Starlight Children's Foundation

Starlight Children's Foundation Starlight is the national children’s charity that exists to champion the importance of play.
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Offical page for Starlight Children's Foundation in the UK.

03/09/2026

Would your top five look the same as Joseph’s? 🧸⭐

We asked Joseph to blind rank his favourite things from the Starlight Playstore - without knowing what was coming next. And we think he did a brilliant job! 💚

Of course, there are no right or wrong answers here - every toy, game and experience can bring something different to a child in hospital. But there was one choice that felt particularly special to Joseph… time with a Health Play Specialist.

His mum, Natalie, is a Health Play Specialist, so he knows first-hand just how brilliant they can be.

But new research reveals there are just 955 health play professionals supporting 21 million children’s hospital admissions every year - around one tenth of the recommended staffing level.

That’s why we’re calling for all healthcare professionals who care for children to receive ❇️ Starlight’s Playful Approaches ❇️ training - from doctors and nurses, to radiographers and physiotherapists ✅

With the right training, the professionals already caring for children can transform children’s health through play. 💚⭐

Now, back to the important question - do you agree with Joseph’s favourites? What would make your number one spot? 👀

We’re making waves with a brand-new partnership with Zoggs UK 🌊 We’re thrilled to be teaming up with the globally recogn...
01/09/2026

We’re making waves with a brand-new partnership with Zoggs UK 🌊

We’re thrilled to be teaming up with the globally recognised swimwear and swimming accessories brand to bring the power of play to even more seriously ill children.

Thanks to Zoggs’ generous donation of almost 1,000 products, our existing Sensory Distraction Boxes will be enhanced with exciting new water play resources as they are distributed to hospitals and healthcare settings across the UK between April and December 2026. These innovative boxes help children feel calmer, braver and more in control during treatments and procedures, transforming moments of fear and uncertainty through the power of play.

At Starlight, we know that play isn't just fun - it's a vital part of helping children cope with the challenges of illness and treatment. We're delighted to partner with a brand that shares our belief in the transformative power of play. Whether helping a child gain confidence in the water or supporting them through a blood test, scan or hospital stay, both Starlight & Zoggs recognise that play can help children overcome fear, build resilience and approach new experiences with greater confidence.

A huge thank you to Zoggs for helping us bring the power of play to more children and families across the UK. We look forward to growing our partnership and reaching even more families over the coming year. 💙

Did you know play can help reduce anxiety before medical appointments?Our free vaccination resource uses the power of pl...
31/08/2026

Did you know play can help reduce anxiety before medical appointments?
Our free vaccination resource uses the power of play to help children understand what will happen, feel more in control and approach their appointment with greater confidence.
From breathing exercises to preparation tips, it’s designed to support children and families every step of the way.

📥 Download the guide: https://ow.ly/F4j750ZbJmh

30/08/2026

This is Filly. 💫

She’s 13, she’s a Starlight Ambassador — and this weekend, she took to the CarFest stage and absolutely shone. 🌟

Full of confidence, personality and joy, Filly had the crowd with her, every step of the way.

Filly is a brilliant champion for something she knows matters: the power of play for children in healthcare. 💚

And seeing her up there, sharing her voice and inspiring thousands of people? Pure magic.

Filly, you were a STAR. 🌟

There’s a huge gap in children’s healthcare that most people don’t know exists. 👉Across the UK, 21 million children’s ho...
29/08/2026

There’s a huge gap in children’s healthcare that most people don’t know exists. 👉

Across the UK, 21 million children’s hospital admissions are supported by just 955 health play professionals - around one tenth of the recommended staffing level.

Why does this matter? Because for a child, healthcare isn’t just about the treatment they receive. It’s also about how they experience it.

Our new research reveals the scale of the gap, why play matters and what needs to change.

Swipe through to see what we found. ➡️

Our evidence shows that play can improve healthcare experiences and help make procedures smoother and faster, making our NHS more efficient.

We’re calling for all healthcare professionals who care for children to receive ❇️ Starlight’s Playful Approaches ❇️ training - from doctors and nurses, to radiographers and physiotherapists ✅

With the right training, the professionals already caring for children can transform children’s health through play. 💚⭐

28/08/2026

🌟 We’ve arrived at CarFest 2026! 🌟

The Starlight team is all set up at Silverstone and ready for three days of play, fun and family challenges. 🏁💜

🏎️ First stop? Our LEGO®️ Pit Box!

Build your own LEGO®️ car, put it to the test and you could be in with a chance of winning a LEGO®️ Ferrari worth over £400! 🏆

Then stick around for even more fun:

✨ LEGO®️ Walk challenge
✨ Tug of War
✨ Garden games
✨ And plenty more play throughout the weekend!

We’re here all weekend in StarFest, so come and find us, join the fun and discover why play is so important for children in hospital. 💜

📍 Find Starlight in StarFest
📸 Tag and in your photos
🏎️ Build it. Race it. Share it.

Address

The Ark, 201 Talgarth Road
London
W68BJ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

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