Posts By :

mattd

What the hospitals say about us

400 267 mattd

We work in six London hospitals: Great Ormond Street, University College Hospital, the Royal London, the Evalina, St Mary’s and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore. We have established strong working relationships with our hospital partners so we can keep sending in our teams of entertainers regularly.

“Spread a Smile have been sending entertainers into GOSH for four years and they are one of the more consistent and quality-driven charities we regularly rely on. The team have built an incredible reputation for themselves in a relatively short space of time. The way they operate is an exemplar to other voluntary organisations we work with. They are professional and reliable and an important part of the Volunteer Services team at GOSH. I would arrange a Spread a Smile visit for every day of the week if I could and we are currently looking into how we can expand their work into even more wards at GOSH.”
Jamie Wilcox, Head of Volunteer Services, GOSH

“Spread a Smile has made a huge difference to the experience of paediatric and adolescent patients at University College Hospital. The entertainers are talented and clearly believe in what they are doing. Not only do they put the patients and families at ease, they engage with the children and young people in a fun, exciting way that is appropriate to their age and developmental level. They really make each individual child and young person feel special. When Spread a Smile are with us, the children are visibly more relaxed and comfortable in the hospital environment.”
Laura Walter, Senior Radiotherapy Play Specialist, UCLH

“It is sometimes difficult for us to get the children to accept the procedure they need; with Spread a Smile’s help and support the children increasingly become more compliant, which helps me and my colleagues tremendously. They don’t even notice they’ve had their procedure or injection as they’re so interested in Spread a Smile’s activity!”
Natasha Luck, Play Specialist, The Royal London Hospital

“Spread a Smile is a very special charity. They value and appreciate the clinical work that is undertaken and work collaboratively with the ward and hospital staff, this strengthens their success. The team are professional and work closely with us to ensure all members of the team have good knowledge to work in such specialised clinical environments. I have seen children amazed at the magician doing a card trick, children excitedly waiting for a visit from the magical fairy or having their face painted and the nurses speechless from their hard work described in a poem. Spread a Smile is able to put a smile on a child’s face or make them laugh in the most difficult of situations.”
Eleanor Tyrrell, Matron, GOSH

“It is wonderful to have Spread a Smile’s entertainers in the St Mary’s paediatric departments, because they do exactly what the name implies – they take the patients’ minds off why they are there, helping to relax them and to entertain them at exactly the right time. The entertainers bring joy and amusement to our patients from the very youngest to the adolescents. The families also benefit from seeing their children having a moment of pleasure away from their condition and their treatment. Cassie the pet therapy dog has done wonders with the children including those who were previously a little ‘dog-phobic’, and the fairies, magicians, singers and storytellers pitch their work perfectly for each child. It is a pleasure to work with such a well-organised and enthusiastic charity.”
IAN LUSH – Chief Executive of the Imperial College Healthcare Charity

If you would like to speak to a member of our team about Spread a Smile visiting your hospital, please contact Vanessa on 020 7482 5191 or vanessa@spreadasmile.org.

Meet our entertainers

400 267 mattd

Our entertainers form the heart of Spread a Smile. We are very lucky to have an incredible team of entertainers, who have come to us based on personal recommendations and have had extensive professional experience in the entertainment industry. We have a range of magicians, fairies, singers, face painters and a spontaneous poet to ensure that every age group from newborns to eighteen-year-olds and every taste can be catered for.

Our entertainers tell us that joining Spread a Smile has been a life-changing experience. Many of them have been with us since the charity was established.

Here’s what some of them had to say about working with Spread a Smile:

“I have been so fortunate to have travelled the world, to do and see things that I would never have dreamed of growing up. I have met Royalty, stood on stage in front of sell-out theatres in the West End, and performed live on television in front of 15 million people. But I promise you, all of it means absolutely nothing, when compared to the smile on the face of a child, or a glint in their eye, when you can take them away from everything, even just for a few seconds, into a pain-free world of make believe where absolutely anything is possible. Of everything I have been lucky enough to achieve in my professional life, working with, and subsequently being asked to become a patron for Spread a Smile is at the very top of the list.” Jamie

