It is difficult to put into words just how important having visits from outside entertainers is for our patients and families, but the difference it makes to not just the patient, but to parents, siblings, and carers too is huge. Often siblings can find coming into visit their brother or sister very daunting, so to be able to attend a show like this helps make hospital visits less scary for them and the whole family feel like they are doing something nice together which creates positive memories during sometimes very difficult journeys.

I have watched children’s confidence grow each time they come out and initially they are a bit shy to participate but the kind gentle nature of Charlie and Nikki really encourages them, in one patient’s case, he took to the floor to demonstrate his own trick to the audience and the magicians and tell his own jokes, which was truly a magical moment. The visits from Pod make such a difference to the children, their smiles when they leave says it all.