Our aim

In 1995, Julie Kent and her husband Bernard’s first daughter Emily died of a brain tumour when she was just three years old. Since then they have thrown themselves into fundraising for children with cancer in Gloucestershire.

The aim of Emily’s Gift is to raise £500,000 by 10th March 2024 to fund the employment of a psychologist for children having cancer treatment and their families on the Emily Kent Unit (paediatric oncology) at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The funds raised by Emily’s Gift will secure the post for 10 years.

In addition to children in remission who need to be scanned regularly, there are currently over 30 children receiving cancer treatment in the Emily Kent Unit. A psychologist will help provide the professional emotional support that these children and their families desperately need.

What others say

  • NHS England recently published the long-awaited Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit (POSCU) service specification document, that clearly states under Core Requirements that “There is adequate access to psychology services” and “each POSCU must have co-located: child and adolescent mental health services.”

    POSCU (Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit)

  • "Psychology support is an integral part of care for children and families being treated for cancer.”

    Dr Christina Parfitt, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist
    (Emily Kent Unit)

  • "There should be access to expert psychological support with clear routes of referral in principal treatment centres and other treatment settings. This should include identified psychologists, or other members of psychological services, with expertise in the care of children and young people with cancer. It is important that use is made of existing services and that access to these is facilitated.”

    NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)