Starlight Childrens Foundation



Starlight Children’s Foundation brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children by granting them once‐in‐a‐lifetime wishes and providing entertainment for children in hospitals and hospices throughout the United Kingdom.

All Starlight’s activities are aimed at distracting children from the pain, fear and isolation they can often feel as a result of their illnesses.

When Starlight began in 1986, we helped just four children; today, we help over 500,000 children every year all over the UK. Wherever possible, we include the whole family, strengthening family bonds during difficult times and providing happy memories for everyone to share, no matter what the future may hold. Starlight receives neither Government nor Lottery support.

Starlight hospital entertainment comes in the form of Starlight Parties, Pantomimes and Escapes, Starlight Fun Centres (mobile entertainment units incorporating a flat screen HD TV, Blu‐ray disc player, Nintendo Wii and DS games consoles), and Starlight Distraction Boxes, which are full of special toys and games.

If Starlight had just one wish itself, it would be that cures could be found for all the terrible illnesses that can afflict children. Until then, we will continue to provide important medicines of another sort – excitement, fun and laughter.

“The work of Starlight Children’s Foundation is impressive. Through its use of play, amusement, laughter and humour, Starlight contributes to the development and maintenance of the child’s and his or her family’s positive attitudes when faced with serious and sometimes terminal illness. Positive attitudes are integral to physical recovery and/or adaptation to serious illness.

“The psychological benefits of distraction therapy need to be taken seriously: by promoting a sense of play and fun in otherwise frightening and unfamiliar medical environments, Starlight provides an important outlet for children to give voice to their hopes and to transform their anxieties through the medium of play.”

Dr Alessandra Lemma, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and author of Humour on the Couch

Email: info@starlight.org.uk

Website: www.starlight.org.uk

Phone: 020 7262 2881

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