Changing our name

Over the coming weeks, we will be changing our name from CLIC Sargent to Young Lives vs Cancer.  

So why have we changed our name? 

Well this wasn’t a decision we took lightly. Over the last couple of years we have talked to those who know us best, including young people and families we have supported, fundraisers, staff and volunteers and done lots of research to understand how we can reach more people that need us and raise more money to support them.  

And the research was clear, it showed that changing our name would increase the amount of people who understood what the charity does, those that would donate, and most importantly would be able to find and access our support if they need it.  

The last year has been incredibly hard and we need to build back from the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on both the charity and the families we support. We have to do everything we can to get children and young people with cancer and their families the vital help they need now and in the future.   

Our name was holding us back from doing this.

We learnt that supporters would be three times more likely to donate to Young Lives vs Cancer than CLIC Sargent. That’s three times the amount of donations to help us provide young people with a social worker to help them understand what their diagnosis means, grants to help parents put food on the table and Home from Homes to give families a free place to stay all together near the hospital.  

Once we learnt this, how could we not do something about it?  

We are incredibly proud of our history. In 2005, Sargent Cancer Care for Children – founded by Sylvia Darley OBE in 1968 – and CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) – founded by Bob Woodward OBE in 1976 – came together to form CLIC Sargent.  You can read more about our history here.  

The sad truth is that, 50 years since the charities were founded, families continue to struggle to make ends meet while they face the financial impact of cancer and young people continue to fall through the cracks of the system. We need to do what we can to be there for them.  

Once we learnt that changing our name would boost fundraising and most importantly help young people with cancer find us, we knew we had to do it. And while we may have a new name, we still have the same purpose, passion and pride – helping families face everything cancer throws at them.  

If you’re one of the brilliant people currently fundraising for us and you’ve got questions about what our name change means for you, or you just want to know more – check out some more information here.

You can always get in touch with us if you have someone you usually speak to, or just give us a call or email. You can find our contact details here