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Gabrielle Devine

Easter Tea Party at Corinthia London

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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We were delighted to welcome 80 guests to the beautiful Corinthia London for a special family celebration, filled with creativity, laughter and unforgettable moments together.

The afternoon began with welcome drinks, before families were invited into the gorgeous Ballroom to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea. Tables were filled with an array of treats, creating the perfect setting for families to relax and spend quality time together in a luxurious and welcoming space.

Throughout the event, our brilliant entertainers brought lots of smiles and laughter. Singers Collette and Rosie filled the Ballroom with wonderful singing, while Mr Magic and Sacha amazed children and grown-ups alike with their performances. We also had Fairy Francesca entertaining our young guests, as well as face and arm painting, with children choosing whichever designs they wanted.

There was no shortage of hands-on activities for our guests to enjoy. From an Easter Egg Hunt to creative craft stations, children decorated Easter bonnet hats, treasure boxes, tote bags and biscuits, taking home their creations as keepsakes from the day. It was great to witness such beautiful creations and creativity from our guests.

Events like this provide young patients, their parents, carers and siblings with precious time away from the pressures of hospital life, offering moments of joy, connection and respite when they are needed most.

We are incredibly grateful to the team at Corinthia London for hosting us so generously and for helping to create such a memorable experience for the families we support.

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Our March e-newsletter is here!

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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Our March e-newsletter is here!

It’s been a busy month of spreading smiles – from hospital visits to special family moments and brilliant supporter events.

Read our monthly e-newsletter now to catch up on the impact we’ve made, including Bay’s story for World Kidney Day, our wonderful World Book Day visit with Hannah Gold, a VIP family event to see Hercules, our insurance and real estate dinners, and a celebration of our Supporter of the Month, Expect Amazing.

We’ve also included a quick chance to share your thoughts on our e-newsletter – it only takes two minutes and we’d really love to hear your feedback.

Click here to subscribe to receive our monthly updates, straight to your inbox.

leanne

Entertainer Spotlight

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

We are pleased that Spread a Smile has been featured in Chat magazine recently, highlighting the work of Mel and Leanne, two of our dedicated entertainers. The article follows their journey from professional tribute performers to their roles at Spread a Smile, where they now bring joy and connection through their visits to young patients and families across our 39 NHS partner hospitals across the country.

As Leanne shared in the piece, “Every child I visit is special. A piece of them stays in my heart forever.” This personal connection is at the core of what our team does every day. We focus on improving the hospital experience for children by providing high-quality distraction and relief during what can be a very difficult time for the whole family.

We are proud to share that our team has grown to over 100 professional entertainers nationwide. This group includes singers, magicians, poets, artists, and therapy dogs, who are all specifically trained to work within the complexities of a hospital ward. Their expertise allows them to adapt every interaction to the individual needs of each child, ensuring that every visit is both safe and impactful.

Whether through a song at a bedside or a virtual visit, our entertainers are committed to delivering high-quality support to those who need it most. By providing these vital services, we help children and their families navigate some of their most challenging days.

Spread a Smile receives no government funding and we rely solely on the generosity of our supporters to keep our team on the wards. We can only provide these essential visits through your donations. Please donate today to help us continue our work.

 

supporter of the month expect amazing

Supporter of the Month: Expect Amazing

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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We are delighted to recognise Expect Amazing as our Supporter of the Month for March, celebrating their incredible ongoing commitment to Spread a Smile and their generous support of our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) library project spanning 20 libraries across 15 NHS hospitals.

Expect Amazing is an online bookshop based in Richmond that began supporting Spread a Smile in July 2025. Since then, their generous donations of books – and the hands-on help they’ve given with packing and stickering – have played a meaningful role in helping us spread smiles to seriously ill children across the country. More recently, they donated a selection of Easter-themed games and books for the children we support to enjoy over the Easter holidays.

Expect Amazing’s founder, Avni, and her two children, Vidhi and Viraj, are familiar faces at the Spread a Smile offices, often visiting our HQ to help pack and sticker books for deliveries to update our PICU libraries.

In 2025, Vidhi achieved something truly remarkable in support of Spread a Smile for her ninth birthday, raising an incredible £6,000, providing vital funds to support our PICU library project and our festive Smile Hampers. You can read more about Vidhi’s fundraising achievement here. In late March 2026, she was recognised for her hard work and dedication, winning the Young Person Achievement Award at the Richmond Community Heroes Awards. Congratulations, Vidhi!

