News

Find out about our North West Hub

 780 400 Hannah Myers
By:

Since expanding our service provision into the North West in 2022, Spread a Smile has been bringing joy, laughter and connection to seriously ill children and young people across the region through regular hospital visits, art initiatives and family support services.

Today, our dedicated North West Hub supports children and families at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, helping to ensure children receiving some of the most specialist treatment in the country have access to the impactful serviced Spread a Smile offers.

Every other week, our entertainers visit both hospitals, delivering personalised bedside visits filled with music, magic, storytelling, bubbles and creativity. These moments of joy provide welcome distraction from treatment, helping to reduce anxiety, combat isolation and create lasting memories for children and their families.

Amy Berry, Visit Manager for the North West, said:

“When I found out that Spread a Smile were hoping to expand their visits up north, I jumped at the chance to offer my help. Developing connections with families has been the most rewarding experience. We often see the same families on visits and seeing their faces light up when we come into the room is beautiful. For the time we’re with them, they have a chance to escape and simply be children again.”

Alongside our entertainer visits, we’re proud to support children receiving treatment at The Christie Proton Beam Therapy Centre, one of only two NHS Proton Beam Therapy centres in the UK treating children and young people with complex cancers . Working alongside hospital teams and the patients themselves, our artist Esther transforms radiotherapy masks into colourful, personalised works of art, helping children feel more comfortable and confident as they prepare for treatment. 

Esther said:

“Painting the masks is very special to me because they can look clinical and intimidating for a child. Having the masks painted with their favourite things makes them personal and comforting. For me, it’s a privilege to work with such an amazing charity and to see the smiles and joy we bring to children and families going through difficult times.”

The impact of Spread a Smile’s work is felt not only by the children and families we support, but also by the hospital teams we work alongside.

Justine Louise Makin, Play Service Manager at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Spread a Smile for the wonderful input we have received from the charity so far. The kind and generous donations have been invaluable in providing our children and young people with fun and joy during their stay in hospital. Being in hospital is difficult at any time, therefore receiving the amazing toys, activities, materials and equipment that Spread a Smile provide has really put a smile on their faces and helped towards recovery, recuperation and rehabilitation.”

As our North West Hub continues to grow, so does our ambition. We’re committed to expanding our services to reach even more seriously ill children and young people across the region, while building partnerships with local businesses, supporters and communities who share our vision of spreading smiles where they’re needed most.

You can help us achieve our aims in a number of ways:

  • If your company is based in the North West and would like to make a positive impact for families with seriously ill children in your community, we’d love to hear from you. Our partnerships are engaging, unique and built on a mutual understanding of support and success. Reach out to our Partnerships Manager, Rosie Perkins to get the ball rolling –rosie@spreadasmile.org
  • Donate today and help ensure we can continue to deliver our services in the North West and beyond. 
  • Fancy a fundraising challenge? Take a look at ideas to get involved here, or get in touch with our fundraising team at fundraising@spreadasmile.orgto chat about your ideas and plans. 

Whatever you do, you’ll be helping us reach even more seriously ill children, young people and their families during the most difficult times. Thank you.

Hudson Golf Day

Eight year old Hudson’s golf challenge

 780 400 Susie
By:

We are so proud of eight-year-old Hudson who took on an incredible golfing challenge to raise money for Spread a Smile, playing 4 rounds of golf in just one day and raising a whopping £3,162.

Hudson Golf DayA keen golfer and member of the under-12 county golf set-up, Hudson was inspired to take on his latest challenge after watching four adults attempt it during a round of golf with his dad and Papa. Having experienced the joy of Spread a Smile through our Summer Parties and online sessions for his brother, Hudson chose to support the charity to help other families create happy memories during difficult times.

Hudson has developed a real passion for fundraising over the past two years, setting himself personal challenges to support causes close to his family’s heart. Last year, he organised a village scarecrow competition, raising more than £500 for his local hospital, which has cared for his younger siblings, Kit and Noa, since their time in NICU.