“I love working with Spread a Smile because the organisation is brilliantly run, well organised and totally focused on their goal to provide moments of joy and happiness for kids and teenagers in hospitals. I am privileged to work with a talented team of entertainers where ego is always left at the door and as a team we try our best to make as many people happy as we can within the limited time we have to do it. Whilst we cannot ease pain or fix their condition, we can, for a few minutes at least, allow them to forget why they are in hospital and give them a chance to react and behave like any other child. We give them a chance to enjoy the feelings of fun and laughter the other kids take for granted. Our visits are a highlight of the children’s day and sometimes they really look forward to our visits. Giving a child a sense of excitement and hope is a great way to help them mentally if not physically. Spread a Smile has become a very important charity to be aligned with. It is an honour and privilege to represent them.” Nick

“Working for Spread a Smile is without question one of the most rewarding things I do. Each child I meet in hospital is a star. They have such a positive outlook on life and although it is me who dresses like a superhero; they are my heroes. Seeing them laugh and smile and forget their surroundings for just a small amount of time is the greatest gift I can give.” Dov

“To make a child laugh, to help them forget for a moment that they are in a hospital or in pain, is a real joy. One father told me the doctors were able to reduce his daughter’s morphine drip after I had visited – such a humbling thing to hear, and a sign of how important Spread a Smile’s work is.” Felicity

Royal Parks Half Marathon 2017

400 222 mattd

Run a Mile, Spread a Smile

Team Spread a Smile has 18 amazing runners running in the Royal Parks Half Marathonon Sunday 8 October 2017. They will be helping us spread smiles and make a huge difference to the lives of seriously ill children and teenagers.

This stunning central London half marathon across a 13.1 mile route, takes in the capital’s world-famous landmarks on closed roads, and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.

Thank you for your support…we can make a difference together!

Vanessa

1024 768 mattd

Vanessa was 4 years old when she was first diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in the nerve tissue and mainly affects babies and young children. She was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital and her treatment required her to be in hospital for long periods of time. We first met Vanessa four years ago not long after she started treatment on Lion Ward. She was low at the time and was missing her two sisters, Ruby and Zoe. She loved the Spread a Smile visits as they helped her take her mind off her treatment.

Vanessa’s dad, Parker, told us about the impact our entertainers’ visits had on Vanessa: “Spread a Smile’s volunteers were one of the only things that could raise a smile in our daughter during her chemotherapy. Their fairies are angels of kindness, and their magicians conjure away the pain with every visit. It’s hard to explain how slowly time passes on a children’s oncology ward, but Spread a Smile silenced the ticking of the clock, and remained at our daughter’s side to sprinkle a little fairy dust and make her feel for a few moments like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Vanessa loves Les Miserables and we were able to organise a visit for Vanessa, her mum, dad, and sisters to watch Les Mis and even meet and sing with the cast after the show. Vanessa sent us a message after the show: “I loved all the songs and I think they are all great singers. The best bit was when they sung ‘One Day More’. The show was really good. I loved it! Thank you Josephine and Vanessa.” Her dad also wrote, “Thank you to this wonderful charity, which works tirelessly to spread a smile to children.”

Vanessa’s mum, Anna, summed up Spread a Smile’s work: “A child still wants to play, still wants to smile and still wants to spend their days laughing despite being very sick… Probably the most valuable type of help at that time in our lives was when the extraordinary team from Spread a Smile came into the hospital and just made a difference at that moment and let my daughter be a child again. That for me as a mother is the most precious gift my daughter could have during a very very tough time.”

After four years of painful treatment, Vanessa is still battling this awful disease. Spread a Smile has loved helping her and her family have moments of respite and joy during this distressing time and helping them create uplifting memories to sustain them in the future.

Meet Cassie and Oscar

1024 682 mattd

PAT pets can come in all shapes and sizes, but our two Spread a Smile pets, Cassie and Oscar, are both cuddly dogs.

Cassie, with her owner Talia, has been visiting patients at UCLH, the Royal London and St Mary’s, since 2015 and has recently started visiting GOSH. Oscar, with his owner, Carolyn, has been visiting UCLH since early 2017.

The Pets as Therapy (PAT) charity has given the dogs accreditation by assessing each of them for suitability for hospital visits. They check the pet is sociable and friendly, that it is calm and gentle when being stroked or handled, and isn’t overly fearful of new and unexpected stimuli.

