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Enewsletter spread a smile

September 2025 e-newsletter

 600 290 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Our September e-newsletter is here!  

We’ve had another incredible month, packed with family events, amazing fundraising efforts, and so many smiles.  

We had the pleasure of welcoming some of the families we support to wonderful theatre trips, including 101 Dalmatians and The Lion King, complete with a pre-theatre party including magic, face painting, music and delicious treats.  

We also hosted a special evening to celebrate the incredible NHS healthcare professionals we work with. We were delighted to give these professionals a chance to be on the receiving end of some magic, a way for us to show our heartfelt appreciation for all they do.  

We were pleased to speak at the inaugural BizzFest as their official charity partner, and we also had partners hosting amazing events such as the Insurance Dinner and the Compass Carter TB100.  

We also announced some exciting events: Entertainer Variety Show on 23 October, and our Comedy Night hosted by Suzi Ruffell on 17 November.  

Last but no means least, we shared the news that after many years of dedicated service as Trustee and Co-Founder, our much-loved Josephine Segal, has decided that the time is right to step back from her role on the Board and her day-to-day involvement with Spread a Smile.

Find out more in our September e-news here.  

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gavin maggs children with cancer

Welcoming Gavin Maggs – Children with Cancer UK

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Spread a Smile has been Children with Cancer UK’s charity partner since December 2023 and last month we were delighted to welcome their new CEO, Gavin Maggs, to a special tea party for the families we support at Riding House Café in Bloomsbury.

Gavin met Spread a Smile’s Chief Executive, Lucy Jackson, our family events team and some of our VIP guests, saying, “It was a great pleasure to join everyone at Spread a Smile’s tea party. The event really highlights the important work they do to support families affected by childhood cancer. It certainly put a smile on my face, and I look forward to working with Lucy and her team.”

We are extremely proud of our partnership with Children with Cancer UK and grateful for all their support, helping us to spread thousands of smiles every year. Since the partnership began, Children with Cancer UK have helped fund Spread a Smile’s in-person and virtual entertainer visits to seriously ill children and young people with cancer in NHS Hospitals, also supporting our summer and winter parties and an annual event for families who have lost a child.

Lucy Jackson said, “It was a pleasure to welcome Gavin to one of our family events to see Spread a Smile’s work in action and show how we spread smiles every day to seriously ill children and their families. Our thanks go to Children with Cancer UK and all their team for supporting our vital work and we look forward to working closely with Gavin as we continue to develop our brilliant and impactful partnership.”

To find out more about Spread a Smile’s family events, please take a look here.

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.”

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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.

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