Play in Healthcare Week.pngWe’re proud to support the great work of the play and youth services team at UCLH. 

13 October sees the beginning of play in healthcare week, an annual celebration of play in all healthcare settings for babies, children and young people which aims to highlight and showcase the incredible work of health play specialists and health play staff. The theme this year is ‘celebrating 50 years of play’.  

Here at UCLH Charity, we are proud to support UCLH’s fantastic play and youth services team who work tirelessly to make the experience of coming to hospital that bit better for thousands of children and young people each year.   

Our support has included: 

  • Funding for a video to showcase the work of the play and youth team at UCLH to share with peers from other hospitals to extend learning and good practice – watch the video here 

  • Extended hours for the play and youth team, so that more patients can benefit from the invaluable support the play and youth team provide 

  • Sensory mobile kits for neurodiverse patients 

  • Hospital play equipment to help explain to children what their treatment involves and reduce anxiety and trauma 

  • A mental health practitioner role supporting young adults receiving cancer treatment 

  • Mental health and wellbeing workshops such as art and crafts club and movie and smoothie evenings to support young people during their stay with us 

Irene O’Donnell, UCLH lead for therapeutic play and youth services said,

“Play in healthcare week is an important opportunity to highlight how therapeutic play helps children make sense of and adjust to their treatments, eases feelings of fear and loneliness, and gives them back a sense of control during challenging times. The UCLH play and youth team are leading the way within health play to provide quality care and support to babies' children young people.  We are grateful to UCLH Charity for their support for the work we do.” 

Check our social media channels during play week to learn more about what the play team does.  

You can help the play and youth team do more to support children and young people coming to UCLH for treatment by donating to the JustGiving page safely and securely here.