News

Nicci Dennis Spread a Smile

Introducing our new EA and Office Manager

 740 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Spread a Smile is delighted to welcome Nicci Dennis, who joins the team as Executive Assistant to Lucy Jackson and Office Manager. We spoke to Nicci about her background in the charity sector, and what she’s most looking forward to in her new role at Spread a Smile. Here’s what she had to say: 

“I’ve worked in PA and EA roles for almost three decades across a variety of industries, but in 2020 I made the move into the charity sector when I joined Anthony Nolan – an organisation that saves and improves the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders, and holds the UK’s largest stem cell register.

“Shifting into the charity world felt like a natural step that aligned with my personal values. I love knowing that the work I contribute has real meaning and impact. Fundraising has long been a passion of mine; I’ve completed the London Marathon, the London to Brighton Bike Ride and regularly took part in the 5K Swimathon, alongside my two daughters.

“Joining the Spread a Smile team as EA and Office Manager has already exceeded my expectations. The energy and passion here is contagious, and I’ve been welcomed so warmly by everyone. I’ve had the privilege of attending a Spread a Smile Family Event already and it was incredible to see the team in action, watching children laugh and play, and hearing parents share how much the charity means to them was truly inspiring. Supporting CEO Lucy Jackson and the wider team, I am excited to use my organisational expertise to help drive the charity’s mission forward.”

To get all our latest news sent directly to your inbox each month, sign up to our monthly e-newsletter here. 

Teens Unite outdoor activity day

Outdoor Activity Day with Teens Unite

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

We recently had the privilege of working alongside our incredible friends at Teens Unite to provide a special outdoor activity day for young people living with or beyond cancer. Held at an outdoor center in Cheshunt, the event was filled with fun and laughter, providing young people a space to challenge themselves and try something new.

Teens Unite provides these activity days to help encourage young people back into physical activity after cancer treatment. The day was designed to be accessible to all, ensuring every participant could engage at their own pace.

Attendees took on a variety of challenges, from archery to bell boating to climbing. It was a day dedicated to trying new things and creating an encouraging environment. There was such a positive and supportive energy, and it was a joy to witness participants discover new strengths, have a fun day together, and meet other young people.

We are so glad to be able to work with Teens Unite to provide such wonderful days, and we look forward to continuing this partnership.

Want to stay tuned with all things Spread a Smile? Subscribe to our newsletter here to get our monthly supporter e-newsletter directly to your inbox.

Farewell and thank you to Louise Jacobs

 780 400 Susie
By:

We are saying a heartfelt thank you and fond farewell to our wonderful trustee, Louise Jacobs, who has stepped down from the Board after 8 incredible years of service.

Louise joined Spread a Smile in July 2017, bringing with her a wealth of experience from the charity and corporate sectors, alongside a deep passion for improving the lives of children and families. Her commitment, energy and insight have been invaluable as we’ve grown and evolved as a charity.

During her time as a trustee, Louise helped guide us through a period of significant transformation, including the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the expansion of our hospital partnerships, and the development of our new strategy. She has been a thoughtful, generous and compassionate presence on our Board, always keeping the children and young people we support at the heart of every decision.

Louise said, “I have been inspired every day by the dedication of the team and the joy they bring to children and families facing unimaginably difficult times. It has been a privilege to play a small part in helping to grow this remarkable charity and I will continue to champion its work wherever I can.”

Louise brought warmth, wisdom, experience and a great sense of humour to the boardroom, and a genuine belief in the power of joy and human connection, values that are at the very core of Spread a Smile.

Paul Godfrey, Chair of Trustees, said: “Louise has been a truly outstanding trustee: insightful, committed, and always guided by compassion. Her contributions have shaped key moments in our charity’s journey and her voice has been one of strength and kindness throughout. On behalf of the Board and the whole Spread a Smile family, I want to thank her sincerely for everything she’s given us.”

While we will miss Louise’s leadership and presence on the Board, she will always remain a cherished member of the Spread a Smile family and we look forward to welcoming her back to support our family events and hospital visits.

From all of us – staff, fellow trustees, entertainers, volunteers and families – thank you, Louise, for helping us to spread so many smiles over the past 8 years.

To find out more about our Board of Trustees, please take a look here.

Bringing Pamper Days to King’s

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Last week, we were delighted to host our first Pamper Day at King’s Hospital, London. Our incredible aromatherapist, Collette, was joined by volunteer Precious, offering parents and carers of children with long-term hospital stays the chance to relax and unwind.

Throughout the day, we provided a range of soothing treatments, including aromatherapy and hand massages. Precious was on-hand making people feel beautiful by providing incredible hair cuts and blow dries. These small but significant treatments are designed to offer a moment of self-care and respite from the demanding nature of hospital life.

