Youth Cancer Trust
Loanfinder are dedicated in helping and providing support to this well run and excellent charity. Employees wanted to be more hands on in actively helping charities such as the YCT and set up the Richmond’s Group employee’s volunteer scheme which allows staff to take a day off to volunteer to work at the YCT while still receiving half of their pay.
The YCT have a small team of admin to organise events and raise funds. Loanfinder and the Group have provided IT support to the team to help with any problems on their systems. Staff from the Group have visited their office to fix bugs, provide enhancements, simplify their email marketing campaign and discuss new ideas to make their job easier to do.
About YCT
The Youth Cancer Trust provides free activity holidays for teenagers and young adults (aged 14 to 30) with cancer from the UK and Ireland. This year 240 youngsters will stay at Tracy Ann House in Bournemouth enjoying time with others of a similar age who understand what it's like to have cancer.
Cancer can tear your world apart and at an age where everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, university, relationships, careers – the diagnosis of cancer can bring all of that to a halt.
The Youth Cancer Trust helps reduce the sense of loneliness, which often accompanies long stays in hospital and time off school. Long term friendships are formed. Families are given a much deserved break knowing their child is having fun and being looked after.
The activities provided on a holiday range from horse riding, water sports and dry slope skiing. The emphasis is on fun and relaxation.
A representative from YCT commented "We are very grateful to the Richmond Group for providing us with very willing employees who generously give their time to volunteer at Tracy Ann House. Richmond Group has been excellent at providing employees to volunteer here on a regular basis, which is very helpful to us. They help with gardening and admin jobs, technical support, etc.".
YCT History
The YCT was established in 1997 by John Scott OBE and Brenda Clark. Brenda and John did some extensive research with young cancer patients at Middlesex Hospital to find out what they would like if a charity was set up for them to provide holidays.