Radio Lollipop facts for kids
 |
|
| Registration No. | England and Wales: 280817 Scotland: SC039505 |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Charlotte Building, 17 Gresse Street, London, W1T 1QL |
| Area served | Australia New Zealand United Kingdom United States South Africa |
| Method | Radio programming and play interaction at the bedside and in the playrooms |
| Website | https://radiolollipop.org |
Radio Lollipop is a special charitable organization that helps children in hospital. It brings care, comfort, fun, and entertainment to young patients. The group has volunteers called "Playmakers" who spend time with kids. They visit children in their hospital rooms or in special play areas.
The charity is named after the mini radio stations it runs inside hospitals. These stations play music and shows just for kids. Sometimes, the children themselves even get to be the presenters!
Contents
How Radio Lollipop Started
Radio Lollipop began in 1978 in Surrey, England. It started at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children. At first, it was a radio station connected by wires to 460 children in the hospital. The very first broadcast happened on May 5, 1979.
After the first station was a success, more funding came in 1980. This money helped create more Radio Lollipop stations in other British hospitals. This was part of the International Year of the Child efforts.
Over time, Radio Lollipop's focus grew beyond just the radio shows. Volunteers started spending more time directly with children. They would play games, do arts and crafts, and read stories. However, the "radio" part is still very important. It offers fun programs and lets children join in.
The radio shows include friendly chats with children and playing their song requests. They also have comedy and fun competitions. In most hospitals, the programs are sent to speakers in the wards. A main studio with presenters is a central spot for the charity. Children can even visit the studio! There's a plan to share shows from hospitals in different time zones using the internet.
Radio Lollipop is run completely by people who volunteer their time. These volunteers come from different backgrounds. They often work in the evenings.
In 1985, Radio Lollipop started helping children outside the UK. The first international station opened in Perth, Western Australia. It was at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. Steve and Pat Salter, a couple from the UK, brought the idea to Perth. Since then, the charity has grown. It now helps children in Australia, New Zealand, and America.
Radio Lollipop also helps at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London. This is one of the biggest children's hospitals in the world. Radio Lollipop provides play services for children in 390 beds across 21 wards there. They even used to broadcast from a former tube train! This train was lifted into the hospital and turned into the Radio Lollipop studio.
Where Radio Lollipop Helps Kids
Australia
- Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia
- St John of God Murdoch Hospital, Murdoch, Western Australia
- Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, Western Australia
- St John of God Midland Hospital, Midland, Western Australia
- Joondalup Health Campus, Joondalup, Western Australia
- Kelmscott Memorial Hospital, Armadale, Western Australia
- Rockingham, Western Australia
- Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
- Mater Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland
- Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland
- Logan Hospital, Meadowbrook, Queensland
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland
- Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria
New Zealand
- Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland
- Kidz First, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland
- Waitakere Hospital, Auckland
- Manukau Superclinic, Auckland
- Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch
- Whangarei Base Hospital, Whangarei
United Kingdom
- Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh
- Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow
- Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham
- Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol
- Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton
- Manchester Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester
- Ninewell's Hospital and Medical School, Dundee
- Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
- Evelina Children's Hospital, London
United States
South Africa
- New Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, Johannesburg
