SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
Here for families in Dorset
Because childhood cancer affects the whole family.
From easing everyday financial pressures to supporting parents' emotional well-being, we're here to help families navigate the challenges that come with childhood cancer.
CHILDHOOD CANCER AFFECTS EVERY PART OF FAMILY LIFE
From the financial pressures of treatment to the emotional impact on parents and siblings, we understand that families often need support beyond the hospital walls.
At The Isabel Baker Foundation, we're committed to supporting families across Dorset with practical help, emotional support and opportunities to feel connected and understood.
WRAP AROUND SUPPORT
A little help with the everyday pressures.
We provide supermarket vouchers to help Dorset families manage the additional financial pressures that come with childhood cancer treatment.
Families can apply directly through our website. To ensure our support reaches those who need it, applications must include the details of a healthcare professional who can verify the family's circumstances.
WRAP AROUND SUPPORT
A Little Something Just for Them
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the impact is felt by the whole family, including brothers and sisters whose lives can change overnight.
Our Amazon vouchers for siblings are a small way of recognising what they are going through, giving them the opportunity to choose something special just for themselves and reminding them that they haven't been forgotten.
Bereavement Support
Supporting parents as they navigate life after the death of their child.
The death of a child changes every part of life, and we recognise that support shouldn't end when a child's treatment does.
We offer one-to-one mental health support for bereaved parents in Dorset with our therapeutic coach Sophie Roe, providing an opportunity to access individual support during an incredibly difficult time.
We are also developing a dedicated bereavement support programme for Dorset families, focused on providing parents with practical emotional tools, understanding and support as they navigate life after the death of their child.
If you are a bereaved parent whose child died from cancer, we would love to hear from you. Your experiences, the challenges you've faced and the support you wish had been available are incredibly valuable in helping us shape a programme that reflects what bereaved parents actually need.
By listening to those who have lived through child loss, we hope to create something meaningful that offers understanding, connection and practical support for the years that follow.
The Holding Space
A community of people who understand.
Alongside our Dorset-specific services, The Holding Space is our online support community, welcoming parents affected by childhood cancer from across the UK.
Through connection, educational resources and guided wellbeing sessions, we focus on supporting parental mental health and nervous system regulation, helping parents develop tools to navigate the emotional challenges of childhood cancer.
Christmas Support
A little less pressure, a little more Christmas magic.
Christmas should be a time for families to come together, but when a child has cancer, the festive season can bring additional financial pressures, emotional challenges and uncertainty. We want to help ease some of those worries while giving families opportunities to enjoy precious moments together.
Our Christmas support programme is available to families across Dorset and has been shaped by feedback from parents who understand the challenges of navigating childhood cancer during the festive season.
Our support focuses on three things:
Something to Eat – Christmas Food Hampers
A thoughtfully selected hamper filled with a mixture of sweet and savoury treats for the whole family to enjoy, helping to make Christmas feel that little bit more special.
Something to Help – Financial Support
We know the additional costs of Christmas can feel overwhelming, particularly when families are already managing the financial impact of childhood cancer. Families can choose from three voucher options: a Deliveroo voucher, offering the convenience of a meal delivered to their door; a Love2shop voucher, giving them the flexibility to purchase what they need most; or an Amazon voucher, allowing them to choose from a wide range of gifts, activities and everyday essentials.
Something to Do – Family Memory-Making Boxes
Some of the most precious memories are made in the comfort of home. Our memory-making boxes are designed to bring families together through activities they can enjoy at their own pace, without needing to travel or leave the house. Each box will include something to bake, something to make and something to play, creating opportunities for fun, connection and quality time together.
How to Request Christmas Support
Families living in Dorset who are affected by childhood cancer can request support through our online application form. You can select one, two or all three options, depending on what would be most helpful for your family.
All support is subject to availability, and we will do our best to help as many families as our resources allow.
CHRISTMAS SUPPORT
A little help. More moments together.
Our Christmas support is designed to ease financial pressures while creating opportunities for families to enjoy time together.
From festive food hampers and gift vouchers to memory-making activities, we want to help Dorset families make Christmas a little easier and create special memories along the way.
