Find Your Sense of Tumour

The under 18s event is Friday 7 to Sunday 9 July 2023 at Whitemoor Lakes in Staffordshire.

Please get in touch with [email protected] if you want to discuss your particular needs. Let us know if you need us to support you to fill out your application form. If you need a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter or language translator, we can do our best to support this. We will work with you to make your attendance possible in any way we can – let us know!

Under 18s

You’ll be in a shared dorm room with between 3-7 people. If you’ve travelled with a group, we’ll do our best to place you all together and male and female bedrooms will be separate. All rooms are en suite and there are no stairs because everything is on the ground floor.

Over 18s

You’ll be in individual rooms, all of which are en suite. There are lifts to all floors and accessible bedrooms are on the ground floor.

We understand and respect all gender identities including gender fluid and non-binary people who may access our services. Please do get in touch if you have any questions or worries about sleeping arrangements.

All attendees will be asked to take a lateral flow test (LFT) no more than 24 hours before arriving, which will be provided free of charge. LFTs will also be available throughout the event for anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19.

Please note, we retain the right to tighten medical restrictions nearer the time in the event of a spike in Covid-19 cases and/or change in government guidelines.

Don’t worry. We will have a medical team from Central Medical Services on site all weekend and they can provide 24 hour medical support. If you are taking any medication, please remember to bring it with you. Medication must be in the original packaging with dispensing labels attached.

Of course – we wouldn’t want you going hungry! There will be dinner on Friday and Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Every meal will be buffet style so you should find something you like.

Just let us know when you apply to attend and we’ll take care of it. This includes vegetarian, vegan and halal options. Unfortunately the venue cannot cater for kosher dietary requirements.

Yes, there will be a quiet room available for you throughout the day or you are welcome to go back to your room as and when you need to. If you are returning to your room, please speak to your Group Leader so we know where you are so we can make sure you’re safe.

We would suggest that you bring layered comfortable clothing for when you are travelling and in the accommodation, coat and boots if you want to venture outside and something for the evenings. Bedding and towels are provided.

You will also be provided with FYSOT t-shirts if you would like to wear them during the weekend!

Other essentials to bring are toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner as these are not provided.

Please make sure you bring all the medication you require for the weekend. Medication must be in the original packaging with dispensing labels attached.

That’s entirely up to you, soft drinks and tea and coffee are provided throughout the weekend, however there is a Costa at the over 18s venue you may wish to buy a drink from.

Oh yes, we love a bit of fancy dress at Teenage Cancer Trust. We’ll all be slipping into our costumes for the activities on Saturday night so check out this year’s theme with your Group Leader and get creative! If nothing else, it’s a good chance to laugh at how silly we all look…

It is optional though, so if you prefer to come just as you are, that’s also fine. We want you to be as comfortable so just do you!

If you’re going with a group from a Teenage Cancer Trust unit, you’ll travel there together with your Youth Support Coordinator or Group Leader. If you’re coming on your own, get in touch by emailing [email protected] and we can help you join a group or make travel arrangements.

It’s a varied schedule, with talks from some amazing people, workshops, activities and entertainment in the evening. So we have different external speakers and facilitators joining us throughout the weekend.

There’s lots going on all weekend, but it’s not all cancer based, so don’t worry about it being too heavy. You can sign up to the things that interest you most. You can also take some time out away from the people and action if you want.

Under 18s

Whitemoor Lakes is an outdoor activity centre so we will be making some of their outdoor activities available on the Saturday afternoon if you want to join in. Alternatively, you can experience some complementary therapies, workshops, craft or just chat.

No! This is your weekend, so you can do as much or as little of the activities that are available. It’s totally up to you. You can go for a walk around the amazing grounds or there is a chill out space if you fancy some quiet time. We just want everyone to get as much out of the FYSOT experience as possible.

Yes. Both venues have wifi. 

Yes, you can. There are loads of exciting things going on during each day, so please make sure you take time to check them out.

Many young people come to the event not knowing anyone but always tell us how much they enjoy connecting with other young people and some even leave with lifelong friendships! Please don’t worry about not knowing anyone – you will be in a group from your region and your Youth Support Coordinator/Group Leader will help you get to know each other quickly.

Our events are strictly alcohol free and soft drinks are provided.

This is because not everyone can drink alcohol after treatment – and some people choose not to – so we want the event to be fair for everyone.

Having attendees drinking alcohol would also make it difficult for us to safely run the event. We will unfortunately have to confiscate any alcohol brought on site.

The way we currently run FYSOT is that hospital staff such as your nurses and YSCs sign up as Group Leaders and take responsibility for the group of young people they bring over the weekend. This includes travelling to/from FYSOT. We are looking at ways in which we can make changes to this approach in the future to ensure more young people can attend the event.

You can apply independently, and we will try and accommodate your request, but you will still be placed with a hospital group for the duration of the event.

Sometimes it’s because there isn’t hospital staff available that weekend (they might be on holiday) or there isn’t someone employed in that role at the hospital at that time and we’re looking for someone to take on their job. We are looking at ways in which we can make changes to this approach in the future to ensure more young people can attend.

Normally this is because the event is oversubscribed and unfortunately only so many young people can go from each region, each year. Your Group Leader will have a limited number of places and they often receive more sign-ups than they can accommodate. Your Group Leader will have fairly prioritised places based on the information in the application forms. Please contact them if you have any questions about this.

They will get to take part in a guided programme of activities that will help build their confidence and includes plenty of time to spend with other young people to share experiences and build connections. It’s a unique opportunity to surround themselves with like-minded young people who understand what they are going through and an event we’re sure your child will benefit from as they can choose the activities and sessions that are most relevant and helpful to them.

Don’t worry. We will have a medical team from Central Medical Services on site all weekend and they can provide 24 hour medical support. If your child is taking any medication, please remind them to bring it with them. Medication must be in the original packaging with dispensing labels attached.

Staff will be aware of your child’s psychological needs in advance and are trained to spot signs where a young person may need help.

Contacts for the event team will be shared with attendees before the event, so you can ask them to share it with you if you want.

You can also call the venue and they can pass a message onto the event team.

Under 18s venue: Whitemoor Lakes, tel +44 (0)1283 795000