This is the first time we have launched a plan of this kind, which has been introduced following our 40th anniversary in 2017. The strategy aims to help drastically reduce the number of childhood deaths from cancer by 2025, a figure which currently stands at 250 children per year, through investment in research, professional education and awareness raising.
At the heart of our new direction is the new strapline 'the experts in childhood cancer' - reflecting the leadership and expertise of CCLG, whose members make it the most prominent body of childhood cancer professionals in the country.
At the launch, Ashley Gamble, Executive Director of CCLG, said the new plan is a positive step forward for the future of childhood cancer care in the UK and beyond.
“A lot of hard work has gone into ensuring our strategy is geared towards maximising every service we offer as a charity. From improving the way we communicate with children and their families, to ensuring they are fully aware of the ground-breaking research their fundraising activities are contributing to.
“Our members truly are experts in their fields, whether its nurses, doctors, dietitians, psychologists, researchers or play specialists – each possess skills to deliver the very best treatment for children with cancer and we must ensure our messaging reflects this. We believe our new direction puts us in great stead to become the leading, unified voice for all childhood cancers – to provide support, fund world-class research and disseminate knowledge, with the ultimate goal of saving lives and increasing survival rates across the UK and the globe.”
The plan includes four main goals, clearly setting out its organisational objectives as follows:
- Provide leadership and expertise for the treatment and care of children and young people with cancer. CCLG is a leading voice for children’s cancer, liaising with community groups, the government and the NHS to influence policies. It plans to use its expertise to improve treatment and care and meet the needs of patients and families.
- Improve diagnosis times by increasing awareness through dedicated resources for both GPs and parents.
- Strengthen its expert information portfolio to support more families of children and young people with cancer.
- Through its funding of world-class research, the charity aims to deepen its understanding and foster collaborations to support some of the most innovative and ground-breaking research into childhood cancer.
These core ambitions are set to be rolled out across the organisation, all with the common objective to improve the treatment and care of children with cancer and improve survival rates.