Reflecting on the partnership, Avni shared:

“This partnership is deeply personal to me. My own newborn spent their first few days in a PICU and I know first-hand just how much a book, a story or a shared moment can mean when a family is going through something frightening. Working with Spread a Smile to stock 20 PICU libraries felt like everything Expect Amazing stands for – bringing the comfort and joy of reading to children who need it most. We’re proud to play even a small part in the incredible work Spread a Smile does every day.”

We are so grateful to Avni and the entire Expect Amazing community for everything they do. Their continued support shows the extraordinary difference a business partnership can make, helping us reach more seriously ill children and their families with meaningful moments of joy when they are needed most. Thank you, Expect Amazing.

Our vital work bringing joy and laughter to seriously ill children is only possible thanks to the generosity of our community. Find out how you or your business can get involved, please reach out to Lucy Chesney at lucychesney@spreadasmile.org.

 

Get Inspired: Jen’s Reason for Running

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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Looking for inspiration to get fit and take on a challenge to help spread smiles to seriously ill children? Meet Jennifer, Mum to 9 year old Bay, and find out why she is taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Spread a Smile on Sunday 11 October 2026.

Join Jennifer and sign up for your place today.

“Spread a Smile has supported my daughter, Bay since she was two years old – during her end stage renal failure, kidney transplant and afterwards following her treatment for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).

“Bay is now 9 and Spread a Smile has been a constant for us the whole time – there for Bay but also me and our wider family. The last 7 years have been really challenging, but when I think back, I can think of Spread a Smile in amongst it all and it’s nothing short of wonderful. You forget you’re in hospital when Spread a Smile are around and I can have five minutes to breath as I trust them and know she is safe and entertained with them.

“When Bay is happy, Mummy is happy. Whether it’s through the hospital visits, family events or virtual sessions, they bring familiarity, friendship, love and the sense of normality from just being able to watch your child play and enjoy themselves.

“I’ve been so inspired by what they do for Bay and so many seriously ill children, that I really wanted to give something back and help other families like mine if I can. Spread a Smile are a familiar, warm wonderful and I don’t know what we’d do without them.”

Join Jennifer and register today for your Royal Parks Half Marathon place.

Subscribe to the Spread a Smile e-newsletter

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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Our March e-newsletter is landing very soon and we don’t want you to miss it.

By signing up for our e-newsletters, you’ll make sure you’re the first to find out about…

  • The impact of our work: the smiles, the joy and the brilliant ways our entertainers support seriously ill children and their families
  • The difference you can make: Find out how our supporters are ensuring we can continue our vital work spreading smiles and be inspired to get involved.
  • Upcoming events: Be the first to grab a spot in our latest challenges and events.

Be part of something special and subscribe to our e-newsletter today.

 

theatre spread a smile

Hercules: A VIP Family Day

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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Twelve young patients and their families enjoyed an unforgettable day at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane to see Hercules. Their visit included a joyful pre‑theatre gathering with magical entertainment, face painting, pizza, cupcakes and interval ice creams, followed by a special VIP meet and greet with the cast. It was a warm and relaxed experience, offering families the chance to spend meaningful time together and connect with others on similar journeys.

Spread a Smile family events are designed to give seriously ill children and young people precious moments away from treatment, hospital life and the pressures that come with navigating a serious illness. For many families, planning an outing of this kind can be challenging. Medical appointments, complex health needs and financial considerations often make special experiences like a West End trip difficult to access. By removing those barriers, we enable families to enjoy time together, have fun and experience a sense of normality during an otherwise demanding period.

After the performance, our guests were welcomed backstage for a VIP meet and greet with members of the cast. For many children, this was the highlight of the day – an extraordinary opportunity to chat with the performers, take photographs and experience a truly memorable moment. These encounters help create treasured memories that stay with families long after the day itself.

Ellie, Spread a Smile’s Head of Family Events, said:
“It’s a privilege to run these events and see the difference they make. Families often tell us how valuable it is to have something positive to look forward to alongside treatment. Giving young patients a day filled with joy and connection is incredibly important, and it’s why we do what we do.”

We also received this lovely feedback from a parent who joined us on the day:
“I just wanted to say thank you to you & the amazing Spread a Smile team for giving us  the most wonderful day! She hasn’t stopped talking about it all evening, excitedly telling her dad about how, she met all of the performers! (Even if she was a little shy at the actual meeting! That seems to have been long forgotten!) She has also asked if we can do the same next week!! No pressure!

It was the first time we had been able to make any of the Spread a Smile events, even though you’ve been in our lives since we first visited gosh over 6 years ago!”

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helps make these outings possible. Your support ensures that families caring for seriously ill children can enjoy meaningful moments of joy when they are needed most.

Please donate today to ensure we can continue spreading smiles when they’re needed most.

sensory area

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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Neurodiversity Celebration Week takes place 16–20 March 2026 and we are proud to spotlight the ways Spread a Smile supports neurodivergent children and young people through joy-filled, accessible experiences.