Cassie & Talia

Cassie is a six-year-old Cavapoo – half Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and half Miniature Poodle.

Talia, Cassie’s owner, said about the visits, “People of all ages seem to gravitate to Cassie, from the infants and toddlers who love to touch her fluffy coat, and point and laugh when she rings the bell, to teenagers who don’t feel like a chat, but would rather stroke and cuddle up to a warm and gentle dog, to the doctors and staff who get to have a short and uplifting break from their stressful jobs.

“Cassie constantly has a wagging tail and loves all the fussing and attention. She just seems to know whether to be silly and make the children laugh, or to be calm and cuddly when that’s what’s needed.”

“Volunteering for Spread a Smile is the most re­warding and incredible experience I have had the pleasure of taking part in.”

“I’m so proud of my little pup for what she does during a hospital visit. Even though it’s only a small difference, it seems to be a lasting one to the children and family’s day.”

Oscar & Carolyn

Oscar is a five and a half year-old Tibetan Terrier.

Carolyn, Oscar’s owner, said “I have been volunteering at Spread a Smile for the past two years and am constantly humbled by the amazing difference our entertainers make to so many children and their families, in particular Cassie our other gorgeous PAT dog. Knowing how much my dog Oscar loves human company, I was inspired to see whether he would be able to follow in Cassie’s paw prints. Little did I know what an impact it would have on both our lives.

“From the second we arrive on the ward at UCLH there is excitement and a friendly welcome for Oscar from both the families and the staff. In fact quite often the staff are just as pleased to see him as the children and come to find him for a stroke and a cuddle!

“A lot of children are missing their own family pets whilst in hospital so seeing Oscar really makes them smile. Often they are happy to chat to us both, even if they have been quite subdued or unhappy before we arrive. I can see how this affects not only the child, but also their parents and grandparents. I remember on my very first visit we saw a little boy who was so excited to see Oscar because he was missing his own dog. I put Oscar on the boy’s bed while he stroked him, and he chatted away non-stop the whole time we were there. I found out later that he hadn’t spoken for two or three days before Oscar had walked through his door.

“Oscar seems to really enjoy his visits. He loves getting attention from everyone and his tail is always wagging. As soon as he sees a child, he immediately lies down on the floor waiting for a stroke and if he’s really lucky a tummy tickle or even a cuddle! It’s quite tiring for him, so after a hard morning’s work, he comes home, curls up in his bed and snores all afternoon!

Seven year old Ryan loves Cassie and Oscar’s visits. He said: “The dogs are lovely, soft and friendly. I like making them happy, then they wag their tail and that makes me happy. I love it when they lie on my hospital bed and I love Cassie’s tricks. My favourite trick is when she rings a bell with her paw. They brighten my day and make me smile seeing them. The visits are important as they make lots of people happy.”

Jessica

1024 683 mattd

Jessica was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when she was 5 years old. In the early days she was struggling with everything that had changed in her life as a result as her diagnosis. She was receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, but at the beginning she felt anxious and wasn’t confident around the hospital and the staff. Spread a Smile helped her feel more comfortable; her gran Louise said, “When Spread a Smile’s fabulous entertainers came in, she would start off smiling and end up roaring with laughter. Although she loves all the entertainers, Fairy Felicity is undoubtedly her favourite.

Jess has two younger siblings, Taylor and Mia, who have also been affected by their sister’s illness. We are aware that siblings not only find it distressing seeing their sister or brother suffering, but also the time-consuming pressures of treatment can often mean some siblings feel ignored. Spread a Smile try to support Taylor and Mia too during this difficult time and have included them on VIP outings to the theatre and to our annual party. Louise said, “This has ensured Taylor and Mia do not feel forgotten or neglected; they always feel so special. They have been able to travel Jess’ journey with her, and they will always have the memories of doing things together. For this we will always be
grateful to Spread a Smile.

Jess has been receiving treatment for three years now and the fight against cancer has been gruelling. During this challenging time, Spread a Smile visited her often. Her gran said, “Whilst Jess was struggling with her treatments and the physical side effects, her emotional and psychological well-being was being supported through love and laughter from the wonderful volunteers and staff of Spread a Smile. This support for children battling serious illness is invaluable. You will never realise how much of a difference you have made to Jess during the last three years.