Spread a Smile and Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice partnership brings magic to children and families

Alongside their 25 NHS hospital partners, Spread a Smile provides support to two children’s hospices, one of which is Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

Spread a Smile has been supporting Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and their families since 2019, initially through weekly virtual sessions during Covid 19 and now supporting their family events and activities in person, alongside treat drops and bespoke end-of-life visits.

Last weekend, their team also joined in with our Family Day which saw around 60 families attend the hospice for a magic-themed day of fun family activities. Spread a Smile’s Fairy Kirsten, Mr Magic, singer Tasha and Olivia with Therapy Dog Thomas all spent a wonderful day helping to entertain and spread some joy and laughter.

 

Natasha Whitehead, Marketing and Communications Manager for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice said:

 Last weekend we hosted one of our Family Days – an opportunity for all of our families to come together for a day of fun, magic and excitement. With so many families in attendance, it’s so important that we pull out all the stops to provide a truly unforgettable experience.

Having Spread a Smile join us really takes the day to a whole new level. Within minutes of arriving, the children were dazzled by the magician, mesmerised by the enchanting fairy and cuddled by their Therapy Dog, Thomas!

The impact that our partnership with Spread a Smile has on the children and families we support extends beyond days like this. Only last month, we called on Spread a Smile as we were caring for a child at the end of their life. As a team, we wanted to create a moment of magic for the entire family, including the child’s older sibling. Within hours the Spread a Smile fairy arrived at the doors of The Ark, creating a wonderful moment for the siblings to experience together.

Laura Walter, Director of Services for Spread a Smile said:

“For families with a seriously ill child, the support of different healthcare settings alongside or beyond the hospital setting is often vital, particularly over longer periods of time. It is therefore important for Spread a Smile to be able to reach these children at every stage of their journey and we’re proud to be working with Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice to do just that.”