Posts By :

Susie

Lucy Jackson in conversation with Jo Elvin

 1024 458 Susie
By:

Spread a Smile is delighted to share a brilliant new film featuring our Chief Executive, Lucy Jackson, in conversation with Jo Elvin, former CEO of Children with Cancer UK. This inspiring film highlights the incredible impact Spread a Smile has on seriously ill children and their families, offering moments of joy and distraction during some of their most challenging times.

Through our dedicated team of entertainers, Spread a Smile brings joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families in hospices and hospitals across the country and through a programme of virtual sessions, art initiatives and family events. The film provides an insight into how our work transforms hospital stays and treatment experiences, making an immeasurable difference to the emotional well-being of children and their families.

A key theme of the discussion between Lucy and Jo is the valued partnership between Spread a Smile and Children with Cancer UK. This collaboration has helped Spread a Smile extend the reach of our services to even more young patients, ensuring that those undergoing cancer treatment receive the joy and support they need.

Lucy Jackson shared her thoughts on the film: “It’s a privilege to share Spread a Smile’s mission in this new film. Our work is all about bringing joy to children and families when they need it most, and we are so grateful to partners like Children with Cancer UK who help us to continue making a real difference.”

Take a look at the film below and thank you to our friends at Children with Cancer UK for their ongoing support and helping us to spread smiles when they are needed most.

Introducing our new Head of Fundraising

 780 400 Susie
By:

Spread a Smile is delighted to welcome Krishan Solanki, our new Head of Fundraising to the team. We spoke to Krishan about his background in the charity sector and what he’s looking forward to most about being part of Team Smile. 

“I have worked in fundraising roles in the third sector for the past 12 years at two national disability charities, Scope and Muscular Dystrophy UK. I came into the sector through events fundraising, and prior to that, from working for agencies and governing bodies in the sports sector. During my time in the charity sector, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredible fundraisers, build flagship events, campaigns, and corporate partnersand look to forward to applying my experience to help grow fundraising at Spread a Smile. 

“As a sibling to someone who received a diagnosis of congenital muscular dystrophy as a toddler, I spent a lot of time in hospitals and at appointments with them growing up. Spread a Smile didn’t exist when we were younger, but it’s clear what a difference it would’ve made to us as a family if it had. As soon as I heard about the charity, I felt instantly connected to the cause. Remembering those times in hospital, it would’ve been brilliant to have met the team on their visits, to be cheered up and distracted from the clinical setting, medical procedures and discussions, and subsequently to be able to connect more positively to the experiences during those times. 

“What Spread a Smile does is really special and I can’t wait to get stuck in and meet everyone connected to the cause. I’m really looking forward to driving and continuing to grow our fundraising offering, so we can bring even more joy to more people’s lives. 

“Everyone I’ve met so far at Spread a Smile have been so welcoming. It’s a fun group of people with lots of positive energy pushing the charity forward and I feel right at home. I’m keen to meet as many of our supporters as possible and am open to being approached, so please do reach out at any time to chat about how you or your company can get involved with this wonderful charity. My inbox (krishan@spreadasmile.org) is always open.” 

If you are interested in working with Spread a Smile, please take a look at our current open job roles here. 

Meet Cara and new therapy Dog, Scout

 780 400 Susie
By:

We’re delighted to welcome Cara and Scout to the Spread a Smile team.

Scout is a 5-year-old female cockapoo and our newest recruit to our team of therapy dogs, making regular visits to children in hospital with owner, Cara. Cara told us a little bit more about Scout and her journey to becoming a therapy dog with Spread a Smile.

“Scout is very intelligent and lots of fun, but most importantly a friendly, calm dog. I think she makes a great therapy dog as she absolutely adores people and loves getting cuddles – she can never have too many! She’d make an absolutely terrible guard dog, though. 

