Image of a boy playing table football in the hospital

Fuelling the comforting power of play

A visit to hospital can feel scary, particularly for children. But, thanks to our supporters, the amazing Evelina London play team help children and young people prepare for treatment and process their emotions through the comforting power of play.

Evelina Play Specialist Shirin holding a Gruffalo hand puppet with the Gruffalo story book telling Olilia the story while shes sat up in hospital bed at Evelina London Children

Shirin, Play Specialist, brings play to Olilia’s bedside

What is a play specialist?

The amazing play specialists at Evelina London are specially trained to use therapeutic play to support babies, children and young people during their hospital visit. Through play, they help ease anxiety about upcoming treatments, provide distraction during difficult procedures, and make the hospital feel more like home.

Their care extends to the whole family, bringing moments of joy and comfort when it’s needed most. The friendly team are passionate about transforming care with imaginative toys, games and activities. Playtime can be anywhere – at the bedside, on the ward or in the magical sensory spaces – and no one is too young or old to join in the fun.

How play specialists are making a difference at Evelina London

The dedicated play specialists transform care at Evelina London by:

Making the hospital feel more like home for children and young people
Using toys, books and games to explore fears and frustrations and explain what’s going to happen
Distracting children from sometimes scary procedures with things like trailblazing virtual reality (VR) technology
Providing therapeutic play sessions in the magical sensory room for children with special needs
Entertaining children and families with fun and imaginative activities
Involving siblings to make them feel special and supported
Giving parents time out for a cuppa

“Play can alleviate any worries and is a natural way for children to pass time and do something that is normal, helping them open up and express their feelings,”

Susan Pruden, Play Service Manager

In the sensory room, Jess an Evelina London Play Specialist is holding strands of lights, in her arms she

Kai in the magical sensory room with Play Specialist, Jess

How donations help Evelina London’s play specialists

Thanks to our generous supporters, we’ve funded child-friendly play spaces and trailblazing play equipment, like sensory machines. We’ve also supported the team to learn the latest play techniques, so that they can continue to transform care for children and families.

“The resources purchased through charity funding can make a significant difference to our patients’ experience and allow us to provide a therapeutic play session around procedures, developmental play, distraction, and post procedural play,” Susan Pruden, Play Service Manager

Making play more inclusive through touch and music 

With your support, we’re funding the amazing play team to train in TACPAC, bringing inclusive and supportive play to Evelina London. TACPAC is a sensory communication resource that uses touch and music to support children with disabilities, limited or nonverbal communication. This training gives the play team tools to use TACPAC activities to provide incredible care to children and young people with individual needs.

Evelina London patient wearing a VR headset

Soaring through space eases young minds 

Your donations also fund groundbreaking virtual reality (VR) headsets that transport young explorers to magical worlds, where they can walk with dinosaurs, swim with turtles or soar through outer space. These immersive experiences are creating moments of joy on the wards for children and transforming care through the power of imaginative play.

Spreading joy to more children and families 

Together, we’re extending the power of play across the whole hospital. Thanks to our supporters, staff in different departments are being trained in the importance of play. You’ve also funded rucksacks filled with goodies, such as fidget spinners and stress balls. These fantastic play packs are distributed across children’s services, like the Emergency Department, to help distract children and keep them calm. They’re particularly helpful for children with individual needs, like autism or ADHD.

“The feedback from staff and parents has been great, so now we want to roll them out to reach areas not normally supported by the play team,” Susan Pruden, Play Service Manager.

We’re proud to support the amazing play specialists as they transform children and families’ experiences of care.

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