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Hannah Myers

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

 1024 683 Hannah Myers
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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

Mental Health Awareness Week

 1024 683 Hannah Myers
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This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re highlighting the importance of emotional wellbeing for seriously ill children and their families at Spread a Smile.

At Spread a Smile, supporting the emotional wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families is at the heart of everything we do. Alongside the medical treatment children are receiving, we believe emotional support, connection and moments of joy are just as important during some of the most challenging times families can face.

Serious illness can turn worlds upside down. Long hospital stays, intensive treatment and time away from home place enormous pressure on the wellbeing and mental health of children, young people and their families. Families are often separated from loved ones, daily routines and the experiences that make up a typical childhood, leading to feelings of isolation, uncertainty and emotional exhaustion.

Through our family-centred approach, Spread a Smile provides support during treatment and recovery. From in-person hospital visits that bring laughter, creativity and connection, to family events and outings that create precious shared memories, and virtual entertainer sessions that offer comfort wherever families are, we remain committed to being there whenever we are needed most.

The impact of this work is reflected in our latest impact report, with 100% of healthcare professionals saying Spread a Smile visits have a positive impact on patients’ mental health and wellbeing.*

Our 2026 Parent, Carer and Patient Survey also highlighted the difference these visits make:**

  • 100% of children and young people said a visit made them feel happy
  • 99% said our entertainer visits made their time in hospital better
  • 98% said the visit improved their child’s hospital experience
  • 100% said Spread a Smile brought joy to their child
  • 90% of parents and carers felt supported during visits
  • 93% said visits helped ease stress

Laura Walter, Director of Services at Spread a Smile, said, “At Spread a Smile, we see first-hand the emotional impact serious illness has on children, young people and their families. It can be isolating, exhausting and overwhelming as families adjust to a new way of living.

“Our family-centred approach supports wellbeing through in-person hospital visits bringing joy and connection, family events and outings creating time together as a family, and virtual sessions so families can access support wherever they are. We remain committed to supporting emotional wellbeing alongside medical care.”

One parent shared, “Spread a Smile is an amazing charity. Brightening up multiple hospital admissions we have had and also at home. Spread a Smile really does pick you up when you’re feeling the world is against you.”

Another said, “Spread a Smile has made such an incredible difference in my son’s life. When they arrive in hospital, everything changes — his face lights up with pure joy. For a while, the pain and worry fade away.”

Mila added, “Spread a Smile take a bleak day and fill it with so much colour… it has almost completely replaced the bleakness.”

Just £30 could help fund an entertainer visit to a seriously ill child at their hospital bedside.

Donate Now

* Collated from the Spread a Smile Healthcare Professional Survey 2024 

** Collated from the Spread a Smile Parent/Carer/Patient Survey 2026 

Young Committee Event

 780 400 Hannah Myers
By:

Spread a Smile’s Young Committee hosted a sold-out pub quiz on 6 May 2026, raising £734 to support the charity’s work bringing joy and laughter to seriously ill children and young people across the UK.

Held at Uncommon, the event welcomed 60 guests for an evening of fundraising, networking and friendly competition in support of Spread a Smile. The successful event was organised by the newly formed Young Committee under the leadership of new co-chairs Aaron Maurice and Joshua Maurice.

The Young Committee was established to help raise funds and awareness for Spread a Smile, while also providing ideas and insight, relevant to younger audiences and supporters. The committee is made up of ambassadors who have been personally impacted by the charity’s work and are passionate about inspiring the next generation to support Spread a Smile.

Aaron’s connection to the charity is especially meaningful, having been the inspiration behind how Spread a Smile first began more than 13 years ago. Aaron and Joshua are also nephews of one of Spread a Smile’s co-founders, Josephine Segal, making their involvement with the Young Committee deeply personal.
Aaron and Joshua said:

“We are both grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to chair the Spread a Smile Young Committee and inspire the next generation of supporters of a charity that means so much to us.

“To see our first event sell out and bring together 60 supporters was incredibly special, and we cannot thank our amazing committee members enough for all of their hard work, enthusiasm and support in making the evening such a success.

“Spread a Smile has a close, personal connection to both of us, and the Young Committee is a way for us to give back to a charity that has transformed our lives, our family’s and the lives of children across the country.

“This is the start of a long journey for us, and we’re looking forward to growing a network of like-minded, charity-focused people who want to use their careers as a platform to make a positive impact on the world.”

Lucy Jackson, Chief Executive of Spread a Smile, added:

“We are incredibly proud and grateful for the support of Spread a Smile’s inspiring Young Committee. Together, they are helping us to reach new audiences, raise vital funds and share our work to help build the next generation of the Spread a Smile family.

“Huge congratulations to all of the committee members, and especially to Aaron and Joshua, who recently took on the role of co-chairs and have truly hit the ground running through a brilliant first event.”

The funds raised from the event will help Spread a Smile continue spreading joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families.

If you would like to find out more about fundraising for Spread a Smile, please email fundraising@spreadasmile.org

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