Rays of Sunshine awards Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow £20k grant to bring sensory play to thousands of children

Rays of Sunshine is delighted to announce that the Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow will receive a £20,000 grant to help bring specialised sensory play equipment to thousands of seriously ill children in hospital.

The project was selected by wish-granting charity, Rays of Sunshine to be the latest recipient of their Sunshine in Hospitals grant, sponsored by long-time Rays of Sunshine partner Lockton. The grant aims to fund long-lasting and impactful projects in children’s wards, hospices, and hospitals.

The Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow will use the grant to purchase a selection of sensory equipment for its Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, including two OMI MOBI mobile sensory units and 12 Nebula Projectors.

Many of the children taken care of in the hospital’s intensive care unit are unable to leave their beds, so having mobile units around the ward will be invaluable to its team of nurses and play specialists. It is estimated by the hospital that the introduction of the new units could benefit 6,000 young patients in a year, including some 3,000 children aged three to eight.

Sensory play has been proven to have a positive impact on children experiencing a range of serious illnesses and conditions. These benefits include reduced feelings of isolation and anxiety, and stimulated brain activity.

This is the second year the grant has been awarded, The Children’s Hospital Charity, which supports Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, used the previous grant to fund a ground-breaking immersive technology kit within the playroom of their ward for children and teenagers with cancer and blood disorders.

Simon Coleman, Trustee, Lockton Charitable Association, said: “Lockton Charitable Association is very proud to partner with Rays of Sunshine and the fantastic work they do to advocate for and support seriously ill children. We are especially pleased that the Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow is receiving this grant in support of the life saving care it provides to its young patients.”

Karen Miles, Project Manager for Hospital Services at Rays of Sunshine, said: “We are delighted to be awarding our Sunshine in Hospitals grant to such a wonderful project.

“Together with our partner Lockton, we’re excited to see this innovative project come to fruition, and know it will make a huge difference to the seriously ill young people at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.”

Kirsten Watson, Chief Executive of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are immensely grateful to Rays of Sunshine for their generous Sunshine in Hospitals grant. This wonderful contribution will make an incredible difference to the lives of countless children and families at Scotland’s busiest children’s hospital.

“This support will help promote development, assist with recovery, and fulfil patients’ needs. We deeply appreciate the significance of this contribution in making a positive difference for those who need it most.”

To find out more about Rays of Sunshine’s work in hospitals, head to our website page.