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Past Campaigns
Amir Khan Visits the Yorkhill Hospital in 2015
The children met Mr. Khan and participated in a small photoshoot. They received presents and had the opportunity to talk to one of their heroes. Afterwards, Mr. Khan walked around the wards with photographers, talking to each child and their family, making a real effort to spend some time with everyone and get to know them as well as he could within the short period of time. Amina Iqbal, a project manager and volunteer for Magical Smiles, describes the visit: ‘Mr.Khan really made the visit personal, explaining to the families why he was visiting: the connection with Eid, and his wish to bring smiles back on the children’s faces. He was keen to take pictures and chat with anybody, children and adults alike.’
Amina explains the importance of such visits by public figures: ‘The effect that a visit like this has on children is incredible – they feel more valued, they feel special. It’s a great confidence boost – someone coming into their space and making an effort to meet them rather than the other way round. Meeting a celebrity is a great distraction. The parents really appreciated Amir reaching out, because they could immediately see the difference it made for their sick children.’
Mr. Khan has only given presents to children from one of the wards, however, every child staying in the hospital has received a gift appropriate to their age.
Each year Magical Smiles team up with a different public figure or celebrity to give out the presents and make the event even more special for the children and their families. Other visits included for example local football teams namely Celtic footballer Shawn Maloney.
Vision Statement Shining Star Awards 2014
The winners were determined in three stages – nomination (by family members and friends), selection of the nominees and finally, picking a winner. Hospital staff, a child-care professional and someone with no connection to the charity (last year a member of the Sainsbury’s group) created the panel of judges to ensure impartiality in choosing a winner. The winner received a shiny trophy, the runner ups also got a trophy, and every nominee received a certificate.
Saiqa Sabeel, whose daughter won a young bravery award a few years ago, said: ‘It was a very exciting day for all of us. We knew other families that attended the event from the hospital; everyone was interacting and created a lovely environment, very welcoming. Sabeel was nominated by her brothers and she was so emotional about the whole evening. The fact that there are people recognising what everyone has done, not just the bravery of the children, but of the families as well, is amazing. Sabeel didn’t know she was getting an award and when she was announced a winner, she was overwhelmed and started crying. It meant so much for us to be there.’
The fundraiser was aimed at the adult audience, and Magical Smiles have organised entertainment for the children, including a clown. The guests responded well to the documentary, which you can watch under the ‘Play’ section, and the fundraising target was met.
As this wasn’t the first award show Magical Smiles have organised, the families themselves approached the charity and wanted to get involved. The children were very keen on taking a part regardless of being nominated. The event was supported by Sainsbury’s and the Yorkhill hospital.
We Work WIth:
Yorkhill Hospital
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children is a newly built hospital with facilities designed specifically for the children. The hospital handles approximately 90,000 out-patients, 15,000 in-patients and 7,300 daycases every year. The hospital provides special care for newborn babies, children and young people.
Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity (Charity No: SC007856)
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity aims to provide the ‘extra’ services which can help to make a child’s stay at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children as easy, and comfortable as possible.
Robin House and Rachel House
Both houses are run by The Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS). The CHAS is a Scottish charity established to provide hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
A children’s hospice offers professional care, practical help and emotional support to the whole family usually from the day of acceptance until their departure and beyond.
Rachel House in Kinross, Scotland’s first children’s hospice, opened in March 1996. Robin House in Balloch opened in August 2005. Both hospices are purpose-built and each can provide ongoing support for up to 200 families across Scotland each year. The CHAS at Home Team offers support to families across Scotland by providing a home care service to families in their own homes when they need it.
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children-often fondly referred to as "the sick kids"-provides a comprehensive range of dedicated children's services, including its own Accident and Emergency Department, caring for youngsters from across Lothian and beyond.
The hospital is based at Sciennes, near Edinburgh city centre, and offers services including acute medical and surgical care, specialist surgical and medical care, haematology and oncology, day care, and critical care.
A busy outpatient department cares for more than 34,000 patients a year.
The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (Charity No: SC020862)
The Sick Kids Friends Foundation helps sick children get better by funding extra medical equipment, improving facilities, financing specialised research and training and providing a wide range of extra comforts for young patients and their families at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, other health centres in the East of Scotland and in the community.
The ARCHIE Foundation
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