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CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK

Registered charity 298405 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · Wikidata: Q5098591 · Wikipedia · also known as CHILDREN FIGHTING CANCER, CHILDREN WITH CANCER, CHILDREN WITH LEUKAEMIA, CHILDREN WITH LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION, CHILDREN WITH LEUKAEMIA UK, THE FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEUKAEMIA

OUR MAIN AIMS ARE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSES CHILDREN TO DEVELOP CANCER, TO DEVELOP IMPROVED TREATMENTS AND TO PROVIDE CARE FOR AFFECTED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS THE TRUSTEES' POLICY TO MAXIMISE THE PROPORTION OF CHARITABLE OUTPUT THAT IS ACHIEVED THROUGH GRANT MAKING TO ORGANISATIONS. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE CHARITY WILL FOCUS ON REVENUE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH INTO CAUSES AND TREATMENT.

Objects

1) TO PROMOTE THE RELIEF OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM LEUKAEMIA OR ANY OTHER FORM OF CANCER (AND ALLIED DISORDERS) AND OF THEIR FAMILIES 2) TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE IN MATTERS RELATING TO LEUKAEMIA OR ANY OTHER FORM OF CANCER (AND ALLIED DISORDERS) AFFECTING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 3) TO PROMOTE RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES, ALLEVIATION, PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND CURE OF LEUKAEMIA OR ANY OTHER FORM OF CANCER (AND ALLIED DISORDERS) AFFECTING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO PUBLISH THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH RESEARCH.

Area of benefit: NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · Environment/conservation/heritage · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Camden, London, England (from the postcode on the register)

Received the assets of:
  • THE CHILDREN WITH LEUKAEMIA CHARITABLE TRUST (charity 1035538) — merger registered 20/08/2008
  • Foundation for Children with Leukaemia (as stated in the register file; not confirmed against the register) — merger registered 20/12/2007
Source: Charity Commission register of merged charities (OGL v3.0).
Latest income
£17.6m
Latest spending
£16.2m
Registered
2005
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity reported a net surplus of £2.4 million for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total income of £17.6 million and total expenditure of £16.2 million. Unrestricted reserves stood at £24.2 million, significantly exceeding the £14.2 million identified as available for disbursement in the following year. The accounts state that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least twelve months, with no material uncertainties regarding its going concern status.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: Under the approved framework, £14.2 million has been identified as available for disbursement in 2026 (held: £24.2m)
“Under the approved framework, £14.2 million has been identified as available for disbursement in 2026, to be deployed with care against future plans, identified risks and the external environment.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee Sara Wakeling is Co-Founder and CEO of Alice's Arc; £250k grant awarded.
“£250,000 to Alice’s Arc in support of research into rhabdomyosarcoma and support for affected families, Sara Wakeling, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 10 January 2025, is Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Alice’s Arc” — page 54
“£250,000 to Solving Kids’ Cancer UK in support of its neuroblastoma parent conference, Nick Bird, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 18 June 2025, is also a Trustee of that organisation.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee Nick Bird is Trustee of Solving Kids' Cancer UK; £250k grant awarded.
“£250,000 to Alice’s Arc in support of research into rhabdomyosarcoma and support for affected families, Sara Wakeling, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 10 January 2025, is Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Alice’s Arc” — page 54
“£250,000 to Solving Kids’ Cancer UK in support of its neuroblastoma parent conference, Nick Bird, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 18 June 2025, is also a Trustee of that organisation.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee Tamara Ludlow is partner at Simons Muirhead Burton; £81,926 legal fees paid.
“£250,000 to Alice’s Arc in support of research into rhabdomyosarcoma and support for affected families, Sara Wakeling, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 10 January 2025, is Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Alice’s Arc” — page 54
“£250,000 to Solving Kids’ Cancer UK in support of its neuroblastoma parent conference, Nick Bird, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 18 June 2025, is also a Trustee of that organisation.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee Phil Hall received £8,000 for auction item.
“£250,000 to Alice’s Arc in support of research into rhabdomyosarcoma and support for affected families, Sara Wakeling, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 10 January 2025, is Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Alice’s Arc” — page 54
“£250,000 to Solving Kids’ Cancer UK in support of its neuroblastoma parent conference, Nick Bird, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 18 June 2025, is also a Trustee of that organisation.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trading subsidiary Helping Children with Cancer Limited; £5k management fee and £5,187 staff costs charged.
“£250,000 to Alice’s Arc in support of research into rhabdomyosarcoma and support for affected families, Sara Wakeling, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 10 January 2025, is Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Alice’s Arc” — page 54
“£250,000 to Solving Kids’ Cancer UK in support of its neuroblastoma parent conference, Nick Bird, who was appointed as a Trustee of the charity on 18 June 2025, is also a Trustee of that organisation.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Helping Children with Cancer Limited
“Helping Children with Cancer Limited (company number 02807553) is the wholly owned trading subsidiary of Children with Cancer UK.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by PKF Littlejohn LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

  • Volunteers: 12
  • Employees paid over £60,000: 7 (£60,001–£70,000: 4; £70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 2)
  • Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; payments to trustees for services to the charity
  • Has a trading subsidiary
  • Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

  • Government income: £176,495 — grants £176,495 (1); under 1% of the £17,808,758 total gross income on the same return
  • Employees paid over £60,000: 4 (£60,001–£70,000: 2; £70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 1)
  • Has a trading subsidiary
  • Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023

  • Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£60,001–£70,000: 3; £70,001–£80,000: 1; £100,001–£110,000: 1)
  • Has a trading subsidiary

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Annual return filing dates (Charity Commission record)

Of its last 5 annual returns with a recorded received date, 1 was received after the due date: year ending 31/12/2021 (received 30/01/2023, 91 days after the 31/10/2022 due date).

