Children with Cancer UK
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Its stated focus is the UK, and it funds research into childhood and young adult cancers along with welfare projects for young cancer patients and their families, so a charity working in those areas is a clear fit.
- Its typical grant runs from £115,000 to £350,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 18 grants to organisations in that band and a median of £250,000; the band is typical rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was £350,000.
- Research grants go primarily to universities, medical and scientific research centres and hospitals, and welfare support has no open application process because trustees choose the organisations they support, so a small charity should look first at whether it can work with a research institution.
- Research applications go through the online grants portal in an annual open funding call, and collaborative applications are strongly encouraged; the Project Grant Round excludes PhD stipends and fees, salaries for principal investigators or co-applicants, commercial organisations and applications mainly for equipment.
- Proposals are assessed on scientific quality, pathway to impact for children affected by cancer, and the strength of the team and research environment.
Overview
Children with Cancer UK is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 298405).
Children with Cancer UK is a charity registered in England and Wales that funds life-saving research into the causes, prevention and treatment of childhood cancer, and innovative welfare projects to improve care for young cancer patients and their families. It was begun by a family who had lost both their children to cancer and wanted to help other families in the same situation. It has funded over 300 research projects, and the survival rate it reports has improved from 67% to 85.2%. Research grants go mainly to universities, research centres and hospitals, while welfare grants are awarded to organisations the trustees select.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Children with Cancer UK funds research into childhood and young adult cancers, including work to understand cancer development, prevent disease, improve diagnosis and treatment, and address survivorship. Research grants are awarded primarily to universities, medical and scientific research centres and hospitals. Researchers are usually based at UK institutions; overseas research is funded only as part of an agreed collaborative effort. The charity also funds innovative welfare projects to improve care for young cancer patients and their families. Welfare support is awarded to organisations selected by trustees, not to individuals. Research proposals undergo internal and external peer review and Scientific Advisory Panel scrutiny before the trustees decide which projects to support. Grant-holders provide annual progress reports and a final report.
Themes
- Childhood cancer research
- Cancer patient welfare
Geographic Focus
UK.
What they don't fund
- Research using human embryos
- Research overseas unless it is part of an agreed collaborative effort
- 2026 Project Grant Round only:
- Requests for PhD student stipends and fees
- salaries for PIs or co-applicants
- Applications from commercial organisation
- Applications that are primarily for the purchase of equipment
How to apply
Research grant applications are submitted through the online grants portal.
Deadlines: Research applications are invited through an annual open funding call.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Applications are assessed for scientific quality, pathway to impact, and the strength of the team and research environment.
- Applicants should clearly justify a pathway to impact for children affected by cancer.
- Collaborative applications are strongly encouraged.
- The principal investigator should demonstrate a strong research record and the experience to lead the project.
- Grant-holders provide annual progress reports and a final report.
- The charity endeavours to visit each project at least once to meet the research team, inspect facilities and check progress.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Children with Cancer UK.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 18 grants in year to 31 December 2024 by size
Median £274k (year to 31 December 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- University of Nottingham - Dr Timothy Ritzmann£350,000year to 31 December 2024
- University College London – Dr Paul Maciocia£349,943year to 31 December 2024
- University of Cambridge – Dr Manavendra Pathania£348,662year to 31 December 2024
- Newcastle University – Prof Julie Irving£337,238year to 31 December 2024
- University of Leeds – Prof Susan Burchill£331,520year to 31 December 2024
- University of Southampton - Dr Zoe Walters£329,067year to 31 December 2024
- University of Oxford – Prof Suzannah Williams£319,952year to 31 December 2024
- University of Glasgow – Dr Karen Keeshan£299,732year to 31 December 2024
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2020 | £13,762,005 | £15,342,172 | £6,986,761 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2020 |
| year to 31 December 2021 | £14,844,449 | £9,855,149 | £2,227,265 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £14,110,417 | £13,850,984 | £6,971,033 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £15,633,286 | £12,091,962 | £4,534,139 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £17,808,758 | £14,098,567 | £4,182,115 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2020; year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2024: grants paid out in the year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- childrenwithcancer.org.uk
- childrenwithcancer.org.uk/childhood-cancer-info/we-fund-research · read on 30 October 2026
- childrenwithcancer.org.uk/funding-opportunities/2026-research-grant-call · read on 30 October 2026
- childrenwithcancer.org.uk/about-us · read on 30 October 2026
- childrenwithcancer.org.uk/contact-us · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2024)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Children with Cancer UK?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0800 222 9000source
- research@childrenwithcancer.org.uksource
- Children with Cancer UK, Third floor, 21-27 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Holborn, London, WC1N 3NL.source
- childrenwithcancer.org.uk
- Apply onlinesource
Applying to Children with Cancer UK?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0800 222 9000source
- research@childrenwithcancer.org.uksource
- Children with Cancer UK, Third floor, 21-27 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Holborn, London, WC1N 3NL.source
- childrenwithcancer.org.uk
- Apply onlinesource