Young patients at Oxford Children’s Hospital will receive more visits from professional entertainers after Oxford Hospitals Charity agreed funding to expand its partnership with Spread a Smile.
At a glance
| What is happening? | Oxford Hospitals Charity is funding more specialist entertainment sessions for children at Oxford Children’s Hospital. |
| Where? | Oxford Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. |
| Charity partner | Spread a Smile, which supports seriously ill children through hospital visits, virtual sessions, family events and art initiatives. |
| What sessions include | Music, magic, art, bubble play and one-to-one entertainment tailored to each child. |
| Impact | The funding will double the provision of therapeutic entertainment at Oxford Children’s Hospital. |
| More information | Oxford Hospitals Charity announcement |
Children receiving treatment at Oxford Children’s Hospital will benefit from more music, magic, art and play after Oxford Hospitals Charity funded additional specialist entertainment sessions.
The charity is working with truly brilliant and fabulous Spread a Smile, a national charity that brings entertainers into hospitals and hospices to support seriously ill children, young people and their families.
The new funding will double the number of therapeutic entertainment visits taking place across Oxford Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Professional entertainers provide one-to-one sessions with young patients, with activities shaped around each child’s interests and needs. Sessions can include favourite musical theatre songs, pop music, magic, art and bubble play.
Why the sessions matter for children in hospital
Hospital can be frightening, tiring and isolating for children, particularly for those facing long stays or repeated treatment.
The entertainment sessions are designed to offer something different from the medical routines of the ward: a chance to laugh, play, sing, talk or simply enjoy a moment that feels more like ordinary childhood.
Spread a Smile has been supporting seriously ill children and young people at Oxford Children’s Hospital since 2024, combining monthly in-person entertainer visits with virtual services.
Oxford Hospitals Charity said the extra funding means more children and families will be able to benefit from regular visits.
Jenson’s family praises the support
Kelly Osborne, whose 12-year-old son Jenson spent three months in hospital following gastro surgery, said the sessions had become an important part of his week.
She said: “It’s amazing seeing him so happy. Jenson is a long-term patient, so for him having these sessions is really important. They make his week.
“It’s good to have someone non-medical who isn’t doing a procedure, just having fun with him.
“After the sessions have taken place he tells everyone about them. He just loves them.
“I’m so appreciative for this extra support from the charities, it really makes such a difference to families like ours. It’s amazing.”
‘Fun and laughter in hospital is so important’
Sarah Vaccari from Oxford Hospitals Charity said the charity was pleased to fund more sessions after seeing the response from young patients.
She said: “It was wonderful to see Jenson’s delight at the Disney songs and bubble play, so skilfully provided by Laura and Kerry from the Spread a Smile team.
“Our charity team is thrilled that, thanks to our kind supporters and the talents of Spread a Smile, we have been able to fund these extra sessions to bring more joy into the Oxford Children’s Hospital.
“Fun and laughter in hospital is so important and has such a positive impact on our young patients and their families. It’s just wonderful to see.”
Spread a Smile expands its Oxford visits
Spread a Smile works with seriously ill children and young people across the UK through entertainer visits, family outings, events and art projects.
The charity says its entertainers include musicians, magicians, artists, poets, play specialists and therapy dogs, with sessions designed to help children cope with the pain, anxiety and disruption of serious illness and hospital treatment.
Lucy Jackson, Chief Executive of Spread a Smile, said: “Spread a Smile is committed to supporting as many seriously ill children, young people and their families as possible across the country.
“Through our entertainer visits, family outings and events and art initiatives, it is our mission to make sure that all of the families we support have a chance to smile, laugh and have fun.
“We are extremely grateful to our friends from the Oxford Hospitals Charity for helping to take us one step closer to achieving our aims of delivering regular in-person entertainer visits to all 28 specialist children’s hospitals in the UK by 2035.”
Play specialists welcome extra support
Oxford Children’s Hospital is part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is based on the John Radcliffe Hospital site.
The hospital cares for children from across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, with some specialist services attracting young patients from much further afield.
Jo Pinney, Health Play Specialist Team Manager at John Radcliffe Hospital, said the sessions offered children a chance to feel like children again.
She said: “We are so grateful to Spread a Smile for the energy, kindness and creativity they bring to our wards.
“These sessions offer children a chance to simply be children again, and that impact is felt by their families and staff alike.”
How Oxford Hospitals Charity supports young patients
Oxford Hospitals Charity raises funds for Oxford Children’s Hospital and other hospitals across Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The charity funds equipment, research, training, facilities and additional support designed to improve the experience of patients, families and staff.
Its Children’s Hospital work includes funding extras that help make time in hospital easier for young patients and their families, from equipment and play support to improvements in hospital spaces.
Supporters who want to help fund projects like the Spread a Smile sessions can donate through Oxford Hospitals Charity.
FAQs
What is Oxford Hospitals Charity funding?
Oxford Hospitals Charity is funding more specialist entertainment sessions for young patients at Oxford Children’s Hospital, delivered in partnership with Spread a Smile.
What does Spread a Smile do?
Spread a Smile supports seriously ill children and young people through hospital entertainer visits, virtual sessions, family events and art initiatives.
Where will the extra sessions take place?
The sessions will take place across Oxford Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
What happens during the sessions?
Professional entertainers provide one-to-one sessions tailored to each child. Activities can include music, magic, art, bubble play and songs chosen around the child’s interests.
When did Spread a Smile start supporting Oxford Children’s Hospital?
Spread a Smile began supporting seriously ill children and young people receiving treatment at Oxford Children’s Hospital in 2024.
How can people support the work?
People can donate or find out more through the Oxford Hospitals Charity website.
