Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is appealing for donations of items and cash to help cover the cost of its emergency grants for patients who are struggling financially.

Demands for YBTC’s grants for cancer patients have risen by 45% over the last year, with the charity offering over £62,400 in grants to patients impacted by a brain tumour throughout 2022, compared with £43,100 throughout
2021.

A brain tumour diagnosis has a devastating financial impact on the patients the charity supports. Many are forced to stop working while they recover and spend on average an extra £600 per month on travel to hospital, parking, food and extra heating. The cost-of-living crisis has only added to the financial burden, and the charity has seen a spike in applications for its grants.

64% of the patients who applied for a grant from YBTC in 2022 mentioned that they were struggling to pay for heating and the cost of travelling to hospital for treatment, a sharp increase on the previous year. YBTC offers emergency grants of up to £500 to help patients with paying bills, installing equipment and other expenses.

However the charity has seen a 48% drop in income compared with this time last year as its supporters have been feeling the pinch, with a steep decline in online and cash donations as well as fewer donations of items to its Headingley charity shop. The charity has launched a Crowdfunder to help raise extra funds specifically to fund extra grants for patients struggling financially.

YBTC is also appealing for donations of clothing, homeware, toys and other items to its charity shop in Headingley, to help fill gaps in its shelves and raise more funds to help the charity support patients and carers in need.

Jessica, from Sherburn in Elmet, whose daughter Lola was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 2, said:

“YBTC were kind enough to offer us a grant upon leaving the hospital to cover any travel expenses and to help towards the loss of work over the course of our stay in hospital, which was so helpful. They have also been in touch offering mental health support and a further financial bursary which we couldn’t be more appreciative of.”