“I’m a children’s writer and spend a lot of time visiting schools with Scout to read my stories. Scout has also been working as a registered ‘Pets as Therapy’ dog for 3 years, going into a local primary school to read with the children. A few people mentioned to me what an asset she would be as a hospital dog, so this is something I started considering. In addition, I am a mum of three girls, including one who was sadly stillborn, I feel a real affinity with parents who are going through very difficult times. When I read about Spread a Smile in a magazine, I realised it would be the perfect organisation for us to get involved with.”

“To become a therapy dog, Scout was assessed by Pets as Therapy in 2022 and she passed with flying colours. Since joining the Spread a Smile team, we’ve been in to visit children and young people in hospital, and it’s been a great first introduction to the charity and the important work they do. We met some children in the playroom first, and then went to individual beds on the ward. The children and their parents were really happy to see Scout and she brought a lot of smiles to their faces.

“Even though it was a very different to her usual surroundings, Scout was perfectly comfortable in hospital and took all the strange equipment, busy corridors and noises in her stride. It was lovely seeing the children visibly relax in her presence and enjoy a moment of calm between medical procedures. I think Scout is always so insistent on attention and love, that she brings people out of their present worries and gives them something else to focus on, even just for a short time. She particularly loved having her fur brushed.

“Just like on my school visits, we always take time to introduce ourselves and take things very gently. Scout seems to know which side of her personality to bring out depending on the child – so sometimes she gives excited with tail-waggy greetings, and at other times she simply curls up for a quiet pat. When encouraged, Scout loves showing off a few of her tricks (only ‘sit’, ‘paw’ and ‘lie down’ – but she performs them very diligently!) and being given her favourite treat – cubes of mature cheddar cheese – as a reward.

“I have been able to bring copies of my rhyming picture book, Finding Floss, along with me on hospital visits and hand them out to children, along with stickers. This ties in perfectly with Scout’s visits, as the book is about a loveable cockapoo. Storytelling is something I have always been passionate about and most of my stories contain a huge dollop of silliness and absurdity – I love seeing children get the giggles, especially when they’ve been feeling sad or worried. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. 

“I am hoping to do some book readings and story sessions with Spread a Smile in the future. I have more books due to come out – more silly animal capers – so would love to read these too. 

“I’d heard about therapy dogs in hospitals, but hadn’t, until recently, heard of Spread a Smile. What is immediately impressive, is the sheer amount of hard work and organisation that goes in to coordinating the visits, and the amount of people that help to make it happen. I have also enjoyed meeting other Spread a Smile entertainers on my visits – from magicians, to singers, to balloon artists. They are all so talented and I’ve loved seeing children, from tiny babies to teenagers, light up in their presence. Both Scout and I are really looking forward to what lies ahead on our journey with Spread a Smile.”

Please donate to help ensure we can continue to fund our therapy dog visits for children and young people in hospital. Thank you.

Brothers take on Ultra Challenge

 780 400 Susie
By:

Spread a Smile met Henry, aged 9, and his Mum and Dad, Vicky and James, when Henry was receiving treatment for a rare genetic disorder at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

James and his brother Tom are taking on the Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge in aid of Spread a Smile, which will see them walk or jog 106km walk around the island in May.

Vicky, James and Tom said, “Spread a Smile are a really incredible charity providing hospital visits to inpatients, video calls to children at home and special events in partnership with some wonderful companies.

“We’ve had some really dark moments but Spread a Smile have given us some brighter ones. As a family we have personally benefited from the work that they do, from fairies, singers, poets and magicians visiting Henry on the ward to video calls at home during Covid-19 and virtual birthday parties and Christmas boxes delivered by magical members of the team.

“One of the biggest things that we have been grateful for are the events that Spread a Smile organise. Including trips to the theatre to see The Lion king for the girls whilst Henry was in hospital, to days out to London Zoo and Henry’s personal favourite, the Lego events. Days to be with other families in similar situations to take time away from the appointments and treatments and to just smile!

“The other thing that we are always grateful for is how special they make siblings feel too. Siblings can be forgotten about and not everyone thinks about how having a poorly sibling can affect them. Spread a Smile always ensure that every child is thought about and the children never come away from these events empty handed.

