Tom’s Trust Named Law Firm’s Charity Of The Year For 2020

A charity which cares for children with Brain Tumours throughout the East of England is set for a fundraising boost in the New Year, after staff at the Cambridge office of Irwin Mitchell selected Tom’s Trust as their Charity of the Year for 2020.

Each year, staff get to vote to select a good cause in the local community to support over the next 12 months via voluntary work and fundraising activities. The initiative is part of the Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation (IMCF), an independent charity that has raised more than £2 million for a range of good causes since it was established in 1997.

Tom’s Trust is a local charity dedicated to providing clinical psychology for children with brain tumours within UK hospitals. The basic NHS provision is not designed or intended to manage the complex requirements of young brain tumour patients, which is where Tom’s Trust comes in.

The charity support clinical psychology provision at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, which means every child diagnosed in the East of England is cared for by the Tom’s Trust team. The hope is to one day support all children and families in the UK, as they work to raise greater awareness of brain tumours - still the biggest cancer killer of children under 15.

Expert Opinion

“Everyone in the Cambridge office is really looking forward to joining ‘Team Tom’ over the next 12 months.

We remain committed to working with great causes in the community and Tom’s Trust perform invaluable work, supporting families and enabling children with brain tumours to reach their full potential.

The Charity of the Year initiative has given us the power to help several good causes over the years and we’re proud to be able to do the same for Tom’s Trust. Our first event will be volunteering at the charity’s forthcoming netball tournament and we can’t wait to get started." Neil Whiteley - Partner & Director of Legal Services - Personal Injury

Tom’s Trust was founded by Debs and Andrew Whiteley after their 9 year old son Tom died after a brave battle with a brain tumour. Debs and Andrew founded Tom’s Trust to give other families the support that simply wasn’t available to them, at a time when they desperately needed it.

Deborah Whiteley of Tom’s Trust, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Irwin Mitchell’s Cambridge office has selected us to be their Charity of the Year for 2020.

“Children with brain tumours have the greatest need for psychological support and 62% of children who survive are left with a long-term disability. It is thanks to support that we can continue to improve provision at Addenbrooke but also look ahead to a future where we can help other hospitals and children and their families throughout the UK.”