Youth Cancer Trust service evaluation

Winter 2011

The Youth Cancer Trust (YCT) has been evaluating the service it offers to teenagers and young adults (TYAs) for the past three years.

YCT| provides holidays and support for TYAs (aged 14–30) with cancer from the UK and Ireland.

The aim of the independent study was to improve services and gather evidence of the effectiveness of the YCT experience on TYAs and their siblings.

Questionnaires were given to guests and families and voluntary help was provided by Social Insight Research Consultant, Tony Duckenfield.

The evaluation found that 91% of the respondents felt an increase in self-confidence following the YCT experience; 89% said they still felt the benefit up to six months after their visit; 88% said they felt more positive about their illness from spending time with others going through a similar experience, and 84% stated they would keep in touch with those they had met.

The YCT study is ongoing, with a more detailed evaluation of self-esteem among young people using the service underway. Working with the NHS, the charity is also investing in the development of a major new social media site - Realshare| - to extend ongoing relationship building between TYAs. The site will be launched in January 2012.

More information

For more information about YCT or the study, email the YCT|.