Children’s support packs pilot brings comfort to families across Sussex

Sussex Cancer Fund (SCF) is proud to be supporting a new children’s support pack pilot, developed and led by cancer support workers, to help families talk to young children when a parent has been diagnosed with cancer.

The idea for the packs came directly from cancer support workers, who see first-hand how difficult it can be for parents to explain illness, hospital visits and time apart to their children. Recognising a clear gap in suitable, age-appropriate resources, the team designed a pack that brings together emotional support, practical guidance and comfort in one place. SCF was delighted to support this clinician-led initiative by supplying the bags and kangaroo soft toys to help make the pilot possible.

The pilot scheme was launched in Brighton, with the aim of testing the packs with families of young children and gathering feedback from both parents and clinicians before expanding the project more widely.

Each pack includes:

• Two carefully chosen storybooks that explore feelings and experiences in a gentle, child-friendly way, rather than focusing directly on cancer
• Information for parents on how to talk to their children about cancer
• A Macmillan booklet on supporting children when a parent is unwell
• Details on how to access further emotional support
• A soft kangaroo toy with a detachable joey, allowing the parent to keep the joey while the child keeps the kangaroo, symbolising reassurance and connection during treatment

The feedback from the pilot has been extremely encouraging.

Families with children aged two, six and eight have shared how comforting the packs have been, helping them open up conversations and reassure their children during an unsettling time. Having something tangible to hold, read and share has helped children feel safer and more able to express their feelings.

Cancer support workers and clinicians have also highlighted how valuable the packs are in practice. For many years, finding the right materials for patients with young children has been challenging. These packs, designed by those working most closely with families, finally bring together resources that truly meet their needs. The focus on emotions, alongside the soft toy and trusted information, has been particularly welcomed.

One family plans to take the kangaroo into school to help support conversations with teachers, who are keen to be involved. Another parent, newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), found the pack immediately helpful, and further feedback will continue to be gathered as treatment progresses.

Following the success of the pilot, the cancer support worker team and SCF are now looking to roll the scheme out on a larger scale, so more families across Sussex can benefit. There are also plans to develop tailored packs for older children and enhanced packs for families where a parent has a palliative prognosis, ensuring support is offered earlier and in a way that feels right for each family.

This project is a powerful example of what can be achieved when frontline insight from cancer support workers is combined with local charitable support, creating practical, compassionate help for families when they need it most.