Spread a Smile
630. Josephine Segal
629. Vanessa Crocker
Vanessa Crocker and Josephine Segal, co-founded the ‘Spread a Smile’ charity after seeing the positive impact a magician’s visit had on Josephine’s 9-year-old nephew when he was treated in Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The charity provides entertainers for seriously ill children and teenagers to spread happiness and alleviate the boredom that can come with long hospital stays.
Entertainers including well-known children’s characters, musicians, singers, face painters and poets, visit Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College Hospitals and Royal London Hospitals on a regular basis, reaching thousands of children every year. The charity also organises theatre trips and workshops for families.
In a personal letter to Josephine and Vanessa, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Through ‘Spread a Smile’, you are brightening hospital stays for children and teenagers and making difficult experiences so much more bearable for the whole family. The additional trips and workshops you organise provide much needed support and respite for families too.”
Josephine and Vanessa said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive recognition of the amazing work our team does for seriously ill children and teenagers in hospital. We dedicate this award to all of the incredible families we see whose extraordinary resilience carries them through such difficult times.”