On 11 April 2026, Spread a Smile celebrates 13 years since the charity was founded, bringing joy, comfort and distraction to seriously ill children and their families across the UK.
As we celebrate this milestone, a donation of £13 can help us continue delivering these moments of support to children and families when they need them most.
Spread a Smile began when Co‑Founder Josephine Segal saw the difference an entertainer made to her nephew, Aaron, while he was receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). After a magician’s visit lifted Aaron’s spirits, he asked if other children on the ward could have the same experience. That moment inspired Josephine and her friend Vanessa Crocker to found the charity, working closely with GOSH.
Thirteen years on, Spread a Smile now works with 39 NHS hospitals across the country. We deliver regular in person entertainer visits to hospital wards, alongside virtual sessions and treat drops, including 2,000 bespoke festive Smile Hampers sent to seriously ill children and their siblings at Christmas. Alongside this, we run a wide range of family events, from Summer and Winter parties to theatre trips and shared experiences outside of the hospital environment, all designed to support children and families living with serious illness.
We marked our birthday with special visits to Great Ormond Street Hospital, King’s College Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital and The Royal London Hospital. Young patients and healthcare professionals enjoyed entertainment, delicious treats from Lola’s Cupcakes and gifts for children on the wards.
We are incredibly proud of the impact Spread a Smile has had over the past 13 years and deeply grateful to our supporters, whose generosity makes every visit, smile and shared moment possible. Thank you to our supporters, corporate partners, volunteers, hospitals we work with
Donate £13 today to help us continue supporting seriously ill children and their families.
Here’s to 13 years of spreading smiles where they’re needed most.
