Young Lives vs Cancer calls for dedicated travel fund for children and young people with cancer

As welfare reform cuts could risk leaving families with children and young people with a cancer diagnosis facing greater financial hardship 

Last Wednesday (18 March 2025), the UK Government announced reforms to the welfare benefits system. Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK leading charity for children and young people with cancer, are left concerned the cuts could leave young people and families struggling with the financial impact of cancer even more than they already are. The charity is calling for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund to help with the significant costs of travel for young people and families. 

Young Lives vs Cancer’s research report, The Cost of Waiting, published on Monday 3 March, found young people and families are left waiting seven months for disability benefits while facing an average of £5,000 in extra costs (£700 per month) before getting any financial support from the Government under the current system. The charity fears the news of reform cuts could plunge families into even further debt.  

These extra costs, such as travel, food and clothing, begin immediately following a diagnosis and can last for years. The charity’s research found that while waiting for disability benefits, the financial impact of cancer left 1 in 2 young people having to borrow money to keep up with these costs.  

One mum experienced these sudden extra costs when her son was diagnosed with cancer in May 2023. Immediately from the day of diagnosis they had to pay for fuel to get to hospital, food while in hospital, higher heating and electricity bills to keep their son warm and extra childcare to look after their other two children at the family home. 

Of the extra £700 a month young people and families face, the most common and significant of these is the cost of travelling to treatment. Given its specialist nature, cancer treatment for children and young people largely takes place in only a small number of hospitals and centres across the UK, leaving most young people and families travelling significant distances to get there.  

Young Lives vs Cancer’s Running on Empty report, published in May 2023, found young people and families spend an average of £250 extra a month to travel to and from hospital, experiencing an average 80-mile round-trip each time to access their age-appropriate care. 71% struggle to afford the costs of travelling to hospital and one in ten missed or delayed their treatment because they couldn’t afford to get there. 

This is why, after campaigning for a travel fund for many years, Young Lives vs Cancer says now more than ever is the time the UK Government needs to introduce a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund.  

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer, says: “When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, they and their families face immediate extra costs. Some young people are choosing between paying their rent or travelling to treatment while families juggle the need to put the heating on and filling their car to drive to hospital. Young people and families should be focused on getting the treatment they need, not how they’re going to afford to get there. 

“Our research shows the current disability benefits system is already leaving families having to find thousands to cover these extra costs while waiting months for any support. Now we fear they could be at risk of facing even more challenges.  

“We know the most significant cost young people and families face is travelling to get the treatment they need, which is why for years now we have been campaigning for a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund. While we know this fund won’t help with all the costs young people and families face when diagnosed with cancer, it would go a long way in covering the most significant of those costs. Now, more than ever, we need the UK Government to work with us and to alleviate this financial pressure and offer the support young people and their families deserve.”