We know that during a child’s long-term hospital stay, moments of self-care and relaxation are often difficult to find. That’s why it was such a pleasure for us to provide this space for parents and carers to relax. We are committed to bringing more moments of joy and tranquility to the hospital environment and look forward to providing more relaxation to parents and guardians on future visits.

Learn more about what we do at Spread a Smile and sign up for our e-newsletter here to get our news directly in your inbox.

Spread a Smile becomes BizzFest charity partner

 780 400 Susie
By:

We are delighted to announce that Spread a Smile has been chosen as a charity partner for BizzFest, an exciting new business festival which will take place on 18 September at Cressing Temple Barns, Essex.

Created by a team of five founders, BizzFest will bring together world-class speakers, powerful networking, and festival vibes, all in one unforgettable day designed to inspire and propel business growth for founders and teams. The inaugural event features a daytime conference with speakers covering topics from AI to motivation, followed by a lively evening festival with three music and performance stages.

Shaun Pledger, Co-Founder of BizzFest said, “At BizzFest, we believe that business is about more than just growth. It’s about impact. Partnering with Spread a Smile is our way of shining a light on a charity that does extraordinary work for children and families at the toughest times of their lives. We’re inspired by how they not only bring joy to young patients, but also create meaningful, bespoke partnerships with businesses. Supporting them feels like a perfect fit for BizzFest, and we’re proud to help spread more smiles together.”

The partnership with Spread a Smile will offer the charity a brilliant opportunity to introduce our work to a new business-led audience, raising awareness and funds to enable us to spread even more smiles and bring joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families when it’s needed most.

Lucy Jackson, Spread a Smile Chief Executive said, “We’re extremely grateful to Bizzfest for inviting us to be part of this wonderful event and are looking forward to meeting as many guests and attendees as possible. It’s a great opportunity for us to reach new audiences, showcase what we do as a charity and share how we bring a unique and engaging approach to the partnerships we develop. We’re excited to be working with BizzFest to bring Spread a Smile to the stage and show how we can help businesses to achieve their Corporate Social Responsibility goals in an inspirational way, making a meaningful impact for the families we support.”

BizzFest isn’t just another business event. It’s where entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders come together to learn, connect, and grow, in a setting that’s as exciting as it is inspiring. Although first release tickets to the event are now sold out, there is still a chance to secure a spot for your business here.

To find out more about how your company can support Spread a Smile, please visit our partnerships page here or reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Lucy Chesney, by emailing lucy.chesney@spreadasmile.org

Lola's cupcakes

National Cupcake Day with Lola’s Cupcakes

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

For National Cupcake Day on Sunday 17 August, we’re celebrating our brilliant partnership with our friends from Lola’s Cupcakes.

Lola’s Cupcakes first supported Spread a Smile in 2013, when the charity was just one year old. Since then, Lola’s has been an integral part of our journey as we’ve grown and expanded our services to help more seriously ill children and their families. They have regularly supported us by donating delicious cupcakes for hospital visits and family events, and even providing stalls for our Summer and Winter Parties.

“We are so grateful to everyone at Lola’s Cupcakes for their generosity and kindness, through their delicious donations and support. Nothing is ever too much trouble for their wonderful team and our families absolutely love a Lola’s Cupcake. It’s really important to us to make sure the families we support enjoy wonderful experiences together and are helped to feel as special as possible. A huge thank you from everyone at Spread a Smile for being such a wonderful partner and helping us do just that.” Laura Walter, Spread a Smile Director of Services

Thank you to everyone at Lola’s Cupcakes for helping us to spread smiles to seriously ill children and their families when they are needed most. We appreciate all that you do.

If you or your company would like to explore opportunities for working with Spread a Smile to make a difference, please reach out to our Head of Partnerships Lucy Chesney at lucychesney@spreadasmile.org .

Afternoon tea at Riding House Cafe Bloomsbury

Afternoon tea party at Riding House Café

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

We were delighted to welcome 14 young people and their families to Riding House Café in Bloomsbury for a delicious afternoon tea this week. Guests enjoyed a beautiful selection of tea, sandwiches and cakes, with Spread a Smile entertainers, magician Nick and Fairy Jo bringing additional laughter and fun.

These special events provide a break for the families we support, providing a chance to relax, have fun and enjoy quality time together.

For young patients, these events also provide a vital chance to socialise with others, which is particularly important when long hospital stays mean time away from school. In addition, families have a great opportunity to connect and find support from others who are on a similar journey.

Our family events are at the heart of what we do at Spread a Smile. We understand the profound impact that long hospital stays have on every family member, and these events provide a much-needed day of fun, respite, and relaxation for patients, siblings, and their parents.

