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Hannah Myers

Entertainer Spotlight: Sar and Elsie

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Sar with the Guitar and Elsie the Star!

Spread a Smile’s entertainers bring joy, laughter and connection to seriously ill children and young people through music, magic, storytelling, art and therapy dogs. This month, we’re shining a spotlight on one of our longest-serving entertainers, Sar, and her four-legged companion, Elsie.

Sar joined Spread a Smile in 2013, just six months after the charity was founded, and has been helping to spread smiles ever since.

Reflecting on her early days with the charity, Sar said: “I joined Spread a Smile in 2013, 6 months after the charity first started. It’s been incredible to see how much the charity has grown since those early days and witness first-hand the impact it has made on thousands of seriously ill children and their families over the years.”

Using music to connect with children and families has always been at the heart of Sar’s work.

“I loved the idea of using my skills playing the guitar and singing nursery rhymes to support children and families during incredibly difficult times – creating moments of joy, laughter, and normality for young people in hospital.”

Music has played an important role throughout Sar’s life. Growing up in a musical family, with both parents playing the piano, she learnt to play the guitar from the age of 12 and developed a passion for singing and amateur dramatics. Following the birth of her first child in 1997, Sar and her twin sister founded Little Stars, a music group for babies and toddlers, which they ran for 16 years.

Over the past 12 years, Sar has seen Spread a Smile grow from supporting children at one hospital to reaching thousands of children and families across the country.

“When I first joined the charity, we were only entertaining in Great Ormond Street Hospital, but even then, the heart and purpose behind the work were very clear. Over the past 12 years I have seen SAS expand into another 38 hospitals and 6 hospices, offering a wider range of services and events to the children and families we support. What has never changed is the importance of connection. A visit from the entertainers can completely change the atmosphere of a hospital room creating magical moments and memories.”

Throughout her visits, Sar has witnessed first-hand the difference that entertainment can make during difficult times.

“There have been so many memorable moments over the years. One of the most special things is seeing a child who is withdrawn and anxious suddenly light up through music, bubbles, and interaction.

I have met many families who were going through incredibly difficult times and hearing them say that a visit gave them a moment of relief, or that they haven’t seen their child smile or laugh in weeks is something I never forget.”

For Sar, the relationships built along the way are one of the most rewarding parts of being a Spread a Smile entertainer and when asked what she enjoys most about being part of Spread a Smile she says: “The people, without question. I love building connections with children, families, hospital staff and of course the other entertainers. It is incredibly rewarding to know that something as simple as music and conversation can make someone’s day a little brighter.”

Meet Elsie

Alongside her guitar, Sar is now joined by Elsie, a Maltipoo therapy dog who is already helping to spread smiles on hospital visits.

Elsie loves chicken and treats, going for walks, sleeping, spending time with her best friend Bamba and climbing onto Sar for cuddles first thing in the morning. Although Sar originally wanted to call her CeCe, her family had other ideas and Elsie now answers to a variety of nicknames including Elsielee, Else, Neesha and Snooies.

“After seeing the other gorgeous Spread a Smile therapy dogs in action, I knew Elsie would be a perfect fit for the job. Elsie has a naturally calm, gentle temperament. She is affectionate, patient, sociable and very responsive to people’s emotions. Becoming a therapy dog felt like a wonderful way for her to bring comfort and happiness to others.”

To become a therapy dog, Elsie completed a series of assessments designed to test her temperament and suitability for hospital environments.

“Elsie began her journey to becoming a pet therapy dog with an assessment in the park, where we met with a representative who asked a series of questions about her temperament and behaviour. After observing her and discussing her personality she successfully passed the assessment.

The next stage of her training took place at GOSH where she was assessed again. I walked Elsie around a ward so she could experience the hospital environment, meet patients and families. Elsie remained calm, friendly, and confident throughout, demonstrating the qualities needed to provide comfort to those in hospital.”

Together, Sar and Elsie are helping to create moments of comfort, connection and joy for children and families when they need them most.

