Latch Wales
| Formation | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales |
President | Meriel Jenney |
| Website | https://latchwales.org/ |
Latch Wales is a cancer charity based in Cardiff, Wales, that provides emotional and financial support for children with cancer.[1] They are based at the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, where they have rooms which families of children with cancer can stay in if they are far from home. Any under 18 being treated for cancer or leukaemia at the Children's Hospital for Wales is eligible for their services.[2][3]
They also cover extra expenses such as travel costs, and provide families with social workers to help them receive benefits they're entitled to, as well as organising activities for patients.[4]
History
[edit]
Latch Wales was founded in 1983 by a group of families who had children with cancer. They were originally based in University Hospital Llandough, hence the acronym LATCH meaning "Llandough Aims to Treat Children with Cancer and Leukaemia with Hope." Latch Wales was registered as a charity in the United Kingdom in 2003. In 2004, they moved to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales. They raised money to build free accommodation there, providing eight bedrooms and a communal living room and kitchen for families.[5] They were Swansea City's featured charity for their 26 October 2019 match against Cardiff City.[6] In 2022, a mother raised over £40,000 for the charity in memory of her son who died of liver cancer.[7]
In October 2022, Holly Proudstreet raised £600 for Latch, as her brother was diagnosed with leukaemia and lymphoma.[8] In 2023, Latch marked their 40-year anniversary with a "40k for 40 years" campaign, in which they encouraged donors to meet a target of £40,000 raised.[9] In 2025, Latch announced they would be changing their name from LATCH to Latch, as the acronym no longer applied since they were operating at a different hospital. However, they decided to keep the same base name, explaining "we found that the meaning of the word 'Latch' had resonance with (the phrases) 'holding on', 'being with you' and 'togetherness' which very much reflected the essence of the charity today."[10] Ysgol Penglais School was involved in two fundraisers for Latch in 2026, the first when the school organised a 10k run to raise £10,000 for the charity (alongside Teenage Cancer Trust),[11] and the second when a student at the school shaved his head to raise money for the charity in solidarity with his friend with Wilms' tumor.[12]
Funding
[edit]Their annual income is £1,176,866, primarily consisting of donations made through their website.[13]
Patrons
[edit]- Jonathan Davies - Welsh rugby union player[14]
- Edward Watts - Deputy lieutenant of Gwent[14]
- Owain Wyn Evans - Welsh television and radio presenter[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "LATCH". NHS 111 Wales. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ Breyer, Joanna (18 February 2021). When Your Child Is Sick: A Guide to Navigating the Practical and Emotional Challenges of Caring for a Child Who is Very Ill. John Murray Press. ISBN 978-1-5293-4030-3.
- ↑ "Latch Welsh Children's Cancer Charity - Cancer Care Map". 8 February 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Latch | Home". Latch. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Celebrating 40 years of care in Wales". Contact Magazine. The Children & Young People's Cancer Association. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Charity Focus | LATCH Wales | Swansea". www.swanseacity.com. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Mum raises £40,000 for charity after son, 3, diagnosed with rare cancer". ITV News. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ Wales, University of South. "Holly Proudstreet". University of South Wales. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "It's Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and LATCH Welsh Children's Cancer Charity is marking its 40th anniversary". Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Latch | The story of Latch, Welsh Children's Cancer Charity". Latch. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Penglais aims to raise £10,000 for cancer charities". Cambrian News. 9 July 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Aberystwyth 14-year-old takes the chop for fellow classmate with kidney cancer". Cambrian News. 29 July 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "LATCH WELSH CHILDREN'S CANCER CHARITY - Charity 1100949". prd-ds-register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Latch | Our people". Latch. Retrieved 30 August 2026.