Building a better future for children and young people with cancer, and their families. Together.

What is the North Star Cancer Collective?

The North Star Cancer Collective is a group of people and organisations working together to make cancer care better for children, young people and their families.  

Guided by evidence, the North Star Cancer Collective exists to work towards our joint North Star vision, launched in 2024.

We know that creating a better future for children and young people with cancer, and their families, requires us to work beyond our individual organisations. We must work together, across the system.  
 
This joint work is called the “North Star Cancer Collective” - and it is led by five charities: Alike, CCLG: The Children and Young People’s Cancer Association, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Shine Cancer Support and Young Lives vs Cancer.  

 
What is the North Star Cancer Collective focusing on?   

The initial area of focus for the North Star Cancer Collective is to strengthen the mental health of children and young people with cancer, and their families – within and beyond treatment. 
 
Alongside this, we will be working on two other areas:  
 
1. Ensuring children and young people with cancer and their families have the right information at the right time. 
and  
2. Strengthening the services and support that children and young people with cancer, and their families, receive after cancer treatment.

Listening to and working alongside those with lived experience is an essential part of the North Star Cancer Collective. To support this, we are establishing a Lived Experience Advisory and Action Group which works across the system.