We’re especially pleased to see a dedicated section focused on cancer in children and young people. This represents a long-awaited recognition that their cancers are different, requiring unique expertise, tailored treatment, and long-term support.
It's a moment that reflects years of collaboration and tireless campaigning from professionals, researchers, charities and families across the UK, including our own call, alongside our partners Young Lives vs Cancer, for the importance of a long-term plan for children and young people’s cancer.
For too long, children and young people have been overlooked in national cancer strategies. This dedicated section is an important step forward, acknowledging that their cancers, their experiences, and their long-term needs are distinct. It is testament to the collaborative effort of clinicians, researchers, charities and families who have campaigned tirelessly to ensure their voices are heard. We now have a shared responsibility to turn these commitments into meaningful change.Ashley Ball-Gamble, CCLG Chief Executive
Ashley Ball-Gamble (CCLG CEO) and Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel (Vice-Chair of the Children and Young People's Cancer Taskforce, and CCLG member) attend Downing Street for the National Cancer Plan
A collaborative effort
The children and young people’s chapter of the NCP was shaped by the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce, re-established in 2025 thanks to sustained campaigning by Dame Caroline Dinenage MP and parent advocate Charlotte Fairall, founder of Sophie’s Legacy.
The Taskforce was chaired by Dame Caroline and CCLG members Professor Darren Hargrave and Dr Shaarna Shanmugavadivel and included many CCLG member clinicians and researchers. Its work was informed by a wide community of expert clinicians, researchers, families, charities, and people with lived experience.
A dedicated charity subgroup, chaired by Ashley Ball-Gamble, brought together key voices from across the Children & Young People’s Cancer Coalition, including Young Lives vs Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, Cancer Research UK, Solving Kids’ Cancer, Alice’s Arc and Alike.
The voices of young patients and families were at the heart of the Plan’s development, championed by the Patient Experience Panel led by Charlotte Fairall.
What’s in the plan?
The children and young people’s section includes commitments across five key areas: early diagnosis, patient experience, genomic testing, research and innovation, and long-term outcomes…
Earlier diagnosis matters
Research supported by CCLG shows that many children and young people experience multiple healthcare visits before diagnosis, often entering care via emergency routes. These delays can lead to more intensive treatment and poorer outcomes. The NCP rightly prioritises earlier diagnosis, and we’re proud that our Child Cancer Smart project is already providing evidence-based tools to support this goal.
Improving experiences of care
While many young people report positive care experiences, the Plan highlights areas for improvement. A new travel fund recognises the financial pressures families face at diagnosis. Commitments to improve inpatient experience, standardise psychosocial care, deliver consistent long-term follow-up and improve neurorehabilitation support are welcome steps towards a more consistent and compassionate system.
Genomic testing and innovation
Whole genome sequencing is now available for all children and young people with cancer in England, but there’s work to do to improve access and speed of results. The Plan’s commitment to create end-to-end genomic pathways is an important move towards making personalised medicine more widely accessible.
Research that drives progress
CCLG has long called for a more joined-up, strategic approach to research. We welcome the Plan’s pledge to build on the work of the Children’s Cancer Priority Setting Partnership, funded by CCLG and The Little Princess Trust, and to establish shared research priorities to drive progress.
Beyond the dedicated chapter
A dedicated section on children and young people’s cancer in the National Cancer Plan is a vital milestone, but this is just part of a larger picture. The wider cancer plan includes recommendations around diagnosis, treatment, and research, as well as service planning, data systems and research infrastructure. All of these will have an impact on children and young people with cancer and will ultimately determine whether improvements for young patients and their families are successful.
Our next step: delivery
We’re ready to continue working closely with the NHS, UK Government, partner charities and our professional members to turn the ambitions of this Plan into reality. Charities like ours bring deep insights, trusted relationships with families, and a proven track record of delivering impact. To succeed, the Plan must continue to recognise the roles of all charity partners in both implementation and scrutiny.
Together, we can deliver the change our children and young people deserve.
You can read the full National Cancer Plan on the GOV.UK website.
We recognise that the National Cancer Plan applies to England. Health is a devolved matter, and the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland oversee cancer services in their nations. CCLG continues to advocate for children and young people across all parts of the UK, working in partnership with the NHS, governments and charities nationwide.
