Information for families
We are absolutely delighted to be able to welcome you to our Neuroblastoma Parent Symposium in person this year, for the first time since 2019. Although we’ve been running the event virtually since 2020, prior to that we had been bringing the neuroblastoma community together in person since 2012, so it’s wonderful to be able to do this again.
Here’s some information about what you can expect throughout the weekend. We really hope you can come along, and that you'll leave feeling better supported, better informed, more empowered and with hope in your heart.
Registering to attend
We welcome all individuals, parents, and families affected by neuroblastoma who feel they'd benefit from coming along to register to attend, no matter where you are in your journey.
In addition to welcoming families from the UK and Ireland, we're pleased to be able to accommodate a small number from elsewhere in the world based on need.
We limit places per family to two adults but there is an opportunity on the registration form to express interest in further adults attending, and we will confirm any availability by 7 February 2025.
While we sincerely hope to be able to accommodate everyone who registers, depending on demand for places, we may need to prioritise families based on need.
Accommodation
We offer free accommodation with breakfast included at the venue for families on the Friday and Saturday night. Let us know what accommodation you need on your registration form. There’s a limited number of family rooms at the venue, so some families may need to be split across rooms, but we’ll always try our best to accommodate you in the best way possible.
Group sessions
We are currently planning to host two different group sessions in parallel to the main programme.
One session will be dedicated to cancer coaching, which will be delivered by qualified Transformational Life Coaches and members of the charity’s Family Support team, Vicky Inglis and Hayley Blackwell. This session is for parents at any point in the cancer journey, as well as for young adults navigating life post-treatment. It will focus on enhancing physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing through self-care strategies and identifying individual needs. Participants will leave the session with an actionable strategy that could make a meaningful difference in their lives.
The other session will focus on life after treatment for families of neuroblastoma survivors and will provide an opportunity to share experiences, challenges, and triumphs unique to post-treatment journeys.
Both sessions will be informal and closed, meaning they will not be recorded or live-streamed. They will offer safe, non-judgmental, and confidential spaces, as well as the opportunity to connect with peers and share experiences.
More information will follow in due course about the sessions, including how to book your place to attend.
Friday night
Although the Symposium programme doesn’t start until Saturday morning, we welcome families to come along from the Friday evening to get settled in.
There will be a buffet dinner available between 6:00pm - 8:00pm, following which, we’ll be hosting an informal drinks reception from 8:00pm - 9:30pm to say hello and give you a big warm welcome. We’d love to see you there!
Gala dinner
Lunches and the Friday night dinner are buffet-style, so on Saturday evening we do something a bit more special and host a Gala dinner (a sit-down three-course meal). It’s an opportunity to relax after the day’s programme and to socialise with other families as well as some of the healthcare professionals and charity team. Children are welcome to come along too but alternatively, may prefer to attend childcare and eat from a buffet a little earlier. Let us know your preference on your registration form.
Childcare and entertainment
This is a family event, so children are very welcome to come along. We provide professional childcare and entertainment throughout the event programme for children under 16-years old, enabling the adults to focus on the sessions. Childcare is located within the same building and close to the main conference room, so parents can easily pop in to see their children.
The childcare team are experienced at what they do and have experience with this event, having supported it for many years before 2020. We’ll also make sure there’s lots of entertainment on offer, so you can be sure the children will enjoy themselves.
Travel
Organising and paying for travel is up to each family, but we can provide some financial support for those families who otherwise would be prohibited from attending. Our policy is to support 50% of travel costs up to the following maximum contributions: £200 per person on flights for a return trip, £100 per person on trains for a return trip, and £100 per car for a return trip based on 45p per mile.
We do not wish to deter anyone affected by neuroblastoma from attending the event, so if your remaining travel costs would prevent you from coming along, please let us know.
Expenses can be reimbursed after the event, or if preferable, requested in advance. Please indicate on your registration form whether you’d like help with your travel costs, and you will be sent further information on how to make a claim.
Buddying with another family
We would like to be able to connect families that have attended the event before with families that haven't who would find it helpful to have a buddy to help them settle in and to act as a supportive point of contact. Please let us know on your registration form if you’d like a buddy, or to be a buddy!