A local boy from Twickenham, London, has received an AV1 (avatar and audio-visual) robot to help him with his schoolwork while he receives cancer treatment.

Howard Thomas, 12, was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer in December last year and started receiving chemotherapy in January.

Howard is well enough to attend school on a part-time basis, but the side effects from intensive chemotherapy sessions has meant he has had to spend a lot of time away from the classroom.

The Thomas family have been receiving support from Momentum Children's Charity and one of their Family Support Workers made a successful grant application to the Chartwell Children's Cancer Trust for Howard to receive a robot.

The AV1 robot, allows Howard to keep up with lessons and activities when he is at hospital or at home. 

Nicknamed AV Howard, the robot has been dressed in a school tie, and is taken from classroom to classroom by pupils at Turing House school in Twickenham. 

The robot has a camera, allowing Howard to read textbooks and worksheets, and a speaker so he can join in conversations in the classroom.

It can also show emotions – if Howard isn't feeling well, or just wants to sit and listen, he can light up the robot's head in blue, the charity says.

"The AV1 has been incredible! It's helped me to participate in class when I'm not well enough to be there. I have been able to keep up from an educational standpoint, so I don't feel like I am falling behind," explains Howard.

Howard's mum, Hermoine adds: "Howard is a high achiever and it stressed him out not being able to go to school, so the robot has been wonderful.

"He can discuss a worksheet with the other pupils and its sociable; the other pupils wave goodbye to him at the end of a lesson. Howard will have the robot until he is ready to go back to school full-time.

"Thank you to Momentum for making the application for us."

Momentum Children's Charity supports families across London, Surrey, and Sussex whose children are facing cancer or a life-challenging condition.

The charity partners with local hospitals to offer personally tailored support to the entire family through our family support workers, both in hospital and at home.

To find out more about the work of Momentum Children's Charity, visit www.momentumcharity.org