Protocol Preregistration: Exploring Charitable Support for Families of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer, Across the Island of Ireland

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) diagnosed with cancer represent a distinct clinical and psychosocial population, with disruptions to normative developmental trajectories that extend beyond the patient to significantly impact the family system. Emerging policy frameworks in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland emphasise the need for comprehensive, psychosocially informed, and community-integrated models of AYA cancer care, however limited data is available on the role of charitable sector organisations in meeting these needs. Existing research indicates that family members experience multidimensional burden, including psychological distress, social disruption, financial strain, and caregiving-related biological impacts, yet their needs frequently fall outside the realm of formal healthcare provision. Charitable sector organisations may represent a critical but under-researched component of the AYA cancer support ecosystem. This exploratory mixed-methods study aims to systematically map the landscape of charitable-sector services available to families following an AYA cancer diagnosis across the island of Ireland; identify key organisations and service modalities; examine how providers conceptualise and operationalise “family support”; and describe patterns of family engagement and factors influencing service uptake. Findings will provide foundational evidence to inform best-practice recommendations, highlight service gaps, and guide the design of a subsequent qualitative study with families themselves.