A huge thank you to Hudson for taking on this incredible challenge. We’re so grateful for his determination, generosity and support.

Feeling inspired? Whether you’re planning a sporting challenge, organising an event or have your own fundraising idea, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with our fundraising team at fundraising@spreadasmile.org to get the ball rolling or click here for more on our upcoming events and challenges.

Bay and Aditi

Bay and Aditi – a special friendship

 780 400 Susie
By:

For International Day of Friendship (30 July), we spoke to Jen, Mum to Bay and Uday, Dad to Aditi about how their daughters met in hospital and how Spread a Smile has helped to provide space for their friendship to flourish.

Bay and Aditi“Bay and Aditi met at Great Ormond Street Hospital when Bay was four years old and Aditi was six.” Jen shared. “Bay was already on dialysis, and Aditi had just started dialysis and their shared outlook of fun, incredible resilience and positivity gave them an instant connection and a special bond formed. 

“They’ve both had their fair share of hospital stays and live on opposite sides of London so most meet ups and play dates happened in hospital. These often became more comfort and support dates during their treatment. Bay would go and sing at Aditi’s door and Aditi would come to the chemo ward to join Bays singing concerts.

“During this time, Spread a Smile did what it does best and not only recognised this growing connection, but went out of their way to ensure the girls were invited to the same events at the same time – something that would’ve been difficult for us as parents to achieve on our own.  

“Spread a Smile gives us a space to come together – a carefree relaxed and inclusive environment that enables Bay and Aditi to feel confident and empowered to just be themselves and have fun together. And that’s a wonderfulBay and Aditi thing and something we will forever be grateful for.” 

Every year, Spread a Smile supports hundreds of seriously ill children like Bay and Aditi, providing opportunities to find fun and connection – with our entertainers and each other. Uday, Aditi’s Dad added “Aditi and Bay’s bond is more than that of two kids sharing a common journey. They see themselves as twins and can’t wait to catch up and chat – about taking their meds, their favourite foods, toys or Disney Princesses. They would look out for each other in hospital, brightening each other’s days, checking in on video calls and sharing little gifts.

“And then at every Spread a Smile party they can meet and catch up outside of hospital, having the best of times immersed together in bubbles, sing songs and activities. They get lost in their own little world.

“Spread a Smile has helped unite them at so many special events from afternoon teas, to art days and parties. Every time we see the sparkle in Aditi’s eyes as she looks forward to the reunions and fun moments with Bay.  

Bay and Aditi“During hospital times and beyond, Aditi and Bay have remained together thanks to Spread a Smile. They have found a friendship filled with so much joy and happiness. Our families have connected in a very special way – all thanks to Spread a Smile for bringing us together from East and West London to share a special bond filled with love, care and happiness.”

Spread a Smile relies completely on the generosity of donors, partners and sponsors to continue to provide it’s vital services. To find out how you or your company can help support our entertainer visits to children in hospital, family events and art initiatives, please click here.

Summer Party 2026

Record-breaking 2026 Summer Party

 780 400 Susie
By:

On Thursday 23 July, Spread a Smile hosted its annual Summer Party at Coram’s Fields in London, welcoming over 840 seriously ill children and their family members for an incredible day filled with fun, entertainment and laughter.

Generously sponsored this year by our friends from BC Partners and Downing LLP, the Summer Party is the highlight in our family events calendar and the chance for hundreds of the families we support to come together for a fantastic day out, creating precious memories together.

“My children absolutely loved every minute of it and had the biggest smiles on their faces all day. It’s given them some wonderful memories that they’ll be taking about for a long time. Dad

For the second year running, the celebrations were split across two sessions – a morning party sponsored by Downing LLP and an afternoon party sponsored by BC Partners – enabling us to welcome even more of the families we support.

We were delighted to welcome more than 145 volunteers from our corporate partners, who generously gave their time to help run a wide range of activities, including a gaming bus, arts and crafts, face painting, glitter tattoos, slime making, plant pot decorating and much more. A special sensory area helped ensure that guests could find a quieter space to relax, engage and enjoy the fun.

