14 April 2026
Imagine it’s 2029. We’re reaching hundreds more young people and siblings, are seeing more of them want to join our trips each summer, we are even more representative of the UK population and our team is thriving. What does that actually look like? That’s what our Ambitions for 2026-2029 map out.
Launched at the Volunteer and Skippers Conference in March, the new Ambitions have a clear overarching focus. To…
All growth must be stable and sustainable; guided by three interdependent factors - money, demand and quality - so financial health and operational capacity always move together.
Some of the Ambitions will be familiar - building on the incredible foundations of our 2023-25 Ambitions. You can read the full breakdown of what we have achieved over the past three years here - Ambitions 2023-2025: how did we do?
Some are new, responses to challenges that came out of six months of speaking and listening to the people who care most about the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust; our staff, volunteers, skippers, young people, hospital and charity partners and trustees.
Now the progress and success of the past three years have given us a springboard to our 2026-29 Ambitions and we look ahead to the next four years with confidence and curiosity.
More magical momentsIn the Ambitions you will meet Sophie, Tadiwa and Edward.
Three young people. Three different stories. One truth: What we do transforms lives - not in abstract ways, but in deeply human ones. Sophie found belonging, Tadiwa found freedom, Edward found perspective.
Everything in the Ambitions is to create more Sophies. More Tadiwas. More Edwards. Because behind every one of these Ambitions is another young person waiting for their moment; to find their new normal, feel hopeful again and to realise they are not the ‘only one’.
The Ambitions for 2026–29 are simply the roadmap for creating thousands more moments just like theirs.
You will notice for the first time, siblings are mentioned alongside young people.
That our ambition is not ‘fundraising’ but ‘income’ - recognising money isn’t just about raising it in our traditional ways, but is as much about thinking differently, looking at commercial opportunities and being clever about what we spend.
That our ambition isn’t for ‘the team’ but ‘Ourselves’, us, and the passion, pride and ownership we have in the difference we make.
Over the next four years we will...
Know the need - speak to all young people’s post-cancer needs and realities, connecting and communicating in ways that remove barriers and says we ‘get it’ – so important we’re answering the need young people actually have not what we think they want.
Nurture networks - build and strengthen connections with current and new sector partners – charity and clinical – and explore other opportunities to meet young people where they are. We already have excellent hospital and charity partner networks across the UK. But we also know COVID changed things and we need to make sure we’re where young people are.
Drive impact - ensure all our programmes – first time and return trips, siblings and year-round mental wellbeing support - achieve the greatest impact at the right time. A continuation from the 2023-25 Ambitions, but while that was more about embedding impact measurement, this is about looking across all our different programmes and asking ourselves challenging questions.
Over the next four years we will...
Diversify income - continue to explore new and alternative income sources so no one body represents more than 30% of our overall funding by the end of 2029. Tthis has been in our past two Ambitions cycles, but we have to keep striving to achieve it.
Grow loyalty - retain and cultivate current supporters, maximise our existing database, develop prospect pipelines and grow our networks through strong relationships and smart data use. Another Ambition continuing from 2023-25 but vital as we try to keep supporters with us for longer.
Spend smart - exercise sound financial management through making careful and conscious spending and organisational investment decisions that promote financial resilience. An Ambition that recognises that good financial management is as much about what you’re spending your money on as much as what money is coming in.
Over the next four years we will...
Be the best - take pride in who we are and what we achieve as a confident, purpose-driven team and leaders in post-treatment support, supported by digital excellence.
Keep the magic - another Ambition building on the past three years, so we understand the special ‘Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust magic’ and ensure it remains at the heart as we grow and support more young people.
Think planet - continue becoming a more environmentally conscious and sustainable organisation and further reduce the negative impact of our activities on the planet.