What happens at a Family Day?
Watch our video to learn more about our Family Days and hear the Mitchell family explain why they found attending an event helpful.
Family Days
Our Family Days take place across the UK and give families
affected by a brain tumour the chance to spend time together away from hospital, meet other families and enjoy a day out without having to worry about finances.
The aim of The Brain Tumour Charity's Family Days is to provide a fun, relaxing, and supportive experience for families affected by a brain tumour. Our Family Days also provide the opportunity for parents and children to meet others experiencing similar difficulties and share their stories.
We hold Family Days for families with a child living with a brain tumour and families with a parent living with a brain tumour. Our Family Day events are aimed at families with children under 18 years.
All activities are free and we provide lunch and drinks and snacks throughout the day. We may also be able to help with transport costs - please get in touch for more information.
Spaces for our Family Days may fill up quickly. If you’ve been unable to book your family onto one of our events, please email our Children and Families team at childrenandfamilies@thebraintumourcharity.org or call us on 0808 800 0004 to be informed if spaces become available again.
Family Days and COVID-19
Due to the current situation with the coronavirus COVID-19 and uncertainty of future government advice around travel and public meetings we are reviewing our upcoming Family Days.
Our decision to cancel any upcoming events hasn’t been taken lightly, we know how much you enjoy these opportunities to get together (as do we!) but we felt it was the right decision to take a precautionary approach and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
We are so sorry that we won’t get to see you all as planned but we are exploring possible alternative options to get together digitally, for example an online video chat. We will keep this page updated with any further details on these plans.
Thank you for your understanding, if you have any questions or if there’s anything else we can help with please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Upcoming Family Days
Saturday 6 June – Northampton Carnival Family Day - CANCELLED
Tuesday 7 July – Northern Ireland Outdoor Activities Family Day
Saturday 1 August – Scotland Outdoor Adventure Family Day
Saturday 5 September – Hobbledown Farm Family Day, Surrey
Sunday 6 September – Hobbledown Farm Family Day, Surrey
Christmas Family Day (details to be confirmed)
New for 2020: Teen Days
We’re excited to announce two new meet ups dedicated to people aged 13-17 who are living with a brain tumour and any siblings also aged 13-17. These events will be facilitated by our Young Ambassadors, who are all personally affected by a brain tumour diagnosis.
Like our Family Days, these events are completely free to attend.
Saturday 2 May – Guildford Teen Day at Pizza Express - CANCELLED
Saturday 26 September – Birmingham Teen Day at Trefoil House
Family Day activities
Family Day activities can include:
- a range of fun outdoor activities such as zip lining or kayaking
- arts and crafts
- information and support from our trained Children and Families Workers and other staff
- the opportunity to meet other families in a similar situation to share stories and advice.
Family Day FAQs
Family Days are for families with children under the age of 18 where either the child or parent is living with a brain tumour. Some of the activities may have a minimum age or height restriction, but you will be informed of that on the day, and we will make sure there are plenty of other things to keep your little ones entertained. We ask that all parents supervise and are responsible for their children throughout the day.
We recommend that you wear warm, comfortable clothes and practical footwear. Wearing layers is a good idea so you can adjust your temperature as you warm up during the course of the day and don't forget your wet weather gear, just in case! Some centres also ask that long hair is tied up for activities depends on the centre.
We will send you an email with everything you need to know a week before. When you arrive at 10:00am, A member of the team will sign you in and we'll gather for light refreshments as we wait for other members of the group to join us. Once everyone has arrived, there will be a brief welcome talk from one the Staff team, who will run through the day's activities. You will then be free to take part in the activities at your leisure, or take some time to relax inside if you wish. Around midday we will have lunch together, followed by more fun in the afternoon!
The scheduled end time is 16:00, however if you wish to leave earlier that is absolutely fine.
You and your family can take part in as little or as much of the planned activities as you wish, the main thing is your enjoy the day together and meet new friends.
Yes, lunch is provided and light refreshments will be available during the day. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know at the time of booking so that we can accommodate these. You are also welcome to bring your own additional snacks or drinks if you wish.
Absolutely! The British weather is notoriously unpredictable so please keep an eye on the weather forecast and bring wet weather gear if it looks a little soggy. This is dependent on the venue, but at most centres a large part of the day's activity will take place outside, so please come prepared.
We don't want there to be any barriers to you and your family coming along to a Family Day. We may be able to offer support in booking travel or accommodation for the night before, so you are well rested and ready to go. Please get in touch using the contact details below if you'd like to talk to someone about this.
Email: childrenandfamilies@thebraintumourcharity.org
Phone: 0808 800 0004
Yes, absolutely. Our Family Day venues are appropriate for those with access needs. Some activities may have restrictions as this can vary between activity centres, but we will do our best to ensure there is plenty for everyone to do. If you need assistance from another person we ask that they too register for the event.
Our staff team will be on hand to help should you need anything throughout the day. We'll be wearing charity tshirts/hoodys so if you need anything please let one of the team know as we'd be more than happy to help.
As we take photographs throughout the day we ask for photo permission when you register. If you do not want you/your child's photo taken please inform a member of the team when you arrive on the day.
Teen Day FAQs
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any children who do not fall within the 13-17 year old age range.
The days are just for teens. We’ve recognised through our experience of running family days that teenagers often have a different set of needs and likes so we are tailoring these events just for them.
We do however run Family Days for children and young people aged 0-18 with a brain tumour diagnosis and their families. The whole family are welcome to attend these events.
Unfortunately not. However they may be interested in attending our Young Adult Meet Ups for 16-30 year olds with a brain tumour diagnosis.
The Teen Days will be facilitated by our Young Ambassadors, who are all personally affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. Charity staff will also be on hand throughout the day to ensure the day runs smoothly. The day will consist of the teens getting to know each other, our staff and young Ambassadors. And, most of all, having fun! There will be an activity to take part in at each event and lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Yes absolutely! We know that being a teenager can be difficult at the best of times, let alone when living with a brain tumour diagnosis. That’s why we are running these days. The days will be fun and relaxed.
There’s no pressure, and the teenagers can take part in as much or as few of the activities as they like. Our experienced Young Ambassadors and Children and Families Team will also be available throughout the day to support the teenagers.
At The Brain Tumour Charity we are committed to ensuring the safety and promoting the welfare of all the children and young people we support. Please follow this link to read more about our Charities Safeguarding Policy. All staff members and our Young Ambassadors have been DBS checked (Disclosure and Barring service, formerly known as Criminal Record Bureau or CRB). We also ask for the details of an emergency contact.
We aim to make our events inclusive to all teens living with a brain tumour diagnosis and all the events and activities are fully accessible. Staff are first aid trained, however, they're unable to administer medication or provide personal care.
Teenagers who require support with these aspects of their care are welcome to come to the event with a carer. You can email our Children and Families team to let us know about any additional needs when you or your teenager sign up for the day.
We don't want there to be any barriers to your teenager coming along to a teen day. We may be able to offer financial support to enable your teenager to attend.
You can email our Children and Families team if you'd like to talk to someone about this or call us on 0808 800 0004
Please do let us know if you are interested in meeting other parents whilst your child is attending the event.
We will be able to suggest other local venues where you could meet and would be happy to facilitate an introduction between parents.
Get in touch
For more information about Family Days please contact our Children and Families team: childrenandfamilies@thebraintumourcharity.org.
A big thank you to the Lewis Moody Foundation (LMF) who also kindly support our Childen and Families team in bringing our Family Days to life.