“All of these things of course need funding and that’s why we’re fundraising to ensure that other families can be reached and more smiles can be spread.”

Thank you so much to James and Tom for their support and good luck for the challenge. Visit their JustGiving page here.

Please email Tasha at tashamann@spreadasmile.org to find out more about our upcoming fundraising challenges.

Director of Services takes on three peaks

 780 400 Susie
By:

Our National Three Peaks Challenge will see our fundraisers trek around 26 miles, ascending a total height of almost 3,000m in two days and taking on the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales: Ben Nevis (1,344m), Scafell Pike (978m) and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) (1,085m).

Spread a Smile’s Director of Services, Laura Walter will be joining Team Smile for this incredible challenge from Friday 4 – Sunday 6 July 2025 . We spoke to Laura about why she’s signed up and what she’s most looking forward to.

“I love hiking and being outdoors, but I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m not a runner and really wanted to do a challenge to support Spread a Smile, so this one ticked the boxes for me. We’ve taken patients and their families up to the Lake District for the past few years for a residential trip, and it’s such a magical, restorative place, so I’m excited to go back there as well (even if it’s only for a few hours). I’m really looking forward to challenging myself both physically and mentally.

“I feel so fortunate to work for Spread a Smile and it’s really important to me to give back and show my support for our brilliant charity by raising funds to enable us to provide more services, and in particular, deliver more visits to our hospital partners.

“I truly believe in the work we do at Spread a Smile, and have first-hand insight into the positive impact the visits have on patients, their families, and healthcare professionals from my many years working as a play specialist in the NHS. Our entertainers really lift the entire mood for everyone (patients, families and staff), and help to provide that essential distraction that is so needed for children and young people facing painful and invasive treatments and procedures.

“Every step I take on the challenge will be for the children, young people and families Spread a Smile supports. This challenge isn’t just about climbing mountains, it’s about helping these children and their families to find moments of joy and respite during the toughest times. 

“It is such a privilege to be joining other supporters to raise funds which will help Spread a Smile continue to provide vital services. Whether it’s supporting a magician to spark amazement, an artist to fuel creativity, or a group session that facilitates connection and makes children feel less isolated, every donation will ensure that children facing serious illness, and their siblings get to experience moments of happiness and hope.

“I’ll be joined by Spread a Smile’s incredible aromatherapist, Priya, who is also doing the challenge, and we’re both really looking forward to spending time with some of our wonderful supporters and having the chance to share our experiences with them. It looks set to be an incredible trip and we really hope you’ll join us for the adventure.”

You can support and sponsor Laura here, or why not join Laura and Priya for the National Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Spread a Smile and help bring joy and happiness to seriously ill children and young people when it’s needed most. SIGN UP HERE!

Option 1 – Self Funder

  • Pay £95 non-refundable registration fee
  • Pay £460 by Thursday 1 May
  • Raise as much as you can for Spread a Smile

Option 2 – Minimum Sponsorship

  • Pay £95 non-refundable registration fee
  • Raise a minimum of £950 for Spread a Smile

Full itinerary and details can be found here. Email us: fundraising@spreadasmile.org to find out more.

Micro Scooters make a ‘wheely’ big difference

 780 400 Susie
By:

“The Micro Scooter gives my daughter a sense of ownership, independence and mobility. My child received a gift of a kidney from her mother in March 2023. In just 7 days she got moving around the ward and first thing she called out for was to bring her pink Micro Scooter from home, which she used to get around the ward.” Parent

Since 2021, Micro Scooters has generously been supporting Spread a Smile, donating an amazing 166 micro scooters, helmets and scooting accessories to support seriously ill children and their families.

Hospitalisation can be a very scary experience for children, often causing significant anxiety and distress. Play is an essential part of childhood and is at the very heart of mental, social and emotional growth and wellbeing. Prolonged and repeated hospitalisation, time at home or endless days feeling unwell significantly reduces opportunities for play, socialisation and physical movement.