A huge thank you to Sar and Elsie for helping us spread smiles to seriously ill children across the country.

Find out more about the Spread a Smile Appeal and become a Champion to help us spread even more smiles.

Our entertainers – Meet Storyteller Posey

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Stories can transport us to new worlds, spark imagination and provide comfort during difficult times. For children spending long periods in hospital, they can also offer moments of connection, calm and normality when they are needed most.

This month, we’re shining a spotlight on Posey, one of Spread a Smile’s professional storytellers, who has been bringing stories, smiles and imagination to the children and families we support for almost four years.

Posey joined Spread a Smile in September 2022 and quickly found a charity whose mission perfectly aligned with her own passion for storytelling and childhood creativity.

“As a children’s storyteller, I am really passionate about the magic that stories and reading offer a child, and I love the Spread a Smile mission. It’s so simple and completely aligns with how I describe myself, which is ‘childlike, not childish’. Tapping into the joy of reading and sharing stories is something I have worked to do for nearly 30 years in a wide range of settings and roles. Offering entertainment to children in hospital is more than just giving a bit of fun – it’s the chance to let the power of imagination into your heart and mind.”

With an MA in Children’s Literature from Roehampton University and a career spanning libraries, schools and bookstores in both the UK and the United States, Posey has dedicated much of her professional life to helping children discover a love of books and stories.

Today, she delivers online storytimes, one-to-one virtual sessions and regular hospital visits for Spread a Smile, sharing stories with children of all ages. She also visits paediatric and neonatal intensive care units, where storytelling can provide valuable opportunities for connection between children and their families.

Posey has also played an important role in helping to develop Spread a Smile’s Intensive Care Library Project, which provides dedicated book libraries within NHS hospital partners for families with children receiving intensive and high dependency care.

The project aims to help families access the comfort and familiarity of reading together during long hospital stays, creating special moments of connection through stories.

“As one of the team who helped create the Intensive Care Library Project, it’s still such a privilege to walk onto a ward and see the bookcase full of books that I grew up with, or read to my own son, knowing that other parents have an easy and powerful way to connect with their own child. There’s no simpler way to express your love and connection with a baby or child than to read to them and share a story.”

Storytelling is increasingly recognised as an important part of supporting children’s emotional wellbeing in hospital. Research has shown that reading and storytelling can help reduce anxiety, fear and stress, while improving mood, sleep and overall wellbeing. Stories can also help children process difficult experiences, understand medical procedures and maintain a sense of childhood during treatment.

“There’s an increasing body of evidence demonstrating how storytelling and reading can have a significant positive impact on seriously ill children in hospital. Some studies have even found measurable biological benefits, such as lower stress hormone levels and increased feelings of comfort and connection, so when I say there’s science behind the power of listening to a story, it’s true.”

Throughout her time with Spread a Smile, Posey has seen first-hand the difference that stories can make to children and families.

“There’s a family who regularly join my virtual storytimes because they tell me how much my voice soothes and relaxes their daughter, which is a huge compliment for a child who lives primarily in a medical setting. Other parents share how much fun I am, and how their child now reads or asks for books to be read using my same silly voices and expressions. And of course, meeting brand new babies in the NICU and having the privilege of reading them their first-ever story just makes my heart sing.”

For Posey, being a storyteller at Spread a Smile is about far more than simply reading words on a page.

“Books is too obvious an answer, because my role with Spread a Smile is more than just reading words on a page – it’s bringing stories to life, to children who need them, in a way that provides them with exactly the right kind of entertainment. That’s what really sets Spread a Smile apart – everyone is so intuitive and focused on being exactly what a child or baby needs at a particular point in time. The work never feels like work – it’s just the very best way to try to make a child’s world a better place for even a few minutes.”

A huge thank you to Posey for helping children and families find comfort, connection and joy through the power of storytelling.

To find out more about our work, please click here.

International Day of Play 2026

 780 400 Hannah Myers
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On Thursday 11 June, we celebrated International Day of Play – a global initiative, recognised by the United Nations, which highlights the essential role of play in every child’s life.

