Your voice
We know children, young people and parents with lived experience of cancer are the best people to guide and shape the work we do. Your voices allow us to ensure that everything we do as a charity – from the way we speak about cancer, to the shaping of our strategy – is informed by the lived experience of those we support.
Our Voice Hub and Voice Board
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Voice Hub
Our Voice Hub is a way of bringing all our voice opportunities from across the organisation together, so we can share these with our community and hear as many different voices as possible.
Read about our Voice Hub![](https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/wp-content/smush-webp/2023/09/VB-photo2-530x270.jpg.webp)
Voice Board
Our Voice Board helps Young Lives vs Cancer’s Trustees and Directors to make decisions about the charity ensuring the voices of children, young people and their parents with lived experience of cancer are at the heart of everything we do.
Read about our Voice Board
“My favourite part of my role on the Voice Board has been the opportunity to actively contribute in discussions to help shape the strategic direction of Young Lives vs Cancer. I feel like my voice is truly valued and it is great to work with a charity who are so invested in identifying innovative ways to support young people and their families. ” Emma, Voice Board Member
What can Voice offer me?
We know that engagement in Voice opportunities has significant benefits for children, young people and families. These include, the development of new skills and experiences, increased wellbeing and confidence, and the sense of purpose that comes from being heard and empowered to take action. Voice activities also provide the opportunity to connect with others affected by cancer and hear their ideas, working together to create positive change.
There are three different types of opportunity at Young Lives vs Cancer:
- One off: for example, speaking in parliament, taking part in a focus group or being part of the recruitment panel when we hire new staff
- Projects: as part of a short term group, taking part in project meetings and workshops to develop new pieces of work such as our campaigns
- Programmes: taking part in structured, long term opportunities such as our Voice Board or Content Creators
Our approach to voice
At Young Lives vs Cancer we believe in a rights-based approach. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), meaningful participation is a basic right of all children and young people. This includes both the right to be heard (under Article 12) and the responsibility of parents, care givers and other duty bearers to raise children’s voices, to listen to them and to take action on their perspectives. In our role as a charity working with children and young people, we are duty-bound to engage them – and their parents – in our work.
Get in touch
Our Voice Team are passionate about listening to the views of children, young people with cancer, their parents and families. We want to champion their voices and enable them to participate in programmes and activities to shape what we do. If you want to know more, please email voice@younglivesvscancer.org.uk
![A teenager with cancer looks straight ahead with a strong expression](https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/wp-content/smush-webp/2018/09/Daisy-Aug2018-770x433-530x270.jpg.webp)
How we support teens and young adults
Our Young People’s Service is for young adults aged 16-24 with cancer.
Find out more![Join one of CLIC Sargent's Facebook groups](https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/wp-content/smush-webp/2019/02/FOR-RACHEL-530x270.jpg.webp)
Join one of our Facebook groups
Meet others with similar experiences, share your views and have your voice heard.
Find out more![CLIC Sargent volunteers raising money with a bucket collection](https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/wp-content/smush-webp/2018/10/local-community-volunteers-770x433-1-530x270.jpg.webp)
![A boy sitting on the sofa, using his mobile phone](https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/wp-content/smush-webp/2021/01/21007_ServicesLandingPic_1280x910_Connected-530x270.jpg.webp)
Get involved on social media
Find support, get advice from experts and share your experience.
Find out more