For the second year running, Spread a Smile was honoured to welcome families we’ve supported over the years to a deeply meaningful, non-religious memorial ceremony. Together, we remembered and celebrated the lives of children and young people who are no longer with us, in a space filled with compassion, reflection, and love.
We are incredibly grateful to our friends at Clarksons for their generous support in making this special day possible. Their team hosted us with great care at their beautiful offices at St Katharine Docks, providing both the venue and refreshments for the day.
The ceremony, led by the heartfelt and moving words of our very own Judge the Poet, invited families to reflect on memories through the symbolism of stones—smooth pebbles for everyday moments, rough stones for painful times, and gemstones for cherished and joyful memories. Each family selected a gemstone to take home and was invited to share written memories on a leaf, which was then added to our special memory tree alongside the name of their loved one.
Following the ceremony, families came together for a relaxed barbecue lunch generously provided by Clarksons. Children and adults alike took part in creative memory-themed arts and crafts, from collages and bracelet-making to bespoke balloon modelling. As a lasting keepsake, our Head of Art, Marina, created personalised memory books for each family to take home, something to fill with photos, stories, and treasured thoughts.
We are sincerely thankful to Clarksons for helping us provide a comforting and respectful space for families to honour their children and find strength in shared remembrance. As Lily Bagshaw, Event Manager at Clarksons, shared:
“Being able to offer our Corporate event space to host the Spread a Smile Memorial event means a lot to Clarksons, we want to be able to offer our help and support to such an incredible charity. It was a deeply moving experience, and you could truly see the comfort and strength it brought to the families who attended. Spread a Smile’s work is nothing short of incredible; the care and joy they bring to those who need it most is inspiring beyond words.”
If your company would like to explore ways to support our work, whether by hosting an event, providing resources, or partnering with us, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at fundraising@spreadasmile.org.
If you are a family looking for support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are here for you.