The day is an important reminder that all children have a right to play and that opportunities for fun, creativity and connection are vital for children’s wellbeing and development. At Spread a Smile, helping seriously ill children access the benefits of play is at the heart of everything we do, particularly at a time when hospital stays, treatment and isolation can make these experiences more difficult to access.

To mark International Day of Play, Spread a Smile entertainers Posey, Leanne and Mitra joined the Play Team at St Mary’s Hospital for a day of fun and laughter across the wards. Through storytelling, songs, comedy, games and imaginative play, they spent time with children and families, creating moments of joy, distraction and connection throughout the hospital.

A particular focus of the day was ensuring that children who may find it harder to access play opportunities, including those in isolation rooms, could also take part. Through bedside visits and personalised interactions, the team helped ensure as many children as possible could experience the fun and benefits of play.

Supporting opportunities for play is a key part of Spread a Smile’s work in NHS hospitals and hospices across the country. In 2025/26, we delivered In 2025–26, we delivered over 18,411 in-person bedside visits and over 2,860 virtual visits, in partnership with 39 NHS hospitals and six hospice partners, helping thousands of seriously ill children and young people access moments of joy, creativity and connection when they needed them most.

Laura Walter, Director of Services at Spread a Smile, said:

“International Day of Play is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate something that is so important to every child – play. Play is about so much more than having fun – it helps children express themselves, build confidence, reduce their anxiety and create positive memories.

“At Spread a Smile, play is at the heart of our work. Every day, we work closely with the brilliant play teams across our NHS hospital partners, providing different forms of entertainment and play experiences. It’s been wonderful celebrating International Day of Play alongside the fantastic Play Team at St Mary’s Hospital.”

A huge thank you to the Play Team at St Mary’s Hospital for inviting us to be part of such a special day and for the incredible support they provide to children and families throughout the year.

Happy International Day of Play from everyone at Spread a Smile.

To donate to ensure we can continue our vital work, please click here

First in-person visit to Wales

 780 400 Hannah Myers
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We were delighted to make our first ever in-person visit to Wales on Friday 5 June, with a special entertainer visit to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Joined by our Chief Executive, Lucy Jackson, our fairy and magicians visited seriously ill children across the paediatric ward and playroom, bringing moments of laughter, connection and joy.

We were also delighted to welcome Wrexham Member of Parliament, Andrew Ranger MP, alongside Members of the Senedd, Ken Skates MS, Sam Rowlands MS, Cristiana Emsley MS and Nigel Williams MS. Together, they spent time with our entertainers and the hospital and play team, seeing first-hand the positive impact that Spread a Smile makes through play, creativity and connection for children and young people in hospital.

The visit marked a special milestone in a partnership that began during the Covid pandemic. Since October 2021, Spread a Smile has delivered dedicated fortnightly virtual entertainment sessions for patients at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, with the play team taking an iPad bed to bed so that children can enjoy one-to-one time with our entertainers. Patients have also joined our virtual group sessions, while long-term patients and their families have been supported through home visits and special gift hampers.

Rebecca Morris, Children’s Ward Manager, said: “Time in hospital can be long and frightening for a child, and the visits from Spread a Smile give our patients something to genuinely look forward to. Having the entertainers here in person was a real treat for the children and their families, and it was wonderful to share the day with our local representatives.”

Lucy Jackson, Chief Executive of Spread a Smile, added: “Wales has been part of Spread a Smile for nearly four years, so to finally be at the bedside in person at Wrexham Maelor means a great deal to us. Watching a child who has been having a tough day light up when a magician or our singing fairy arrives is something I never tire of. 

“Our thanks go to the play team, who have championed this partnership from the very start, and to the children and families who made us so welcome.” 

A special thank you to Andrew Ranger MP, Ken Skates MS, Sam Rowlands MS, Cristiana Emsley MS and Nigel Williams MS. Also, to the Play Team and staff at Wrexham Maelor for helping to make the day such a success.