We are incredibly grateful to our partners, such as Riding House Café, for their support in making these events happen. Their partnership is invaluable, as they not only enable these events but also provide ongoing support by adding a 25p donation to each customer’s bill, helping raise vital funds and allows us to bring joy to more children and families.

Want to stay updated on all our latest news and events?

Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter here to get stories straight to your inbox.

Spread a Smile Padel Tournament

Padel Tournament 2025 – a smash hit!

 740 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Last week, we were delighted to host our third Padel tournament at Stratford Padel Club. Generously sponsored by Enra, our tournament welcomed 16 teams for a day of fierce competition, with players from Enra, Texel, HCFX, HILCO Capital, and Peel Hunt.

Each team brought their finest skills and competitive spirit to the court, and after a series of suspense-filled matches, Team Peel Hunt took home the trophy.

Alongside the competition, our Spread a Smile entertainer was on hand to bring even more fun to the day with his incredible magic and card tricks. It was a wonderful opportunity for our guests to see the magic our entertainers bring to seriously ill children and their families.

We finished the day with a raffle, with the chance to win a signed cricket bat donated by the ECB, a pair of tickets to the Spread a Smile comedy night on 17 November, and two rackets donated by Stratford Padel Club. It was great to see so many people win fantastic prizes!

A huge thank you to our sponsor Enra, all teams who took part and to Stratford Padel Club. Thanks to your incredible support, we raised vital funds that will help us spread even more smiles to seriously ill children and their families.

Feeling inspired?

Snap up one of our places for the Vitality 10k on 28 September, or sign up to our e-newsletter here to stay up to date with our upcoming events.

 

Fundraiser of the month: 2 Peaks challenge

Fundraisers of the month: Alice and Sophie

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Our incredible fundraising community is key to Spread a Smile, helping us raise vital funds to spread smiles to seriously ill children in hospital. For August, we’re shining our Fundraiser of the Month spotlight on 12-year-old Alice and Sophie, who recently took on the 2 Peak Challenge to celebrate their B’nei Mitzvahs.

This ambitious challenge involved conquering the two tallest peaks in the Lake District: Blencathra and Helvellyn, over two days. The climbs proved to be challenging, with Alice and Sophie facing wind, hail, rain and a total of 1,818 M of altitude. Yet, their unwavering perseverance saw them proudly complete the challenge with Sophie sharing her motivation for the challenge, saying, “Being only 12 myself, I wanted to support a charity that helps children. I remembered hearing about Spread a Smile at a talk we had at Brownies and how they bring joy and entertainment to seriously ill children – it immediately came to mind.

“There were moments when I thought it might be too much, but then I reminded myself of the children Spread a Smile supports. Thinking about what they go through every day helped me push through – because what I was facing was nothing compared to their challenges.”

Alice also added, “For my Bat Mitzvah, I wanted to do something to give back to children less fortunate than me. I knew about Spread a Smile as my Mum had donated to them through her work… and I love what they do to bring art, music and even therapy dogs to visit seriously ill children in hospital.

“The climb up Blencathra on the Friday was really hard as we were walking through rain, wind and hail and even with our waterproofs on we got soaked!”

We’re so grateful for Alice and Sophie’s incredible efforts. Together they raised an incredible £3,500 to support Spread a Smile’s vital work bringing joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families. Their effort is a powerful example of how a challenge fundraiser can meaningfully commemorate a milestone whilst making a difference to others.

Feeling inspired? Why not hit your fitness goals by signing up to our Vitality 10k race on Sunday 28 September.
Join Team Smile here!

July Newsletter Spread a Smile 2025

July 2025 e-newsletter

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Our much-anticipated annual Summer Party was a highlight, as we welcomed over 750 children, young people, and families for a day of fun and laughter. We couldn’t have done it without the support of hundreds of volunteers and partners who donated their time, stalls, gifts, food, and drink to make the party so special.

Dive into our July e-newsletter to read more about the Summer Party along with everything else we’ve been up to and what we have planned, including:

  • Launch of our Silent Auction to win two VIP Oasis tickets for Sunday 3 August;
  • Celebrating a new charity partnership with Cosmic to increase the number of Spread a Smile visits to St Mary’s Hospital;
  • World Play Day with the LEGO Group;
  • Meet Dottie and Kaiden for International Day of Friendship;
  • Welcoming our new Trustee, Sanjiv Patel;
  • Snap up a place in the Vitality 10,000 London and take inspiration from Herne Hill Run Club and the Saucony 10k;
  • A brilliant effort from Team Smile for the National Three Peaks Challenge;
  • How to secure one of the last remaining teams for our annual Golf Days in September.

Sign up below to receive our e-news directly into your inbox every month!
Sign up to our Newsletter