We're the national charity for children’s play in healthcare, supporting children to experience the power of play to boost their wellbeing and resilience during illness.
We advocate for play professionals, support families, and empower children to experience the power of play.
Play is not a choice; it’s crucial to children's health and wellbeing. Evidence shows play in hospitals reduces the trauma, fear and distress that many children feel. The support of health play professionals can mitigate the pain and anxiety of treatment. Play can also create economic benefits for the NHS.
We want all children across the UK to have their right to play protected and provided for during their healthcare journey.
We do everything we can to protect childhood for seriously ill children. That’s been the case since 1986, when Emma Samms and Peter Samuelson founded Starlight. Emma had fundraised to help her young friend Sean, who had a brain tumour, visit Disneyland. She saw the impact that trip had not just on Sean, but on his whole family. Emma decided to set up a children’s charity so many more kids and families could feel the same way – and Starlight was born.
The memory of a childhood illness can impact for life. If we can make it a little bit more interesting, they may not have such awful association with their illness or experience.