Family Events – May roundup

 780 400 Hannah Myers
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Throughout May, Spread a Smile hosted a series of special family events, giving seriously ill children and their families the opportunity to step away from treatment and hospital appointments to enjoy quality time together, make happy memories and simply have fun.

From a magical trip to see The Lion King in London’s West End to a fun-filled cinema outing during half-term, each event was designed to create moments of joy, connection and togetherness for the families we support.

On Wednesday 13 May, families joined Spread a Smile at the Lyceum Theatre in London for a special performance of The Lion King.

Before the show, families enjoyed a pre-theatre party with pizza, Lola’s Cupcakes and entertainment from our Spread a Smile team. Mr Magic brought plenty of laughter and amazement with his brilliant tricks, Rosie led singalongs featuring Lion King classics, and Marta added extra sparkle with her face painting before families headed into the theatre for the performance.

Following the show, families also had the chance to meet members of the cast, making the day even more memorable.

Karen, mum of Max, shared: “It was so special – Max and I will treasure it always. It was just a dream to do something special with Max after all he has been through. Also, for Max and the other children to be treated like the VIPs that they are.”

Jo, mum of Etta, added: “Etta loved absolutely every single second of it – particularly the wonderful magician who she thought was hilarious. You guys are fantastic, a lifelong, complex medical condition doesn’t really bring many benefits to a family but getting to do things with spread a smile is most definitely a wonderful positive from a rubbish situation. We think you are all fabulous and thank you for giving us the opportunity to come along.”

Later in the month for half-term, we welcomed 51 children and family members to Everyman Cinema in King’s Cross for a screening of Zootropolis 2.

Families enjoyed a fun-packed afternoon complete with magic, music and plenty of delicious treats including popcorn, pizza, sweets and Lola’s Cupcakes before settling down together to enjoy the film.

One parent shared afterwards: “Thank you so much for yesterday, was such a wonderful time and was Albie’s first time at the cinema so thank you for making that happen. Thanks for all your support and amazing work you guys do once again!”

Ellie Walker, Head of Family Events at Spread a Smile, said:

“This is exactly why we create these days – to spread smiles, give families a chance to pause, and let children simply be children. Seeing families connect and share these moments together is incredibly special.”

Alongside these family outings, May also saw Spread a Smile host its annual memorial event, A Time To Remember supporting families who have experienced the loss of a child and ensuring they continue to feel supported and connected as part of the Spread a Smile community.

A huge thank you to those who helped make our May family events possible, including Clarksons, Disney, Everyman Cinema and Lola’s Cupcakes.

If you are a family with a seriously ill children who would like to find out more about our events, please email smile@spreadasmile.org – thank you.

Memorial Event

 780 400 Hannah Myers
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Earlier this month, Spread a Smile held its third annual Memorial Event, A Time to Remember, kindly hosted by Clarksons at their offices in St Katharine Docks.

A Time to Remember is an important part of Spread a Smile’s ongoing care for families we support, ensuring we are there for them for as long as they need us. This deeply meaningful gathering brought together those who have experienced the loss of a child, providing a gentle and supportive space to come together, remember and honour their loved ones.

The ceremony was led by Judge, our poet, and focused on “smile” memories shared by families — precious moments of joy, love and connection that continue to be held close. Families were invited to write these memories on “memory leaves” and place them on a shared memory tree, creating a moving collective tribute.

After the ceremony, families were able to spend time together in a calm and supportive environment, with the opportunity to connect with others who understand similar experiences. A quiet rooftop gathering hosted by Clarksons followed, with refreshments available and space for reflection.

Throughout the day, gentle activities were available for those who wished to take part, including hand massages with aromatherapy from Priya and Laura, magic from Mr Magic, and plant pot decorating with Posey and Marina. Each family also received “forget me not” seeds to plant at home as a lasting symbol of remembrance.

Therapy dog Smartie also joined the day, offering comfort and quiet companionship. Marina, our Head of Art created personalised memory books for each family, thoughtfully reflecting their child’s life, personality and what they loved.

