Foundation with experience with emotional support and social care for children and adolescents with cancer

The Fundació Privada d’Oncologia Infantil Enriqueta Villavecchia, established in Barcelona in 1989, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive care for children and young people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as support for their families.The Foundation’s mission is to help children, young people and their families face and overcome the challenges associated with life-limiting conditions. It does so by offering support and close accompaniment, while also promoting progress in care, research and training in the fields of oncology, haematology, paediatric palliative care and the management of complex chronic paediatric conditions.

The Foundation has extensive experience in addressing unmet needs in pediatric oncology, particularly as a pioneer in supporting young cancer survivors—an historically underserved group. It implements targeted actions to promote emotional wellbeing, support the reconstruction of life projects, and foster peer support networks.

Its core activities include comprehensive social care and family support throughout the illness trajectory, with particular attention to vulnerable situations (including accommodation services and financial aid); volunteer programmes focused on emotional support and respite care in both hospital and community settings; and activities for children and young people undergoing treatment aimed at enhancing quality of life and personal development.

The organisation also delivers psychosocial and community-based programmes that encourage peer connection, safe spaces and participant empowerment, alongside awareness-raising initiatives to increase public understanding of cancer and survivorship challenges.

The Foundation has a strong track record in building supportive communities and person-centred interventions that complement clinical care. In recent years, it has expanded into digital innovation, developing virtual platforms for young cancer survivors to improve access to resources, strengthen support systems and enable connections regardless of geographic location. This combination of direct intervention, social innovation and in-depth knowledge positions the organisation as a strong contributor to European projects in health innovation, digital health and patient-centred care in cancer survivorship.