We have launched a major fundraising campaign, ‘7 Days of Play’ to support the play team at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

The project, costing nearly £500,000, will see the current play team be expanded from a 5-day service to 7 days a week, meaning the team can support hundreds more seriously ill children.

It costs around £106 a day to fund a Play Worker and although some wards have dedicated Play Leaders and Specialists, current funding means that some wards have no access to play at all and other young patients miss out on play at weekends.  

The Play Team at Leeds Children’s Hospital already provide a vital service, going above and beyond to help make the hospital experience the best it can possibly be through specialised therapeutic hospital play. From helping prepare children for complex treatment and scary scans and surgery, to supporting blood tests for children who have anxieties about needles, and using therapeutic books and specialised preparation tools helping children understand their illness, and often complex long treatment journeys.

Mum of three, Laura Keenan, from Leeds, is backing the appeal to extend the play service offered at Leeds Children’s Hospital. Her 11-year-old son Max has spent a lot of time in hospital since he was just three years old. Max was diagnosed with a condition called Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and finally underwent a life-changing liver transplant in May.

Over the years, Max has hugely benefitted from the Play Service, and particularly enjoyed playing video games with the Play Team, but he only had access to the team on weekdays. On Saturdays, Sundays and during holidays, there weren’t enough play specialists to support Max on his ward.

We spoke to Laura about the difference the expansion of the play service will make to young people like Max and their families, she said:

 “After his liver transplant, Max had to isolate on his ward for 21 days because of the risk of infection. This was really tough for Max, but the Play Team were his lifeline throughout the week. However, at weekends, when the Play Team wasn’t available, it was really hard for Max. He couldn’t play with them, go in the play room, or even play games on his tablet, it was incredibly lonely. Every child should have access to play, seven days a week.”

Research shows that play in hospital has a multitude of benefits for children; from reducing stress and anxiety, to normalising the hospital environment, preparing children and young people to better understand their condition and treatment plans and helping to bring children and families together.

Lisa Beaumont, Therapeutic and Specialised Play Manager at Leeds Children’s Hospital, tells us more about the benefits of play:

“Understandably, many patients feel overwhelmed when they visit the hospital, it’s an unfamiliar environment where they sometimes need to undergo painful procedures. It’s our job as the Play Team to be there for every sick child in hospital to help support there often long and difficult journey while also bringing some fun and laughter along the way.

“Whether it’s preparing them for a procedure, helping to provide distractions from treatment, providing bereavement play for children who are sadly on end of life care, or simply to spread some smiles.  Play not only has a positive impact on the patients, but the entire family and support system. We desperately need help to raise the much needed funds to expand our team. Every seriously ill child deserves access to play, whatever day of the week it is.”

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to expand our Play Team at Leeds Children’s Hospital and help make every child’s days in hospital the best they can be.

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If you have any questions about 7 Days of Play, please contact us on [email protected] or call 0113 539 7020