Charity calls for more play in hospital to help distract kids, improve their wellbeing and make the hospital environment less frightening

Charity, Spread a Smile brings joy and laughter to seriously ill children in NHS hospitals and hospices across the country.
Through in-person and virtual visits and events, their entertainers – from magicians to musicians, artists, fairies and therapy dogs – enhance wellbeing and help young patients cope with the pain and anxiety of serious illness and hospitalisation.
Today they have released new data which surveyed 1,384 UK parents, asking them whether play in hospital helps make their stay or visit in hospital less frightening.
Nearly half (49%) of parents whose child had received play in hospital said recreational activities have helped to distract their child.

Yet, despite this, only 29% of children admitted to hospital were offered toys to play with and less than 1 in 10 (9%) had a visit from an entertainer.

Last month, the charity celebrated its 11th birthday, having been founded in 2013 by Josephine Segal MBE and Vanessa Crocker MBE, after seeing the positive impact a magician’s visit had on Josephine’s young nephew, Aaron, during his treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Today, Spread a Smile works in partnership with 32 NHS hospitals and four hospice partners, including St Mary’s Hospital, London.

The charity is continuing to expand their support across the UK. In 2023-24, they delivered over 12,000 in-person bedside visits and over 2,000 virtual visits, in partnership with 32 hospitals and four hospice partners.
In 2024 – 2025 Spread a Smile aims to increase their number of NHS hospital and hospice partners to 45, delivering 13,200 in-person hospital bedside visits and over 2,640 virtual visits, reaching and supporting thousands of seriously ill young people and their families. This includes plans for regional growth with the charity starting in-person visits to the Northwest of England. To do this, the charity relies on generous support from individuals and organisations to carry out its work. This year 9 runners took on the TCS London Marathon in aid of Spread a Smile raising over £30,000.