About the Appeal: The original aim of the Magic of Play Appeal was to install and equip a new playroom on the Children’s Unit at the Lister hospital in Stevenage. Thanks to our amazing supporters, in 2015 we were able to replace the old playroom -  a 25 year old portakabin -  with a brand new, purpose-built building which now meets the complex needs of today’s sick children. It's wheelchair-friendly, with specific facilities for children with cancer and and those with sensory impairments.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED MONEY, TOYS AND TIME TO MAKE THE PLAYROOM A REALITY FOR OUR YOUNG PATIENTS.

Over 3,000 babies, children and young people are cared for on the Children's Unit each year. They now have a  space which reminds them of their favourite playroom rather than a hospital...but our work continues. 

Toys and games will need to be replaced, games equipment will inevitably go out of date and, as sensory equipment becomes more sophisticated, we'll want to ensure our young patients have access to the very best. We also want to extend the playroom into the rest of the hospital - making the ward itself more child-friendly, developing specific areas for teenage patients and creating children's areas in Outpatient clinics. 

Alongside this, we are keen to provide new state-of-the-art equipment - in addition to  standard NHS equipment - to ensure our young patients have access to cutting edge clinical care.

We have therefore increased the target for our Magic of Play Appeal and hope you will support it. Please contact charity.eh-tr@nhs.net for more details or if you have any questions. THANK YOU!