Due and received dates as recorded in the Commission’s annual-return data; the data does not say whether an extension was agreed. Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Children with Cancer UK (matched by registered charity number).

Property (HM Land Registry)

2 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (1 freehold); recorded price paid £1.5m. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook (54,114 followers)

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Total income
£17.6m
Total spending
£16.2m
Cost of raising funds
£3.9m
Reserves (reported)
£24.2m
Employees
42

Reported reserves equal ~18.0 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 22.0% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 3.7%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2025£17.6m£16.2m
31/12/2024£17.8m£14.1m
31/12/2023£15.6m£12.1m
31/12/2022£14.1m£13.9m
31/12/2021£14.8m£9.9m

Common questions

Is CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The charity reported a net surplus of £2.4 million for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total income of £17.6 million and total expenditure of £16.2 million. Unrestricted reserves stood at £24.2 million, significantly exceeding the £14.2 million identified as available for disbursement in the following year. The accounts state that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least twelve months, with no material uncertainties regarding its going concern status. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by PKF Littlejohn LLP.

Who funds CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK?

Funders whose own accounts filings name CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK as a grant recipient include PAVERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND GROUP FOUNDATION, THE OPENWORK FOUNDATION, THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUST, THE JMCMRJ SORRELL FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
PAVERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2022£43k
THE WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND GROUP FOUNDATIONFY2023£25k
THE OPENWORK FOUNDATIONFY2023£15kSponsored Grant
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£13k
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£11k
THE JMCMRJ SORRELL FOUNDATIONFY2021£10kpoverty alleviation
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATIONFY2022£10k
WATES FAMILY ENTERPRISE TRUSTFY2021£10kMinor Awards - Benefidary organisations of Match funding not otherwise listed above
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATIONFY2022£10k
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATIONFY2025£10k
THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATIONFY2024£10k
RJ AND AH DANIELS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£8k
DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£6kMedical
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£6k
PAVERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2023£5k
THE JANET NASH CHARITABLE SETTLEMENTFY2025£5k
CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£5k
SIR SAMUEL SCOTT OF YEWS TRUSTFY2023£5k
CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£5k
THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£5k
DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£5kMedical
CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£5k
THE CLOVER TRUSTFY2023£5k
THE GRACE TRUSTFY2021£5k
SANDRA CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£5k
THE CLOVER TRUSTFY2024£5k
SANDRA CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£4k
RJ AND AH DANIELS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£4k
DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£4kMedical
THE JOHN R. MURRAY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2021£3kAdvancement of health and the saving of lives
THE O'SULLIVAN FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£3k
THE LANCASHIRE FOUNDATIONFY2025£3k
CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£3k
THE LANCASHIRE FOUNDATIONFY2024£3k
THE CLOVER TRUSTFY2022£3k
THE EARL FITZWILLIAM CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£3k
THE FRANK LITCHFIELD GENERAL CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£2k
The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable SettlementFY2022£2kGeneral charitable donations
THE JONATHAN TOWLER FOUNDATIONFY2025£2k
The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable SettlementFY2023£2k
DRAGON CHRISTMAS CHARITY SALEFY2024£1kPupil Donations
THE FRANK LITCHFIELD GENERAL CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£1k
ANSON CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£1kCharitable Donation
SSP FOUNDATIONFY2024£1k
THE JESSICA MATHERS TRUSTFY2021£1kOther life challenges
ANSON CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£1kCharitable Donation
THE HILARY AWDRY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£1k
THE JESSICA MATHERS TRUSTFY2022£1kOther life challenges
ANSON CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£1kCharitable Donation
THE JONATHAN TOWLER FOUNDATIONFY2024£1k

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
DAVID LISTER CHARITABLE TRUST2£68k
THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION2£35k
JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATION2£32k
THE SIMON GIBSON CHARITABLE TRUST2£26k
THE CATHERINE COOKSON CHARITABLE TRUST2£16k
THE WOGEN ANNIVERSARY TRUST2£13k
THE GEOFF & FIONA SQUIRE FOUNDATION2£13k
SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST2£10k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with CHILDREN WITH CANCER FUND (POLEGATE).

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK£17.6m——unclear—no doubt
CHILDREN WITH CANCER FUND (POLEGATE) FY2025£260k—0unclear—no doubt
FRIENDS OF ROSIE CHILDRENS CANCER RESEARCH FUND FY2025£70k—0above—no doubt
KIDS CANCER CHARITY FY2025£663k—0unclear—no doubt
ALEXANDER DEVINE CHILDREN'S CANCER TRUST FY2025£2.8m£80,001 - £90,0003below—no doubt
TEENAGE CANCER TRUST FY2025£21.1m——above—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.