Spread a Smile Chief Executive Lucy Jackson, Director of Services Laura Walter, and Head of Family Events Ellie Walker were also present, supporting families throughout the day with Laura saying: “We will always be there for families, and will always honour and remember the special young people we have had the honour of supporting.”

We are deeply grateful to Clarksons for hosting this important event, to Children with Cancer UK for their continued support, and to Lola’s Cupcakes for their kindness in providing refreshments.

If your company would like to explore ways to support our work – 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 by emailing smile@spreadasmile.org. We are here for you.

Fladgate Corporate Partnership

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We’re delighted that Spread a Smile has been chosen as one of Fladgate’s charity partners alongside Grief Encounter for the next two years (2026–2028), following a staff-wide vote. 

To kick off the partnership, Spread a Smile entertainer, Collette joined Fladgate’s karaoke fundraiser on Thursday evening. We’re looking forward to visiting Fladgate’s offices soon to meet the wider team, share more about the charity’s work and the many ways staff can get involved – from fundraising and volunteering to taking part in challenge events in support of Spread a Smile.

“We are delighted to have partnered with Spread a Smile as one of our firmwide charities – their message truly resonates with us, as does the fantastic work they do in hospitals to bring joy to children who are seriously ill.” – David Harrison, CSR Partner Lead at Fladgate. 

Rosie Perkins, Spread a Smile’s Corporate Partnerships Manager added, “We’re so excited to be partnering with Fladgate as one of their chosen charity partners for 2026–2028.

“This partnership will help us continue to bring joy, laughter and comfort to seriously ill children in hospitals and hospices across the UK, through our entertainer visits, events and family support services. 

“Thank you to everyone at Fladgate for your support – we’re incredibly grateful and so excited for what we can achieve together. We can’t wait to get started!” 

If you would like to find out more about how your company can get involved with the work of Spread a Smile, through our partnership programme or events, please email Rosie at rosie@spreadasmileorg 

Hackney Half Marathon 2026

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On Sunday 17 May, 30 incredible #TeamSmile runners took on the HOKA Hackney Moves Half Marathon 2026, raising over £19,000 to help Spread a Smile continue bringing joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families across the country.
Team Smile was the largest to date, with individual runners joining teams from some of our corporate partners – Clarksons, Corinthia London and BC Partners –  to take on this iconic challenge in support of Spread a Smile’s vital work.
Chris Perrin, Spread a Smile Public Fundraising Manager, said, “This year Team Smile Hackney Half, raised more than ever before through their fundraising at this brilliant event – an incredible amount which could help fund over 600 bedside entertainer visits to seriously ill children and young people in hospital. A huge thank you to each and every one of our runners for their passion, commitment, determination and for helping us spread smiles where they’re needed most.”

The atmosphere throughout the day was incredible, with the Spread a Smile cheering team (including our very own Chief Executive, Lucy Jackson), joining in the fun and helping to keep our runners motivated at our Mile 6 dedicated cheer point. The celebrations continued at a post-race meet and greet at Hackney Marshes.

Our friends from Clarksons shared their motivation for supporting Spread a Smile and taking part in the challenge, saying: “Clarksons is a truly diverse organisation, with our demographics stretching across all ages, ethnicities and social backgrounds. However, one thing remains the same across all of these, we all have children in our lives which we care very deeply for – whether it be our sons, daughters, cousins, nieces, or nephews – and we at Clarksons all wish for nothing but the best for the young people in our lives.

“With that in mind, it is important to remember those not as fortunate as our loved ones, children who do not have the same opportunities to thrive and enjoy their younger years that others are afforded. This is why we chose to support Spread a Smile, a charity that aligns with our values here at Clarksons and allows us to help children who deserve the world given their truly unfortunate circumstances.

“Through our fundraising, we have been able to reflect on ourselves and the fortunate positions we, and the children in our lives, may find ourselves in. We hope our efforts in fundraising for this wonderful charity bring joy and happiness to those who most deserve it – and provide much needed relief to children and parents alike, even if just for a day. It really is a pleasure to be able to partner with yourselves and represent Spread a Smile in the Hackney Half 2026.”

