Posts Tagged :

family event

Easter Tea Party at Corinthia London

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

We were delighted to welcome 80 guests to the beautiful Corinthia London for a special family celebration, filled with creativity, laughter and unforgettable moments together.

The afternoon began with welcome drinks, before families were invited into the gorgeous Ballroom to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea. Tables were filled with an array of treats, creating the perfect setting for families to relax and spend quality time together in a luxurious and welcoming space.

Throughout the event, our brilliant entertainers brought lots of smiles and laughter. Singers Collette and Rosie filled the Ballroom with wonderful singing, while Mr Magic and Sacha amazed children and grown-ups alike with their performances. We also had Fairy Francesca entertaining our young guests, as well as face and arm painting, with children choosing whichever designs they wanted.

There was no shortage of hands-on activities for our guests to enjoy. From an Easter Egg Hunt to creative craft stations, children decorated Easter bonnet hats, treasure boxes, tote bags and biscuits, taking home their creations as keepsakes from the day. It was great to witness such beautiful creations and creativity from our guests.

Events like this provide young patients, their parents, carers and siblings with precious time away from the pressures of hospital life, offering moments of joy, connection and respite when they are needed most.

We are incredibly grateful to the team at Corinthia London for hosting us so generously and for helping to create such a memorable experience for the families we support.

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theatre spread a smile

Hercules: A VIP Family Day

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

Twelve young patients and their families enjoyed an unforgettable day at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane to see Hercules. Their visit included a joyful pre‑theatre gathering with magical entertainment, face painting, pizza, cupcakes and interval ice creams, followed by a special VIP meet and greet with the cast. It was a warm and relaxed experience, offering families the chance to spend meaningful time together and connect with others on similar journeys.

Spread a Smile family events are designed to give seriously ill children and young people precious moments away from treatment, hospital life and the pressures that come with navigating a serious illness. For many families, planning an outing of this kind can be challenging. Medical appointments, complex health needs and financial considerations often make special experiences like a West End trip difficult to access. By removing those barriers, we enable families to enjoy time together, have fun and experience a sense of normality during an otherwise demanding period.

After the performance, our guests were welcomed backstage for a VIP meet and greet with members of the cast. For many children, this was the highlight of the day – an extraordinary opportunity to chat with the performers, take photographs and experience a truly memorable moment. These encounters help create treasured memories that stay with families long after the day itself.

Ellie, Spread a Smile’s Head of Family Events, said:
“It’s a privilege to run these events and see the difference they make. Families often tell us how valuable it is to have something positive to look forward to alongside treatment. Giving young patients a day filled with joy and connection is incredibly important, and it’s why we do what we do.”

We also received this lovely feedback from a parent who joined us on the day:
“I just wanted to say thank you to you & the amazing Spread a Smile team for giving us  the most wonderful day! She hasn’t stopped talking about it all evening, excitedly telling her dad about how, she met all of the performers! (Even if she was a little shy at the actual meeting! That seems to have been long forgotten!) She has also asked if we can do the same next week!! No pressure!

It was the first time we had been able to make any of the Spread a Smile events, even though you’ve been in our lives since we first visited gosh over 6 years ago!”

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helps make these outings possible. Your support ensures that families caring for seriously ill children can enjoy meaningful moments of joy when they are needed most.

Please donate today to ensure we can continue spreading smiles when they’re needed most.

Spread a Smile Winter Party 2026 Roundup

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

On Wednesday 18 February, we held our annual Winter Party – and what a brilliant day it was, filled with so much fun and so many smiles.

For the first time, we hosted the party during half-term to make sure even more families could join us. It was held at Protein Studios in Shoreditch – a bright, spacious venue that was the perfect setting for our fabulous winter celebration.

It was an incredible day which saw us welcome nearly 600 guests – seriously ill children and young people we support, along with their families. This very special event was packed with activities and entertainment, all run by the Spread a Smile team and over 92 brilliant volunteers, and were also delighted to welcome some of our Trustees to share in the magic of this very special day.

Our arts and crafts area was busy all day, with guests enjoying creative activities including beanie decorating, cup decorating and hands-on crafts. Slime workshops, delivered thanks to Slime Planet, were a huge hit, and the interactive floor games kept children of all ages entertained. We were also delighted to welcome Anna’s Animals, who brought along some beautiful creatures for our guests to meet. Children had the chance to hold a snake, cuddle a bunny and even hold a millipede!

For those with a competitive streak, there were plenty of games to enjoy, including an F1 racing simulator, a dance mat and arcade games. Thanks to Hasbro, we also had a fantastic range of games for all ages, from Connect 4 to Nerf. Our Spin to Win wheel gave guests the chance to win some amazing LEGO prizes, which proved extremely popular throughout the day.

For teens, parents and anyone looking for a moment to relax, our pamper corner offered aromatherapy and massage, along with professional make-up artists who took the time to connect with guests and help them feel their very best. And we had a fun photo booth that offered families the chance to capture special memories from the day.

Our entertainers kept the energy high with amazing magic shows and live singing from Frozen and Wicked. Huge thanks to KSS Stage & Sound for ensuring everything looked and sounded fantastic.

