A HOLIDAY home which offered a get away for young cancer patients and their families may have to close. 

Proposals to close Malcolm Sargeant House in Prestwick were announced by the charity CLIC Sargent leaving many of those families who used the home disappointed.

The charity say they are finding it more difficult to raise funds needed for their services and are considering cutting the house as a way to save money.

Dara de Burca, CLIC Sargent’s Director of Services, said: "“These are tough times and many charities, including CLIC Sargent, are finding it harder than ever to raise the money we need to fund our vital work with young cancer patients and their families. This means we need to take some tough decisions to ensure we remain financially stable now and into the future.

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“It is with great sadness that we are proposing to close CLIC Sargent’s holiday facility Malcolm Sargent House in Prestwick, Scotland.

“We understand the role the holiday service has played in supporting young cancer patients and families over the years and recognise the high esteem in which the service is held by those who have used it. However the service reaches a relatively small number of young cancer patients and families in a limited geographical area."

She added: “We need to prioritise our resources to focus on services that have the greatest impact on the largest number of children and young people with cancer and their families, such as our frontline CLIC Sargent nursing and social care workers who are there to support families from diagnosis onwards; and our homes from home located near hospitals where young cancer patients receive treatment.

“Our social care professionals already support young people and families to access holidays from a range of holiday funders and charities across the UK and we will continue to do this if this proposal is agreed.

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“We are determined to ensure that CLIC Sargent remains financially sustainable, and the difficult decisions we’re considering now are to ensure we can protect these vital services for the future.

“Currently CLIC Sargent is only able to support 2 out of 3 young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK. In order to reach our goal of ensuring every child and young person with cancer and their families receive the vital emotional, practical and financial support they need, we must prioritise those services that they tell us make the most difference.”

Several families took to Facebook following the news and expressed how much the home meant to them. 

Nikki Owens said: "What is going to happen to the house? My daughter's ashes are buried there.

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"This is where she was at her happiest throughout her entire troubled journey to fight her losing battle against a brain tumour.

"Everyone at the house helped myself, her and my whole family and continue to do so by keeping my baby girl safe."

Bev Hirst added: "This is such a sad proposal. We had had two amazing holidays here, and the care and support provided is fabulous.

"You cannot put a price on the value of a break here for families and the memories we have will always be treasured."

The charity have urged anyone with questions or comments about the proposal to e-mail them via contactus@clicsargent.org.uk.