A new service dedicated to supporting children whose lives have been impacted by cancer has opened its doors.

Almost a year in the planning, the Hummingbird Centre, based in Launton, near Bicester, has opened its children’s service offering a lifeline to young people from age four.

The cancer support centre has also launched a £50,000 appeal to fund a counsellor/play therapist to lead the service for the next two-years.

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CEO Renee Booth said the new service, which is open to families across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, was prompted by a change in the age of people seeking help.

She said: “Since the coronavirus pandemic about 50 per cent of people coming through our doors are under 50 and have school age children.

“We have got people in their 30s and 40s with much more complicated diagnoses. Not only have they had this scary cancer diagnosis that has come in and blown-up their life, but they’ve also got to think about their young child and what the future holds.

“People need our support more than any time I’ve ever known, which is why we have introduced the children’s service.”

The concept is simple – to create a positive association to the Hummingbird Centre through weekly stay-and-play visits which offer a safe place for youngsters to talk and feel supported.

Initially children aged from four to 11 will visit the centre, but the team is looking to add a service for teenagers later this year. Children can be referred by schools or by parents.

Renee said: “This is so important because at the moment there’s nothing for them. When a parent is on their cancer journey, they are well looked after medically and places like the Hummingbird Centre support them mentally and emotionally, but children are quite often forgotten.

“This new service not only supports children but provides reassurance to parents that there is a support network in place.

“Ultimately it’s about prevention; we have an amazing, passionate team in place to give support before, during and after cancer journeys so families do not have to reach crisis point before they get help.”

To support fundraising or if you can spare a few hours a week to volunteer at the Hummingbird Centre, which is now open four days a week, please call 01869 244244 or view http://www.thehummingbirdcentre.org.uk/

The Hummingbird Centre opened its doors in 2014 after a promise Hummingbird founder Mechelle Harris made to her late father Raymond Hurcombe to create something good out of their loss as a family.

So far, The Hummingbird Centre has supported many people and has become very much part of the community.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1