5 Minutes With… Young Lives vs Cancer, Southampton

26 August 2025 — jessica-bailey

We spoke with Liz Blunt, Senior Fundraising Engagement Manager for South Central at Young Lives vs Cancer, to learn how the team of specialist social workers at Southampton Hospital are supporting children and young people with cancer, as well as their families and loved ones.

Tell us about your organisation?

The charity Young Lives vs Cancer has been supporting children and young people with cancer since the charity began in the 1960’s and 1970’s when it was known as CLIC Sargent. CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for Children is still the formal name for the charity.

Our specialist social workers have been based at Southampton Hospital since at least the 1980’s. Our staff are on the Piam Brown Ward and Teenage and Young Adult Ward providing vital emotional, practical and financial support, tailored to the needs of the child, young person and their family.

This might include support to access benefits or financial grants, liaison with schools and employers and ongoing emotional support in hospital and at home including bereavement support for those who face the loss of their child or loved one. Southampton Hospital is the only specialist treatment centre in Hampshire although some care can be provided in shared care hospitals locally.

Do you have a target demographic for your services?

We support families of children and young people affected by cancer from babies to 24 year olds. Every day 12 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK.

Southampton Hospital has a wide catchment area including Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Channel Islands, West Sussex and parts of Surrey, Berkshire and Wiltshire.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your work?

As the local Fundraising Engagement Manager, the most rewarding part of my work is knowing the huge difference that the team makes to so many families affected by their child being diagnosed with cancer.

After nine years of working and volunteering at the charity, I have met hundreds of families who told me how they couldn’t have coped as well without the support of their Young Lives vs Cancer Social Worker or being able to stay in Jean’s House. Having cancer as a young person isn’t something you expect, and it’s really important that families receive support from our charity and others.

What would you say to someone who is considering reaching out but feels nervous or unsure?

If you aren’t in touch already with Young Lives vs Cancer at Southampton Hospital, please do get in touch with the team who are all very approachable. As one family said: “The support provided by Young Lives vs Cancer was indescribable. When you are in such a dark place dealing with cancer, it’s like a warm ray of sunshine cut-ting through the clouds.”

Who works for your organisation?

Locally at Southampton Hospital, on the Piam Brown Ward we have the Social Worker Team Leader with three specialist social workers. On the Teenage and Young Adult Ward we have two specialist social workers.

We also have the Accommodation team of four, based in Jean’s House, which is a “Home from Home” providing a “Home from Home” where patients and their families can stay close to the hospital supporting their access to treatment and enabling families to be together. Jean’s House has 7 bedrooms where families can stay free of charge for as long as they need to and one bedroom on the ground floor is fully accessible for people with mobility issues.

I am the local Fundraising Engagement Manager based from home in Hampshire and support those fundraising in Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

What are the core values of your organisation?

Our values are at the heart of who we are: Curious, Collaborative, Changemaking, Creative and Courageous. They guide us to stay open and attentive, embrace new possibilities, work together as one team, drive meaningful change for a more equitable future and lead with vision and hope. The values reflect our commitment to making a lasting impact for children and young people and their families.

Finally, can you describe your organisation in three words?

I would personally describe the charity in three words as Strength, Empowering and Together.

How are you funded?

Young Lives vs Cancer does not receive any government funding and is funded by the kindness of others raising funds and making donations. If this is of interest, further details are here available on our fundraising page or you can call 0300 330 0803. 

You can find out more about the services offered in Southampton and all around the UK, by visiting the Young Lives vs Cancer website. Their services are nationwide and they also have lots of online support.

If you’d like to discover other support services in your area, whatever your age and situation, please search on Cancer Care Map’s homepage using your postcode.