.

Brightening the lives of seriously ill children

Starlight Children’s Foundation – what we do

Starlight grants wishes of a lifetime to seriously and terminally ill children; and entertains over 500,000 children with fun and laughter in every hospital and hospice throughout the UK. All Starlight’s activities are aimed at distracting children from the pain, fear and isolation they can often feel as a result of their illness and at strengthening family bonds at what is often a time of great stress. Starlight does not receive funding from the government or the National Lottery and relies on the generosity of people like you.

Starlight Wishes

Starlight Wishes are limited only by a child’s imagination – from swimming with dolphins to going in a helicopter, from meeting a favourite sports team to being a police officer.

A Starlight wish is not just ‘a nice treat’ – it can help to transform the lives of seriously ill children. Seventy percent of Starlight’s children make a full recovery and feedback from the parents of our Starlight children tells the same story: more than a wish fulfilled, the Starlight experience marks a positive turning point in their child’s illness.

Starlight always involves the whole family, giving them happy memories, whatever the future may hold.

Starlight Fun Centres

Starlight Fun Centres create hours of fun and distraction for poorly children in every hospital and hospice UK-wide. The Starlight Fun Centre can be wheeled right up to a sick child’s bed, or played on in the middle of the ward, helping children to make friends. Starlight Fun Centres provide important distraction from unpleasant treatments such as chemotherapy.

Starlight parties, pantomimes and escapes

At Starlight parties, children’s spirits are lifted by contagious laughter. No party is complete without clowns, face painters, party food, decorations, games and goody bags. Starlight pantomimes give sick children the chance to boo, hiss, cheer and shout… and forget about how unwell they feel.  A Starlight Escape can be anything from tenpin bowling for one child and their family, to giving 350 very ill children and their families the opportunity to go to the Starlight Flying Day at Popham. For a lot of children, a Starlight Escape is a rare day out of hospital and is looked forward to with great anticipation and excitement.

Starlight Distraction Boxes A Starlight Distraction Box is a colourful toolbox full of forty or so little games, toys and fun items. Distraction Boxes provide nurses and play specialists with a variety of ways of distracting a child whilst various medical procedures, such as taking blood, are undertaken.

Starlight Distraction Boxes are for use in hospitals, hospices and for home visits. They are in great demand as health care professionals have found that the child tends to look forward to their visit, rather than fearing it.