With their regular scheduled hospital visits suspended due to Covid 19, Spread a Smile was one of the first children's charities to launch their digital entertainment services and online art initiatives. However, many children in hospitals do not have access to their own digital devices, meaning access to online entertainment during extensive treatment and long hospital stays is extremely limited. In early 2021, Bregal gifted a grant to the charity which was used to purchase 41 iPads which were then distributed across its NHS hospital partners including; Great Ormond Street, University College, St Mary's, St George's, The Royal Brompton, Evelina Children's, King's College, Royal National Orthopaedic, and Whittington hospitals.

The iPads are now being used by play specialist teams and children in hospitals to access Spread a Smiles' services including; Smile TV, virtual visits from entertainers, online art initiatives and much more. With the use of a management system, the iPads can be monitored to ensure they are used safely and for the correct purpose.  The iPads have helped spread so many smiles to seriously ill and hospitalised children and we can't thank Bregal enough for their most generous donation - without you, this would not have been possible.

"Many of the children don’t have access to their own devices or only a borrowed phone from their parent staying with them, which made joining in really difficult before. We can now offer everyone the chance to join in the fun! The children have also enjoyed using the games as a distraction during tests and now we can offer the kids a chance to watch anew movie on Ipads as a treat after their procedures or when they are feeling pain. We can’t thank Spread a Smile and the donors enough for providing the IPads and making them so easy for us to use. "

‍Tina Halton, St Mary's Hospital

"We're so happy with our brand new iPads. They arrived set up with lots of games for our patients to play. This is so helpful when distracting patients during painful and scary procedures. They also provide a great way for our patients to access all sorts of virtual entertainment and activities put on by Spread a Smile. We have been enjoying some fantastic magic shows, balloon modelling, art sessions and much more with them. "

Hayley Gilburt, St George's Hospital