The Joshua Tree's outreach vehicle brings care closer to home

Supporting Families Through Outreach

The Moulding Foundation is proud to have funded The Joshua Tree’s outreach vehicle, helping bring practical support to families experiencing childhood cancer in more accessible, everyday settings.

A recent outreach day brought this to life. The Joshua Tree outreach vehicle joined the North West Children’s Cancer Operational Delivery Network (NWCCODN) “Care Closer to Home” vehicle at Accrington Stanley Football Club, supporting families attending chemotherapy appointments.

For families spending long periods of time around treatment, having somewhere to step away from a clinical environment can make a real difference. The outreach vehicle provides a simple, welcoming space where children and parents could spend time together while waiting. With board games, Mario Kart and other activities, it gives children something familiar to focus on — and a chance to switch off, even briefly. The approach reflects what The Joshua Tree offers at its centres, but in a mobile format that can meet families where they already are.

The day also included support from Grace, who joined on work experience. Having experienced childhood cancer herself, she brought a level of understanding that helped her connect naturally with the families there. Her involvement added another layer to the day — showing how lived experience can quietly support and reassure others in similar situations.

Support doesn’t just happen in one place, and it doesn’t always need to be formal to be effective. Outreach like this helps bridge the gap between hospital care and everyday life, offering something practical and immediate at key moments.

Funding the outreach vehicle means organisations like The Joshua Tree can deliver this kind of support more flexibly and reach more families. Working alongside partners like NWCCODN also shows how collaboration can make these initiatives more effective, creating a better overall experience for families during treatment.