PACT

PACT was founded in 1977 when eight parents, with a starting donation of just £113, came together to form a childhood cancer support group in Sheffield for families facing one of the most frightening diagnoses a family can receive. In its early years, the charity focused on a Christmas party and a summer trip for the children. Over 47 years, PACT has developed from a small parent-led group into an established charity with its own accommodation, a team of coordinators, and a broad programme of support running alongside the clinical care provided by Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

PACT House, their five-bedroom property minutes from Sheffield Children’s Hospital, has been in continuous use since 1998. It gives families a place to sleep, cook, and rest during what can be weeks or months of inpatient treatment. Alongside accommodation, PACT owns three caravans at local holiday parks, offering families a short break after demanding periods of treatment. The charity also funds ward equipment, supports community nurses, and provides a daily treat trolley and free meals for parents of inpatients. Day trips, a bowling club, and an annual Christmas party are organised throughout the year. Support is tailored by age group, with separate provision for babies, toddlers, school-age children, teenagers, and siblings.

PACT’s support begins at referral to the Oncology unit at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and continues through remission and, where needed, bereavement. It does not stop if a family lives outside the primary region, and the charity extends its support to national and international patients when the need arises. The charity is largely run by people with personal experience of childhood cancer, including its coordinator, whose own daughter was treated for leukaemia. This lived experience shapes how support is delivered: practically, consistently, and without a set end date.