Join #TeamSmile today

Feeling inspired? Sign up to join Team Smile for the Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 11 October 2026 here and take on your own challenge in support of Spread a Smile.

PR Dinner

 780 400 Hannah Myers
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We were delighted to host our second PR Dinner, bringing together PR and communications professionals for an evening focused on learning more about the work of Spread a Smile and the difference it makes to seriously ill children and their families.

The dinner was generously hosted on Thursday 14 May by Phil Caplin, Founder of leading broadcast PR firm Broadcast Revolution, at the beautiful Corinthia London, with Phil saying,

“Spread a Smile is an amazing charity and we absolutely love working with them. It’s a real privilege to bring our clients to this event and introduce them to the incredible work the charity does to bring joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families. We hope the evening is the start of lasting relationships and future collaborations, with more people finding meaningful ways to support Spread a Smile and their important work.”

The evening created a unique opportunity for PR and communications professionals to come together to network, connect and engage with one another, while hearing more about Spread a Smile’s work supporting children and young people in hospital and at home. The event also provided an important platform to introduce new audiences to the charity and strengthen relationships within the communications industry.

Guests heard from Spread a Smile Chief Executive Lucy Jackson, who said, “Events like this are such a wonderful opportunity to connect with people who are passionate about making a difference. We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us to learn more about Spread a Smile and help us continue bringing joy to seriously ill children and their families.”

A magician also joined the evening, helping to bring to life the joy, connection and moments of surprise that are central to Spread a Smile’s work with families.

The PR Dinner is part of our wider corporate fundraising work, helping us to build meaningful relationships with professionals and organisations who want to make a difference by providing valubale support for families going through the worst of times due to serious illness.

We would like to thank Phil Caplin and everyone at Broadcast Revolution for hosting and supporting the evening, all of our attendees for joining us, and Corinthia London for their generous hospitality.

We look forward to continuing to grow these connections and working together to spread more smiles to seriously ill children and their families.

Get in touch with Rosie from our partnerships team at rosie@spreadasmile.org to find out how you or your company can become part of our our brilliant network of industry professionals.

Golf Days 2026

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Our much-loved Golf Days are returning in 2026, bringing supporters together for two brilliant days of golf, connection and fundraising in support of Spread a Smile

Taking place on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September 2026 and kindly sponsored by Canary Wharf Contractors Fund, the events will be held at The Shire London, the UK’s only golf course designed by Seve Ballesteros.

The Spread a Smile Golf Days are a highlight in our fundraising calendar, welcoming supporters and teams from across the corporate sector to enjoy a relaxed but competitive day of golf.  The day will be made that extra bit special thanks to entertainment and special moments around the course from Spread a Smile’s entertainers, and the opportunity to connect with other supporters over a delicious lunch.

Spread a Smile Chief Executive Lucy Jackson said, “Our Golf Days are such brilliant feel-good events — a chance to play some great golf, meet our wonderful Spread a Smile entertainers and do good along the way. With plenty of fun and special surprises throughout the day, they’re always a really uplifting experience for everyone involved.”

We are looking forward to welcoming both returning and new teams for what promises to be another fantastic couple of days on the course.

Kevin Moran, CEO of MP Moran, shared, “I love coming back each year to the Spread a Smile Golf Days. As well as raising money for a brilliant cause, we always have great fun out on the course, especially with the entertainers. There is nothing quite like being serenaded while playing your tee shot and whether it is a good shot or a bad one, they always have the perfect song ready, which brings plenty of laughter to the team.”

Teams can take part as a four-ball or support the event through tee sponsorship, with additional sponsorship opportunities available throughout the day.

Four-ball
£1,600

Four-ball with tee sponsorship
£1,800

Sponsorship opportunities
from £500

Places are now open and we’d love you to join us for one of the most enjoyable and impactful days in our fundraising calendar.

Book your place here

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