Sheffield Children’s Hospital Secures Grant for Immersive Technology for Children’s Cancer Ward

Children’s charity Rays of Sunshine has donated £20,000 to Sheffield Children’s Hospital to fund a ground-breaking immersive technology kit within the playroom of the Cancer & Leukaemia Ward which is currently undergoing a multimillion-pound transformation.

This donation is part of the new Sunshine in Hospital Grant which aims to provide a one-off sum of up to £20,000 to a UK hospital, hospice, or other healthcare setting to fund a project which supports seriously ill children aged three to 18.

The Children’s Hospital Charity, which supports Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, applied in order to be able to install immersive technology in the Cancer & Leukaemia ward to enable children being treated there to experience a realistic immersive world of play and the joy of personal experiences, all from within the safety of the ward.

Dr Dan Yeomanson, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Sheffield Children’s Hospital said: “While playrooms in children’s hospitals always provide toys, games and other activities, our ambition is to offer something that completely transforms the experience for children having fun or engaging in therapeutic play on our new ward.

“Our Haematology & Oncology Department is a Principal Treatment Centre for children with cancer and leukaemia. This technology will allow them to not only tap into their creativity and curiosity, but feel comfortable and in control of their environment, which can be very important when confined to hospital.

“We are so delighted to have been awarded this grant which will allow us to make a huge difference to the children and young people in our care.”

Michele Afif, CEO of Rays of Sunshine, said:

‘The whole panel were extremely impressed by The Children’s Hospital Charity’s application. The cutting-edge technology they are implementing will benefit so many children at a very difficult time. Children in hospital are often limited to who they see so this will allow them to ‘visit’ their homes, attend birthday parties and see their friends, bringing them a sense of normality.

‘Sheffield Children’s Hospital is a very deserving recipient of our first Sunshine in Hospital Grant, and we can’t wait to see the results!’.

Rays of Sunshine was founded in 2003 and works to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families across the UK by granting magical wishes and providing ongoing support in hospital and hospices and within the community.