Refer a child for a magical wish
Wishes are as unique as the children themselves and whether a child wants to be a fireman, meet a real-life mermaid or even the Loch Ness Monster, we work hard to make that wish come true.
Find out more<Apply for wishes, community events and support>
**Temporary Pause on Accepting New Wish Applications – Except Urgent Wishes**
Due to a high volume of ongoing wish applications, we are currently pausing our acceptance of new referrals/wish applications. This allows us to dedicate our full attention to fulfilling the wishes already in our pipeline and ensuring each child receives the magical experience they deserve.
We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We are committed and working hard to make sure we can accept new applications as soon as possible, please do come back to our website at a later date for more updates.
Urgent wishes (under 12 month prognosis)
At present, we are only able to accept referrals from medical professionals for children/young people with a prognosis of under 12 months. You will need permission from the parent/guardian before applying and the child/young person must meet our eligibility criteria in order for us to consider them for a wish.
Once you have submitted the referral, we will be in touch with you to confirm the medical condition/prognosis and next steps.
*Please note – if at any point we are made aware the prognosis does not fall under 12 months, we will have to close the application on our system.
Refer an urgent wish
Wish Community Events
From the moment a wish is granted, families become part of our Wish Community, and are invited to join in any of the events which take place throughout the year – online and across the UK.
Find out more
Sunshine in Hospitals
Our hospital team delivers sunshine to children up and down the country currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
From our activity days to our sensory bags, we aim to reach children and their families when they need it the most.
The Sunshine Choir
The Sunshine Choir is a growing community of wish children aged 6-18 who meet online monthly to learn new songs, grow their confidence, and make friends. They also have the chance to perform at special events with Rays of Sunshine.
Find out more
The Bright Board
The Rays of Sunshine Bright Board is a skills-based educational programme for former wish children to take their first steps into young adulthood.
Through workshops, mentoring, and a supportive community, the Bright Board will ensure you get the tools and guidance you need to navigate young adulthood with confidence.
The Children's Panel
The Children’s Panel is a group of wish children which helps Rays of Sunshine to put children’s voices at the heart of everything we do.
Members will help Rays of Sunshine to sprinkle even more magic on our wishes and services by sharing your unique experiences and opinions.