Once again, our friends at Hasbro brought the fun with a brilliant range of interactive games and activities, along with hundreds of gifts for the children to take home. The LEGO Group inspired creativity with a huge table packed with LEGO for children to build their own imaginative creations, while Mildreds kept everyone smiling with an ice cream van serving delicious frozen treats throughout the day. Families also enjoyed beautiful cakes from Lola’s Cupcakes and freshly made sushi rolls from SushiDog, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Spread a Smile’s incredible team of entertainers did what they do best and filled the day with music, magic, singing, dancing, bubbles, poetry and so much more, with families having the chance to meet and catch up with some of their favourite entertainers outside of the hospital wards. A highlight, as always, was a visit from our therapy dogs Thomas (with owner, Olivia) and Cobi (with owner, Howard).

“Thank you SO much for another wonderful summer party. Freddie had such a great time. He doesn’t get to go to many parties, so it’s such a special event for us and wonderful to see him enjoying himself with all the activities and entertainment.” Mum

This very special day simply wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors, volunteers and partners. A huge thank you to our friends from BC Partners and Downing LLP for sponsoring the event and all our wonderful volunteers for giving up their time. Also, to LMG for sponsoring one of our activity tables.

Thank you to Hasbro, the LEGO Group, Mildreds, Lola’s Cupcakes and Sushi Dog for their generosity, enthusiasm and continued support.Summer Party 2026 From fun activities and creative play to delicious treats, they helped make the day so special. We are incredibly proud to partner with these much-loved brands, whose commitment and generosity continue to make a real difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

And to the brilliant companies and supporters who gave supplies, gifts, food and drink to help us provide the best experience possible: Crayola, Gaming Party Bus, Slime Planet, Swizzels and Scrapples.

“We’re so grateful for all the hard work, time and care that went into organising such a fantastic day. Your kindness and generosity really do make a difference to families like ours. Thank you again to everyone involved.” Dad

Last but no means least, our heartfelt thanks go to all the incredible children, young people and families who joined us. It was a joy and a privilege to spend the day together, celebrating, laughing and making special memories. Every day, you inspire us with your courage, resilience and positivity in the face of unimaginable challenges. Thank you for making this year’s Summer Party so incredibly special.

To help ensure we can continue to spread smiles to seriously ill children and young people, please donate here.
We’d also love to hear from you if your company is able to support our Summer Party next year through sponsorship or gifting opportunities. Please email our Partnerships Manager, Rosie Perkins at rosie@spreadasmile.org to get the ball rolling. Thank you.

Spread a Smile Appeal 2026 - Thank you

Thank you for helping us spread smiles

 780 400 Hannah Myers
By:

Thanks to the incredible kindness and generosity of our supporters, the Spread a Smile Appeal has so far raised an amazing £207,445.

Over five days, so many people came together to support our appeal – becoming Appeal Champions, fundraising, donating and sharing our message. Every contribution, no matter the size, has helped us reach this incredible total and will make a lasting difference to the seriously ill children, young people and families we support.

Every year, tens of thousands of seriously ill children spend months on hospital wards, cut off from the ordinary joys of childhood. No play dates. No school trips. No sense of normality. Just clinical routines, uncertainty, and fear.

The incredible amount raised through the appeal will help make sure our entertainers can continue to bring personalised, joyful experiences directly to children’s bedsides in NHS hospitals and hospices. It will enable to us provide a familiar, joyful presence at one of the most frightening times of a child’s life, through:

In-person hospital visits

Our talented entertainers, including musicians, magicians, artists, fairies and therapy dogs, will visit children across 39 NHS hospital and six hospice partners, helping to reduce anxiety, combat isolation and create moments of joy during treatment.

Virtual services

Families will be able to access a range of individual and group entertainer sessions online from in hospital or at home, including music, magic, storytelling, arts and crafts and more.

Art initiatives

Our art programmes encourage children going through the unimaginable to express themselves through art and play, providing welcome distraction, and helping to build confidence. We will also continue to support children receiving radiotherapy treatment through bespoke painting of radiotherapy masks.

