directed to our Provincial Information Officer:
Jon Cooper press@pglcambs.org.uk 07714 763427
About the Masonic Charitable Foundation:
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country. Funded entirely through the generosity of Freemasons and their families, the MCF awards millions of pounds each year to local and national charities that help vulnerable people, advance medical research and provide opportunities for young people. The MCF also helps to fund vital services such as hospices and air ambulances and regularly contributes to worldwide appeals for disaster relief. In total, MCF support helps to improve the lives of thousands of people every year in England, Wales and internationally. As well as providing grants to charities, the MCF supports Freemasons and their families with a financial, health or family need. Visit www.mcf.org.uk For further information about the Masonic Charitable Foundation, please contact Guy Roberts, Press Officer (groberts@mcf.org.uk |0203 146 3311)