Laura Walter, Spread a Smile Director of Services continued saying, “Physical activity is important for everyone, including children who are in hospital. Some patients can be in hospital for a long time, so it is important that they stay as active as possible during their stay. Scooting is a fantastic way to encourage them to take part in exercise that is fun, when they feel able to.”

The scooters have been used to help children get from one area of the hospital to another for treatment and also to support children’s rehabilitation by promoting physical activity and improving motor skills

One parent told us, “The scooter makes a huge difference to our son. He has a chronic lung condition, which means he struggles to walk any distance. He has a wheelchair which he can use, but he doesn’t like to be so different from his friends and other kids. When we travel into London for hospital appointments, we use a scooter as a much easier way for him to travel without exerting himself. The scooter is also easier for me to lift on and off the train. It makes a huge difference to his life and disability.”

We are so grateful for the fantastic support from Micro Scooters and are looking forward to continuing to work in partnership with them to spread even more smiles to even more children.

Partnerships such as this play a vital role in ensuring we can continue to be there for seriously ill children and their families when they need us most. Please do reach out with our Partnerships Manager, Lucy Keith by emailing lucykeith@spreadasmile.org to find out more about exciting partnership opportunities with Spread a Smile.

Queen’s Hospital partners with Spread a Smile

 600 312 Susie
By:

Spread a Smile has announced a new partnership, with Queen’s Hospital in Romford, part of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. The charity will support children and young people receiving treatment at the hospital and they, along with their families, are invited to join the Spread a Smile family and benefit from its services.

Spread a Smile’s mission is to bring joy and laughter to as many seriously ill children as possible in NHS hospitals, clinical settings, hospices and homes across the UK. Queen’s Hospital joins 37 other major and speciality NHS hospitals, and six hospice partners already supported by the charity, taking Spread a Smile one step closer to its aim of spreading smiles to every seriously ill child and young person across the country.

The Spread a Smile team of talented entertainers, including musicians, artists, magicians and therapy dogs, will spend quality time with patients through regular in-person visits to the hospital. In addition, patients and their families will be able to access a range of its support services including virtual sessions, outings and events. All of which supports the charity’s aim of reaching and supporting as many young people as possible, spreading smiles and a lot of happiness to children undergoing treatment for serious illnesses and their families.

Caroline Jenkins, Health Play Specialist at Queen’s Hospital, said: “Having Spread a Smile visit us has really made such a difference to the children and young people at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, we are a busy district general hospital covering three very diverse areas. Spread a Smile’s visits are impactful brightening everyone’s day from the children and young people, their parents & carers and all the staff, the visits lift everyone’s mood. Thank you for all you do and we look forward to continuing to work with you helping you make an even greater impact in the future.”

Lucy Jackson, Spread a Smile Chief Executive added, “Spread a Smile’s aim is to bring joy and happiness into the lives of as many seriously ill children, young people and their families across the country as possible. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the brilliant team at Queen’s Hospital to deliver entertainment, laughter and bring the Spread a Smile magic to patients, families and staff alike.”

To find out more about what we do and how we support our hospital and hospice partners, click here.

Emmie’s Books supports Library Project

 780 400 Susie
By:

Spread a Smile has launched a new Intensive Care Library Project which will see the charity set up 20 libraries in 13 NHS hospitals for families with children on intensive care and high dependency units to use.

When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, life can become very unsettled, scary and unfamiliar, controlled by schedules, treatment plans and prolonged hospital stays away from family and friends. Through our libraries, Spread a Smile will provide a way for children and their families to find comfort and calm through the familiar activity of reading together.

The majority of books have been generously donated by the charity Emmie’s Books which was set up by Lindsay and Andy McPartland, whose daughter Emmie was diagnosed with cancer when she was 14 weeks old.

