Something new in support of our Hospitals from Clowns in the Sky

After lots of planning we wanted to let everyone know that we have taken on a new incentive for children’s wards, still coming under our umbrella of children’s entertainer visits. 

Authors visiting hospitals for one off visits, or maybe longer term and establishing a relationship with their local hospital.

We thought this would enhance the support we already give to children’s wards and help to engage with more children of all ages, and bring more smiles.

Initially we piloted in 2019 visiting Calderdale Royal Hospital with a very established Author ‘Tom Palmer’ who has written numerous children’s books including ‘Roy of the Rovers’ which is particularly popular with boys. Not to be left out he has now introduced a female character ‘Rocky of the Rovers’, and what a great read it looks.

With COVID-19 and entertainer sessions not being able to happen we continued to explore the Author visits. This fabulous book came to us via the Point of Light Awards, with Lynn spotting a new award winner, a charity also supporting children with brain tumours. The book ‘Chicken Legs Arroyo’ has been sent to all the children’s wards we support as part of the Summer refill. We hope the children enjoy it and its inspirational message of overcoming obstacles. We feel very proud to have supported another charity in the process, whilst providing our hospitals with a new book.

Our next purchase which will form part of the Winter refills is a fabulous book by Debut Author ‘Venessa Taylor’. In this book Venessa introduces all the children and their coaches, and reveals just how inclusive this team is. We think this book will resonate with some of the children in hospital and the conditions they have, who they are, and just how important their role is as part of a team.  Tackling a range of childhood issues children face every day.

We are exploring a live online event, a pre-record and a visit to Great Ormond Street with Venessa. Venessa will not only read from her book, but she will show the children how to illustrate one of her characters, and how they can make up their own stories. Each child will receive a copy of this book when we visit later in the year.

Venessa is an ambassador for various leukaemia and cancer charities, and gives a donation from each book sale to charity.

At Clowns in the Sky we are very excited as this book embraces difference, as well as going hand in hand with our fabulous Patron, Ex-West Ham Legend ‘Tony Cottee’.

Finally, but not the last as we are already in contact with other Authors. Here is ‘Snowdrop Arrives’, again supporting another charity, which highlights our understanding of the last 18 months and the difficulties that small charities have faced. A stunning book, which we can’t wait to include in the Winter parcels, and knowing that we are supporting ‘Mr Lumpy and Friends’, of which Lynn is an avid follower. We are really lucky that the Author lives close to one of our hospitals and we hope to arrange a visit to Colchester Children’s Ward for a story time session.