Virtual tours of free accommodation help families feel reassured and connected while children undergo cancer treatment

Leading cancer charity Young Lives vs Cancer has teamed up with real estate firm, Savills, to create virtual tours of the charity’s free accommodation, ‘Homes from Home’, for families with children undergoing cancer treatment.

Families can now virtually walk through eight of the charity’s Homes from Home in England and Scotland – from the front door to the kitchen and living facilities, and the bedrooms and bathrooms – giving them a sense of what the accommodation is like prior to their arrival.

Young Lives vs Cancer Head of High Value Fundraising Development, Philanthropy and Partnerships Jo Hancock, said:

“These tours give families a feel for the accommodation before they arrive. We know that the first few days after a cancer diagnosis can be so overwhelming for families, especially when treatment has to begin right away. Many families may have to travel over 60 miles for treatment so having somewhere to stay, close to hospital and free of charge makes a huge difference. Our Homes from Home are so unique and provide families with an important lifeline during an incredibly difficult time.

“The virtual tours, created by Savills and their agency Fourwalls, will help families feel reassured that they will be staying somewhere safe, comfortable and homely, with all the facilities that they need and will help siblings and other family members still at home feel close to their loved one. In the last year, especially, restrictions have meant families have been kept apart for weeks or months on end so having these virtual tours will help families feel more connected, provide some much-needed reassurance for families and help them find the strength to face everything cancer throws at them.”

Justin Marking, head of Savills global residential division, said: ‘Young Lives vs Cancer is a fantastic charity that works tirelessly to support young people and their families during extraordinarily difficult times. Its Homes from Home initiative reduces the financial and emotional burden that hospital treatment can bring. Organising the virtual tours was just one small way we were able to help. We hope they bring some comfort and reassurance to those who use them.’

If you would like to help provide more families with free places to stay during treatment in our Young Lives vs Cancer Homes from Home, visit: www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/what-we-do/a-free-place-to-stay

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information, an interview or images, please contact Kelli Hooks on 07771 830 960 or email on kelli.hooks@younglivesvscancer.org.uk

About cancer in children and young people

Today, 12 more children and young people in the UK will hear the devastating news that they have cancer. Treatment normally starts immediately, is often given many miles from home and can last for up to three years. Although survival rates are over 80%, cancer remains the single largest cause of death from disease in children and young people in the UK.

About Young Lives vs Cancer

When a child is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them.

Powered by the kindness of our supporters, we’ll face it all together. For more information, visit www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk

About Savills

Savills is a global real estate services provider listed on the London Stock Exchange. We have an international network of over 650 offices and associates and circa 37,000 staff throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, offering a broad range of specialist advisory, management and services to clients all over the world. Visit www.savills.co.uk or www.savills.com