Lindsay and Andy said, “Spread a Smile is a charity dear to our hearts and as soon as we heard about their Intensive Care Library Project, we knew we wanted to support it. Our daughter, Emmie, was diagnosed with a Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour in September 2019 when she was just 14 weeks old. During that first week in Great Ormond Street Hospital, when the world was collapsing around us and all we could see was darkness, we had a knock on the door and a Spread a Smile fairy came in and asked if she could sing for us. It was just the most magical, wonderful moment that we will always remember. 

“Since then, Spread a Smile has supported us as a family in so many ways – on our first Christmas Day in hospital and through countless visits and family events since then. We have built so many happy memories together as a family thanks to Spread a Smile and one of the highlights of our year will always be their Summer Party. We got to meet so many other families, to celebrate and have fun together. 

“Spread a Smile has been there for all of us through our darkest days, constantly making us smile. We are so happy to be able to give something back through Emmie’s Books, the charity we set up in 2021 in Emmie’s name to provide children’s books for little warriors in hospital and their families.

“Emmie underwent 8 rounds of chemotherapy, a radical nephrectomy, stem cell harvest and aspiration, high dose chemotherapy, 8 days on a ventilator in PICU and a further 12 months of maintenance chemotherapy. We spent a lot of time in hospital during that time, or at home recovering and as teachers, we know the importance of escapism through books, as well as the importance of keeping our minds busy as oncology parents. 

“It’s our aim to give the gift or reading to as many children in hospital as possible and we’re delighted to be supporting Spread a Smile’s Intensive Care Library Project, donating hundreds of books for their libraries in 13 NHS hospitals.”

Emmie and her family visited Spread a Smile’s offices in person to delivery the books, helping to stack the first library to go into one of our hospital partners. The libraries are being delivered to hospitals across the UK including GOSH, The Evelina Children’s Hospital, Southampton Children’s Hospital and Nottingham Children’s Hospital. We are also grateful to three publishers – Penguin, Macmillan and Scholastic – who have all donated books.

Thank you so much to the McPartland family for their brilliant support and making such a generous donation and you can read more about the Intensive Care Library Project here.

Emmie is now in remission and Spread a Smile continues to support Emmie and her family through our family events.

Michael Rosen supports library project launch

 780 400 Susie
By:

For World Book Day on 6 March 2025, Spread a Smile is proud to launch our Intensive Care Library Project, with the support of acclaimed British author, poet, and broadcaster, Michael Rosen.

The project will see Spread a Smile donate 20 book libraries to 13 NHS hospitals for families with children on intensive care and high dependency units to use and enjoy.

When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, life can become very unsettled, scary and unfamiliar, controlled by schedules, treatment plans and prolonged hospital stays away from family and friends. Through our libraries, Spread a Smile will provide a way for children and their families to find comfort and calm through the familiar activity of reading together.

To launch the project, Spread a Smile’s Chief Executive, Lucy Jackson, and Visit Manager Debbie Tropp who spearheaded the project, were joined by Michael Rosen on a visit to an intensive care ward at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, one of the charity’s NHS hospital partners.

Michael said “Reading is an incredibly powerful art form which enables us to explore and access so many exciting subjects and adventures. From the day a baby is born, they are soaking up the sounds, sights, smells, tastes and touch of the world around them. Reading with children is a wonderful way of connecting with them, giving them something interesting to focus on, engage with and learn from. This shared experience can bring so much to both the child and the person reading to them as both are captured in that moment of discovery, sharing reactions and emotions as the story progresses.

“I am delighted to support the charity Spread a Smile as they launch their Intensive Care Library Project which will see 20 book libraries, filled with books and donated to 13 NHS hospitals for families with children on intensive care and high dependency units to borrow. Even in these most difficult of settings, where children are extremely unwell, parents and carers will be able to bring the wonder of reading to their child’s bedside, finding an opportunity to sit and share in the familiar act of reading together. It is a very special initiative which I have no doubt will bring a lot of comfort and one I am proud to be involved with.” 

Michael met staff on the ward, hearing how valuable the libraries will be for them and had the chance to see Spread a Smile singer and entertainer Rosie in action. He also met some of the families with children on PCCU, with the highlight of the afternoon being when families sat together for a special reading by Michael of his famous book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’.