Family events and outings

From trips to the theatre, brunches and afternoon teas, to our much-loved Summer and Winter Parties, our calendar of exciting family events provide opportunities for seriously ill children to spend precious time with their families, having fun together and make lasting memories beyond hospital walls.

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

“We have been completely blown away by the kindness and generosity shown throughout the appeal. To know that so many people chose to support our work means more to us than we can say.

“Thanks to you, we will be able to spread so many smiles to seriously ill children and young people in hospital, bringing joy, laughter and connection to them and their families through some of their toughest days.”

To everyone who supported the Spread a Smile Appeal, thank you for believing in our work and helping us continue to spread smiles where they’re needed most. We look forward to sharing the difference your support will make throughout the coming year and please sign up to our e-newsletter to stay up to date with our work, the difference we are making and how you or your company can get involved.

Chief Executive Third Sector Awards nomination

 780 400 Susie
By:

We are delighted and proud to announce that Spread a Smile’s Chief Executive, Lucy Jackson has been shortlisted in the prestigious 2026 Third Sector Awards, ‘Charity Chief Executive’ category.

The Third Sector Awards are the largest awards celebration for the not-for-profit sector in the UK, designed to honour charities, agencies, and individuals who make a significant impact on communities and society.

Paul Godfrey, Spread a Smile’s Chair of Trustees, nominated Lucy for the Award, saying, “Since  becoming Chief Executive in December 2017, Lucy has transformed a small volunteer-led charity into a nationally recognised organisation that delivers joy, connection and emotional support to tens of thousands of seriously ill children, young people and family members every year.

“Under her leadership, annual income has grown from £250,000 to more than £2 million and has been sustained at that level for the past three years. NHS hospital partners have increased from 4 to 39 and bedside visits have grown year after year.

“Lucy is a transformational Chief Executive whose natural ability to build relationships, inspire confidence and communicate a compelling vision has driven sustainable growth. She has strengthened the charity’s national profile through media appearances and engagement with MPs.

“We are grateful to Lucy for her hard work, passion, commitment and a determination to get things done.”

Lucy – we salute you and thank you for your hard work and dedication. You are an inspirational leader who has made a huge impact for Spread a Smile and the families we support.

The awards will be announced in a ceremony at London Hilton Park Lane on Friday 11 September and we wish Lucy all the best.

Spread a Smile Appeal Now Live!

 780 400 Susie
By:

The Spread a Smile Appeal 2026 is now live!

Running from 5-9 July, the appeal aims to raise thousands of pounds to help ensure we can deliver 23,000 smiles to seriously ill children this year. Over the past few weeks, Spread a Smile ‘Champions’ from across the country have been signing up to fundraising during the appeal week to help us reach our goal.

Every year, tens of thousands of seriously ill children spend months on hospital wards, cut off from the ordinary joys of childhood. No playdates. No school trips. No sense of normality.
Just clinical routines, uncertainty, and fear. 

Spread a Smile’s mission is to be there for as many of them as possible, bringing them entertainment, joy and happiness when it’s needed most. 

You can support the appeal by making a donation today.

£30 enables a fairy to sprinkle some fairy dust
£60 provides magical moments with a magician
£150 offers comfort and cuddles with our therapy dogs

Spread a Smile Appeal 2026 – Donate Now!

Every single donation brings us closer to our goal.

You can make something real happen for children facing the most difficult of times. Please donate today.

Spread a Smile joins SoHPS Conference

 780 400 Susie
By:

Earlier this month we were delighted to be invited to be part of the SoHPS Society of Health Play Specialists 3rd annual conference.

Ellie Walker (Head of Family Events) and Jennie Walton (Head of Services), along with entertainers, Judge the Poet and Louise were there to share the amazing work Spread a Smile does working with Play teams across NHS hospitals.

The conference is a chance to network and engage with fellow play professionals, celebrate the amazing work of play specialists and hear inspiring stories from health practitioners.