Recently, Laura Walter, Spread a Smile’s Director of Services, presented at Northwest Thames Paediatric Network Play Forum about our work with neurodivergent children, young people and their families. This was an important moment for us, offering a platform to raise awareness of the specialist approach we take and the importance of inclusive entertainment within hospitals, hospices and at home.

Laura Walter said, “It is so important to adapt our services to meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people. The neurodivergent umbrella includes a wide range of neurological and developmental needs, and many of the children we support are included within this. Every child deserves to experience joy in a way that feels safe and comfortable for them, and our team works hard to tailor our approach and create moments that truly meet each child where they are.”

A core part of our offering to hospitals and families are our virtual sensory shows delivered in collaboration with Embracing Arts and our dedicated magic and singing sessions using Makaton, developed to meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people in a gentle, engaging and adaptable way. These sessions use calming and stimulating sounds to spark curiosity, alongside visual storytelling that supports different sensory needs.

Whether a child prefers gentle music, bright colours, familiar routines or quiet moments, all of our interactions with children and young people are built to honour their individual preferences. Families regularly tell us how our virtual sessions help reduce anxiety, create connection and moments of joy during long hospital stays or challenging routines at home.

Across our wider programme of entertainment in hospitals and at family events, we ensure that every entertainer engages inclusively and sensitively with neurodivergent children and young people. This includes adapting the pace, tone and environment of activities, building positive connections that help children feel seen, valued and understood, and working closely with hospital play teams, other healthcare professionals and families to personalise each visit or session. We also include sensory corners at our large-scale events, designed especially for neurodiverse children and young people.

Neurodiversity Week is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and inclusive practice. We are proud to continue expanding our sensory programme so even more children can benefit, whether in hospital or at home.

If you would like to support our work, please make a donation here. Together we can help bring joy and happiness to more seriously ill children and young people across the country.

 

insurance industry dinner

Spread a Smile Insurance Dinner

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
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We were delighted to host our second Insurance Dinner on 11 March at Uncommon Holborn, welcoming 32 guests from across the sector. It was wonderful to reconnect with leaders from the insurance community and enjoy an evening of meaningful conversation and connection.

The event offered a valuable opportunity to share how Spread a Smile supports seriously ill children and young people through our hospital visits, virtual sessions and special family events, helping to bring comfort and joy during long hospital stays and challenging treatment.

Lucy Jackson, Spread a Smile Chief Executive, said:

“Our Industry Dinners show the real impact that happens when a sector comes together with care and purpose. I’m grateful to everyone for giving up their time to spend an evening with Spread a Smile to learn more about our vital work bringing joy and laughter to seriously ill children. The insurance community makes a meaningful difference to the children and families we support, and I’m looking forward to following up post-event to explore how we can grow this impact together.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us, asked thoughtful questions and explored how the insurance sector can play a role in helping us support even more families. Your involvement ensures we can continue providing vital moments of comfort and joy when they’re needed most.

A special thank you to Philip Smaje and Richard Reggel for their ongoing leadership as part of our insurance committee, and to Uncommon for their continued support and for hosting us in their wonderful space.

If your organisation would like to explore a partnership or host an industry event with us, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact our Head of Partnerships, Lucy Chesney, at LucyChesney@spreadasmile.org.

Click here to sign up to our e-newsletter and receive Spread a Smile’s latest news directly to your inbox.

 

world kidney day bay smiling

World Kidney Day: Bay’s Story

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Today, 12 March, we are joining people around the world in marking World Kidney Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of kidney health and the children and families whose lives are shaped by kidney conditions.

Read Bay’s story

As part of World Kidney Day, we are sharing the story of Bay, who became seriously ill at just two years old. What began as an unexpected deterioration in her health quickly revealed that her kidneys were failing. She was urgently transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she spent weeks in intensive care while doctors worked to stabilise her.

Spread a Smile first met Bay early in her journey. From bedside visits to virtual art and magic sessions, we were able to bring her moments of joy, comfort and play during hospital stays and difficult days. These moments helped lift her spirits, offered breathing space for her family and helped create connection when life felt overwhelming.

We are proud to have been on this journey with Bay and to support her now, continuing to bring joy and positive distraction as she navigates follow‑up treatment and recovery. Click here to read Bay’s story.

On World Kidney Day, we recognise the strength of children like Bay, the families who support them and the hospital teams who care for them. We remain committed to being there with moments of joy and comfort whenever they are needed.

Help us support more children like Bay

Your donation today helps Spread a Smile bring joy and laughter to seriously ill children across the country. Thank you.