Selena, mother of 3-month-old Otis, said: “It was so nice to feel like we’re doing something normal that you do with your baby, because everything is so clinical. It’s all wires and stats so to just be parents with your baby having a story read is lovely.”

Alex, Otis’s dad, said: “We’ve been reading to Otis pretty much every day. We’re getting through the Roald Dahls and obviously we’ve read Going on a Bear Hunt a lot. It’s just great to take a moment to try and have a bit of normality.”

Janet Powell, Director of Nursing at Evelina London, said: “We are so grateful to Spread a Smile for this generous donation and brightening our week with this fantastic event. Michael Rosen has authored some of our patients’ favourite children’s books, and it was such a privilege to have him come read to us.

“At Evelina London, we are dedicated to ensuring that children have the best possible experience in hospital. Our visits from Spread a Smile help create a relaxing environment and bring so much joy to all the patients, families and staff on our wards.”

Alongside Evelina London, 12 other NHS hospitals across the country will receive book libraries including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Southampton Children’s Hospital Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Spread a Smile Chief Executive, Lucy Jackson said, “The Spread a Smile Intensive Care Library Project is an exciting new initiative which will provide an invaluable resource for families with children on intensive care and high dependency units in NHS hospitals across the country.

“When a child is in intensive care, it can be an extremely stressful and worrying time for the whole family. The familiar act of reading together can provide emotional comfort and connection, helping to alleviate some of the stress of what is going is going in the hospital setting.

“We hope that families receiving treatment at our NHS hospital partners find the resource useful and we are extremely grateful to renowned author Michael Rosen for joining us at Evelina London to help launch our first libraries.”

The majority of books for the libraries have been generously donated by the charity Emmie’s Books, which was set up by Lindsay and Andy McPartland whose daughter Emmie was diagnosed with cancer when she was 14 weeks old. Spread a Smile has supported Emmie, now 5, and her family since her diagnosis, with Mum Lindsay saying, “Spread a Smile has been there for all of us through our darkest days, constantly making us smile. We are so happy to be able to give something back through Emmie’s Books, the charity we set up in 2021 in Emmie’s name to provide children’s books for little warriors in hospital and their families.”

We are grateful to publishers Penguin, Macmillan and Scholastic who have all donated books for the libraries. Also to John and Chris from Norseman Direct for supporting the creation and delivery of the bookcases.

A huge thank you to everyone who has made this initiative possible, the Evelina London for hosting our launch and Michael Rosen for bringing his passion and love of books to our visit, leaving families with many happy memories of a special time together.

Beyond Blocks family event

 780 400 Susie
By:

Earlier this week we teamed up with robotic LEGO company, Beyond Blocks to hold our first ever workshop using LEGO bricks to inspire learning in programming, engineering and design.

10 patients joined us at Chainalysis in Holborn, who generously hosted the event and Andy from Beyond Blocks led the creative session, with guests pairing up and working together to build a robot from LEGO, before using a coding app to bring it to life. They were then set a series of challenges including getting their robot to move forward and backwards, stopping and using a sensor to train the robot to stop when it reached the edge of the table.

Guests were so absorbed by the activities that they didn’t want to stop for lunch, but as soon as they saw the pizzas, snacks and delicious cupcakes from Lola’s cupcakes, the transition was much easier.

After the break, the team came back to face an even bigger challenge where they had to get their robots to manoeuvre around a course, joining their robots together and creating a coding system that allowed the robot to turn corners. The atmosphere in the room was fantastic, especially when one of the tasks was achieved, with cheers and fist pumps galore.

Our family events provide wonderful opportunities for unwell children and their families to spend time together having fun, made possible by our amazing donors, fundraisers and supporters.

Thank you to Chainalysis for hosting us so generously, providing lunch and kindly giving each guest their very own Circuit Cube Space Rover as a going home gift. Also to Beyond Blocks for the brilliant session.

Find out more about our work supporting families with seriously ill children and young people here.