Laura Walter, Spread a Smile Director of Services said: “Play is crucial for physical, social and emotional development and wellbeing and an essential part of childhood. At Spread a Smile, we aim to help bring the benefits of play to children and young people in hospital at a time when it might be more difficult to access and they are feeling most isolated and vulnerable.”

Judge the Poet and Louise showcased the work of Spread a Smile, entertaining delegates attending the conference and over lunch.

Thank you to the Society of Health Play Specialists and all those involved with organising the conference for making us so welcome. We’re looking forward to next year already.

Masthaven Champions – Three Peaks Challenge

 780 400 Susie
By:

A huge congratulations and thank you to our long-standing corporate partner, Masthaven, who have raised an incredible £15,100 for Spread a Smile by taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge.

A team of 14 colleagues, led by CEO and Spread a Smile Trustee Andrew Bloom, completed one of Britain’s toughest outdoor challenges, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours. Covering around 26 miles and ascending almost 3,000 metres, the team pushed themselves both physically and mentally to support seriously ill children and young people.

Masthaven has proudly supported Spread a Smile since 2019, and this challenge marks another incredible milestone in our partnership. The funds raised will help us continue delivering magical bedside visits from entertainers, musicians, magicians, artists, fairies and therapy dogs, creating moments of joy, laughter and connection for children and families in hospital.

Andrew Bloom said: “To complete the Three Peaks Challenge within 24 hours is a tough event, but also incredibly rewarding for myself and all 14 people in Team Masthaven. A real highlight was seeing how everyone rallied together when things got tough – there was always someone offering encouragement, a joke or a snack when it was needed most.

“Through every weather condition, the team kept each other going, and reaching the final summit together was a lovely moment. Knowing we were raising money for an incredible charity like Spread a Smile kept us motivated throughout. We’re hugely proud of what Team Masthaven has achieved together.”

A huge thank you to Andrew and everyone at Masthaven for their incredible commitment, determination and continued support. Together, they’re helping us spread smiles to even more seriously ill children and young people.

If your company would like to take on a fundraising challenge such as the National Three Peaks Challenge, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with our Partnerships Manager, Rosie Perkins, rosie@spreadasmile.org.

WillU Group CEO takes on 52-mile Appeal challenge

 780 400 Susie
By:

WillU Group CEO Jack Lane-Matthews takes on epic 52-mile challenge for Spread a Smile

One incredible supporter. Fifty two miles. Twelve hours. Countless smiles.

Spread a Smile is incredibly proud to have the support of Jack Lane-Matthews, Group CEO and Co-Owner at WillU Group, who is taking on an extraordinary fundraising challenge as part of our upcoming fundraising appeal from 5–9 July.

On 9 July, Jack will be running 52 miles – the equivalent of a double marathon-  in just 12 hours. Starting on the hour, every hour, he’ll head out to run approximately four miles before returning to the start line and doing it all over again.

It’s a huge physical and mental test, but for Jack, the motivation is simple.

“I’ve been lucky enough to see first-hand the incredible work Spread a Smile does and the happiness it brings to seriously ill children and their families. Every visit, every performance and every smile makes a real difference, and that’s what will keep me going when my legs start to hurt.

“This challenge is about pushing myself to help create moments of joy for children who are facing challenges far greater than any 52-mile run. If it inspires even one other person to take on their own fundraising challenge, that would be amazing.”

Jack is no stranger to endurance events. Last year he completed the London Marathon and Ironman Austria, spending months training for the challenges and covering more than 100 miles every week. Now he’s setting himself another ambitious goal in support of Spread a Smile.

We’re so grateful to have Jack as part of the Spread a Smile family and can’t wait to cheer him on every mile of the way.

It’s not too late to become an Appeal Champion.

Whether you’re planning a run, a cycle, a bake sale, a quiz night or something completely different, we’d love you to join us between 5 and 9 July and take on your own challenge to help spread smiles when they’re needed most.

Good luck, Jack – we’ll be with you every step of the 50 miles (in spirit!).