A parent who attended said:

“This year was especially meaningful for us, as it was the very first time that my son has been well enough to attend, he will be 4 this year. To see him able to join in, smile, and simply be a child in such a magical environment meant more to us than I can properly put into words.

What made the day even more special was your thoughtful inclusion of siblings. They so often carry emotional feelings quietly and take on more than anyone realises; giving them space to feel included, celebrated, and just as important is such a beautiful and compassionate touch. It did not go unnoticed.

The entertainers were absolutely amazing — every single one brought energy, warmth, and joy into the room. The bubble floor was pure magic, the slime station was a huge hit, and the atmosphere throughout was filled with laughter and excitement. You could see the genuine happiness on every child’s face.

We were also so grateful for the thoughtful dairy-free and vegan options. That level of care and consideration ensures that every child and family feels included, safe, and able to fully enjoy the day without worry.

The thought, dedication, and time that went into creating this event was simply perfect. Every detail was so clearly centred around the children — their joy, their comfort, their experience. That is what made it so incredibly special.

Thank you for the light you bring to families like ours. Without realising the small moments you create, makes such a big difference for us.“

We are incredibly proud to deliver days like this for the families we support. It was so special to see so many families relaxing, having fun, meeting the team and connecting with others.  A heartfelt thank you to BC Partners for sponsoring the party, LMG for sponsoring our entertainers, and Derwent London for sponsoring the gifts for the day. Thank you also to Children’s Welfare and Research Foundation and Children with Cancer UK for your support and commitment. 

Thank you to all of our friends, families and colleagues for joining us and making our Winter Party 2026 one to remember.

To help ensure we can continue to spread smiles to seriously ill children and young people, please donate today. Thank you.

 

winter funland spread a smile

A special evening at Winter Funland

 780 400 Gabrielle Devine
By:

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming families supported by Spread a Smile to a special VIP opening evening at Winter Funland in London.

Guests were immersed in a spectacular winter wonderland, enjoying unlimited funfair rides, skating on the ice rink, taking in a festive circus show, and exploring all the other festive delights the event had to offer.

As the charity partner for Winter Funland 2025 – one of Europe’s largest indoor Christmas family extravaganzas – Spread a Smile is proud to provide such a memorable festive experience for the families we support. We are immensely grateful to everyone at Winter Funland for their generosity and for helping us bring smiles to seriously ill children and their families during a time of year that can be especially challenging.

The families we invited had a fantastic evening as VIP guests, sharing quality time together and enjoying everything this wonderful winter celebration had to offer, with some parents saying:

“Thank you SO MUCH!  The beautiful sparkle in our children’s eyes were absolutely heart warming to see. Thank you for all you do, you are phenomenal!”

“Thank you so much for lovely evening. The whole family specially the little ones had such an amazing magical evening. Thank you for everything.”

This event perfectly illustrates how, with the support of our incredible partners, we can create moments of joy, laughter, and connection for children living with serious illness and their families.

To explore partnership opportunities with Spread a Smile and help make a real difference, contact our Head of Partnerships, Lucy Chesney, at lucychesney@spreadasmile.org

Mamma Mia – My, my what a show!

 780 400 Susie
By:

My, my what a show! The team from Spread a Smile had a glorious afternoon taking nine of the families we support to see Mamma Mia the Musical at the Novello Theatre in London.

Our VIPS loved watching the smash hit musical, singing, dancing and clapping along and the smiles were as bright as the theatre lights.

After the show, our families were incredibly lucky to meet several members of the cast, who kindly gave up their time to pose for photos and answer any questions our families had. Tessa, 10, who wants to be performer asked, “do you ever forget your lines?” and “do all the cast members get on?”.

Lauren, mum of Elsa (13) said “Thank you so, so much for yesterday it was amazing and as I predicted Elsa has not stopped telling everyone especially how she “met the characters” – I keep telling her they are the cast! She has taken the programme into school today. I honestly cannot express our gratitude as always, words do not seem enough.”

A huge Spread a Smile thank you to the cast of Mamma Mia for being so amazing and taking the time out of their busy schedule to meet our families after the show – you’re all Super Troupers!

To find out more about our family events, click here.

Mildreds May afternoon tea treat

 780 400 Susie
By:

Last week, our friends from Mildreds Restaurants welcomed Spread a Smile and some of the amazing families we support for another wonderful afternoon tea.

Six families joined us at Mildreds in Covent Garden, London, enjoying a delicious vegan spread and entertainment from Mr Magic and face painting by Marina, our Head of Art. Spread a Smile Co-Founder Josephine Segal also joined in the fun along with her therapy dog, Buddy.

We are extremely grateful to everyone at Mildreds Restaurants for their ongoing support through their monthly tea parties, alongside other incredible initiatives. They provide a wonderful opportunity for seriously ill children to enjoy an afternoon out with their families and forget about the worries of illness and hospitals for a while. Outings like this are a welcome chance for respite and fun.

Sam Anstey, Managing Director at Mildreds said, ‘We are proud to be working with such a special charity. Spread a Smile do amazing work and all our teams are so pleased to be able to support them. It has been great to be involved and to experience the impact that Spread a Smile have in helping others.’

Please consider making a donation to help ensure Spread a Smile can continue to provide outings such as these, spreading joy and happiness when it’s needed most. Thank you.