Peer Support
Opportunities
The Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinator (YSC) service facilitates access to peer support opportunities for young people with cancer ages 16-24 years old within the Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire network. These opportunities aim to develop young people socially and emotionally through shared experiences and connections with their peers.
On the ward these peer support activities can look like weekly breakfast and lunch clubs, arts and music activities or even having a coffee and a chat with a group of young people.
These activities on the ward allow young people to take a break from their hospital rooms or clinical spaces on TYA day ward and engage in something outside of their treatment. It allows them to engage with their peers as they would do prior to diagnosis and speak to others who can help normalise their experiences which is something that they may not be able to do within their current family and friend network.
Offsite Peer Support Events
Each month in Merseyside, and every 2-3 months in North Wales, we run offsite peer support events for young people to engage in. These events range in activities from mini golf, cinema trips, bowling, meals and much more. We always ask young people what activities they would like to see on offer and even provide space for feedback on events where they can talk about their likes, dislikes and what they would like to see on offer so we can ensure opportunities are young person led.
Offsite peer support activities are important to the social and emotional development of young people as it gives them a safe space for them to explore their diagnosis and treatment with others who understand their unique perspective (if they want to) but most importantly they provide a space for young people to just feel like themselves again. These events promote autonomy and independence and allow the young person to do things that they would do prior to diagnosis without having to explain reasons for needing a break or not being able to engage in ways that they could before treatment.
These opportunities are available for all young people who are eligible for the YSC service at any stage of their treatment and for 2 years post treatment. For young people on treatment we liaise with the clinical team to ensure that they are safe and well enough to attend.
Here are some of the things young people have had to say about the offsite peer support events:
[I liked] ‘The social aspect of it and being able to spend time with people I wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to see in the day to day basis. I also love meeting new people and making new friends.’
‘Everyone was so lovely and it was so nice to be around an environment where I could talk to other people going through similar things to me.’
‘It was nice to meet others who have also gone through similar journeys and make new friends.’
Residential Opportunities
In addition to the offsite peer support opportunities we also offer young people residential opportunities where young people have a chance to build confidence and self-esteem away from home. It gives them a chance to come out of their comfort zones, to grow and develop skills in a short space of time that will help them navigate their world post treatment. A residential has all the benefits of the offsite peer support activities as well as promoting a sense of independence away from their usual routine and allowing them a chance to govern themselves on activities.
Residential opportunities are offered out to young people who have finished treatment and in some very special cases they may be offered out to young people who are well established in their maintenance treatment but this will be guided by the clinical team.
Teenage Cancer Trust – Ultimate Backstage Experience at Royal Albert Hall
The Teenage Cancer Trust Ultimate Backstage Experience at Royal Albert Hall is an overnight event in London provided by Teenage Cancer Trust. On this event young people have an opportunity to engage in a music workshop, have a tour of the amazing Royal Albert Hall, hang out backstage and attend a music event. Once the event is over the young people stay overnight in London and then engage in some peer support activities the following day.
See how attending the Teenage Cancer Trust Ultimate Backstage Experience at Royal Albert Hall can provide young people with new experiences by clicking the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jbPRRJoHr2k
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
A first sailing trip with Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a 4 day sailing trip where young people get the chance to sail around Largs in Scotland. One these trips young people get a chance to learn about the basics of sailing and how a sail boat works as well as working together to cook, wash and clean which helps to develop skills that may help promote their independence.
Hear how attending a sailing trip with Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust had an impact on one young person who shared their story by clicking the following link:
https://youtu.be/7bRwAvPMNd0?feature=shared
We also work alongside partnership charities to promote any other peer support or residential opportunities to young people and will support them to access as many opportunities as possible.
TYA Summer Fest
TYA Summer Fest is an annual event for young people and their families/friends to engage in. One this event young people get access to partnership charities who can chat about the support that they can offer them as well as being supported by the Teenage and Young Adult team. This event provides young people and their families/friends with a safe space for them to come together and have fun. There is lots on offer on this day from live entertainment, arts and crafts, face painting as well as some amazing refreshments. On the event young people can connect and engage with their peers and so can their parents/friends.
TYA Cancer Service Leaflet
