Last year, 14-year-old Julia needed emergency surgery on a brain tumour that was diagnosed when she was seven. With this, her mum battling recurring cancer, plus the pandemic, it’s been a difficult time.

Julia and her family have spent time at Daisy Lodge, Cancer Fund for Children, Northern Ireland. This is a purpose built therapeutic centre where families impacted by cancer can come for some quality time together on a therapeutic short break, in a safe and supportive environment.

Julia and her brother Daniel have both been able to access group support remotely during the pandemic via online group work programmes. This enabled them to connect with other young people their age who were also facing similar challenges with a cancer diagnosis in the family. Julia has been able to access face-to-face and virtual therapeutic support, on a one-to-one basis as she needs it. This, along with her group work experience, provides Julia with a safe space to process and learn to cope with the emotional, mental and physical challenges that cancer and its treatment has brought to her life.