Local businesses unite to bring comfort to families across Sussex
A pioneering children’s support pack project, backed by Sussex Cancer Fund, is already making a meaningful difference to families across Sussex – and now local businesses have come together to ensure its future. The children’s support packs, developed by cancer support workers, are designed to help families talk to young children when a parent has been diagnosed with cancer. Each pack provides gentle, age-appropriate support, including storybooks, guidance for parents, and a soft kangaroo toy with a detachable joey to help families stay connected during treatment.
Since launching as a pilot in Brighton, the packs have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from families and clinical teams alike. Parents have shared how the packs have helped open up difficult conversations, while children have found comfort in having something tangible to hold, read and share during an unsettling time. Now, thanks to the generosity of the Worthing BNI business community, the future of the project has been significantly strengthened.
After seeing the packs and responding to an appeal for support, members of Worthing BNI – a network of local businesses – came together to fund nearly 100 kangaroos and joeys. This remarkable contribution is expected to provide enough soft toys for approximately a year’s worth of support packs. The donation highlights the power of local businesses working together to support their community, ensuring that more families across Sussex can benefit from this thoughtful and practical initiative.
David Witham, Fund Manager at Sussex Cancer Fund, said:
“We have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown by the Worthing BNI members. When local businesses come together like this, the impact is incredible. Their support means we can continue providing these packs to families at a time when they need comfort and connection the most.”
The children’s support packs are a powerful example of what can be achieved when frontline NHS insight is combined with charitable support and community action. With plans to expand the scheme further across Sussex – including developing packs for older children and those with more complex needs – partnerships like this will be vital in helping the project grow. Sussex Cancer Fund continues to work alongside NHS teams to fund services, equipment and initiatives that improve the experience of cancer care for patients and their families across the region.
