About POD - POD Children's Charity

Trailblazing the Way

Trailblazing the Way.

Pod was founded in 1977 at a time when hospitals gave little thought to the emotional needs of sick children. Longer stays were common, visiting times were restricted and outside stimulus for children in hospital was almost unheard of.

Pod's founder, David Jamilly believed in the fundamental unity of health and happiness. An enthusiastic staff member at Great Ormond Street Hospital, shared his visionary belief in the value of play and laughter for children in hospital and together they were able to put belief into practice.

Pod entertainers gave their first show in GOSH's Board Room. Children were brought from all over the hospital to join in the fun. It was a resounding success and more visits followed. The word got around, and soon other hospitals were asking for Pod visits.

Over the last 49 years Pod's team of professional children's entertainers have brought magic, fun and laughter into the lives of more than a million children and young people in hospitals and hospices. Times have changed dramatically, and Pod is proud to have been a part of the progress in the thinking, attitude and approach to children in hospital.

POD entertainer with children in hospital

49

Years of Pod

1,800

Sessions in 2026

65

Hospitals & Hospices

1M+

Children & Young People

Over the last 49 years, Pod's team of professional children's entertainers have brought magic, fun and laughter into the lives of more than a million children and young people in hospitals and hospices.

Pod's Visits in 2026.

Pod entertainers will be providing 1,800 sessions in 65 hospitals and hospices in 2026.

Most hospitals have one monthly visit consisting of two 40-minute sessions, so the entertainer can visit at least two wards/clinics. Some hospitals (mostly larger ones) have between 3 and 8 monthly sessions (see hospital list). Entertainers provide shows on wards or in playrooms, they visit outpatient clinics, make bedside visits and even visit children in isolation.

A visit lasts a minimum of 80 minutes but often the entertainer stays longer so they see every child and every child has something to smile about.

I think children forget everything during a Pod show; they just get sucked into the magic.Play Specialist · Great Ormond Street Hospital

Smiling girl with magician's cup-and-potato trick

When Pod visits, there's the sound of laughter on the wards, doctors and nurses take a few minutes to stop what they are doing and watch the patients joining in with the tricks and having fun. It encourages the shy child to speak out, the sad child to smile and children to get out of bed and join in.Play Specialist · Coventry University Hospital

Pod's First Aim

Pod makes smiles, fun and laughter.

Laughter has a way of overcoming all barriers - irrespective of age and whatever stage children and young people have reached on their journey, the transformation is magic.

What parents say.

Thank you so much for your magician visit today, it couldn't have come at a better time. Ten days into his stay, he was feeling really fed up and it's the first time he's laughed as much as this in the ten days we've been here. To see him giggle so much overjoyed me.Parent · Nottingham Children's Hospital

Eleanor was giggling the whole way through. It was great - keep up the good work.Parent · Royal Marsden Hospital

The magician was really engaging and put a real smile on our daughter's face for the first time in a few days. Thank you.Parent · Lincoln Hospital

Put a smile on my daughter's face after her recovery from surgery. Worth his weight in gold. Absolutely amazing.Parent · Bristol Children's Hospital

She had just come out of surgery and was feeling a bit upset and groggy. He put a smile on her face, so much so that she's asked if she can go back to hospital again.Parent · Worthing Hospital

Brought a smile to my daughter's face during a hard time. It was amazing to see the smile back.Parent · Queen's Hospital Romford

Belle smiling in her hospital bed with a large pink balloon flower

Pod's visit brought a breath of fresh, positive energised air to the day: inspiring more fun and creating more laughter than we've had in days! It's not been an easy time here and to see my son smile and laugh with joy makes the whole experience lighter to bear - thank you.Parent · Kingston University Hospital

My daughter laughed for the first time in what seemed like forever since she's been unwell! Andy was great. Thank you for lighting our day up.Lister Hospital, Stevenage

Pod's Second Aim

Pod distracts children from where they are, what is happening or going to happen to them.

Pod visits have a therapeutic outcome helping children to overcome anxiety. Children become less introverted, relax and join in the fun. They begin to feel safer and more secure and seeing this, parents relax too, helping everyone to cope better with the hospital experience. This can provide a positive impact on a child's recovery.

We've witnessed first-hand the difference our entertainer makes to children like Hannah, who was scheduled to undergo surgery to correct the muscles in her eye. She was anxious and hungry. Auntie Julie's visit made a profound impact. Hannah was completely distracted, and the waiting time flew by quickly. She made Hannah an enormous unicorn hobbyhorse which was almost as large as the hospital bed. When Hannah was called to surgery, the porters kindly allowed her to bring the balloon with her to the operating theatre. The Pod visit not only distracted her from her worries but also brought a smile to her face and a sense of calm.Play Specialist · Moorfields Eye Hospital

Our entertainer recently came up to see a little boy who was attending for chemotherapy. He is a regular visitor and when it comes to having treatments done, he can get a bit distressed. But being able to experience Pod really made his whole day. The smile on his face was ear to ear. He had a wonderful alien model made which was the topic of conversation all day for this little boy and helped him massively when having his treatment. It gave him something new and fun to chat to all the nurses about which took his mind off what he was doing in hospital.Play Specialist · New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton

What parents say.

Who would have thought that hospital can be a 'fun' place?! My son just had ankle reconstruction surgery done yesterday and the pain was rather overwhelming. We had couple of rubbish nights as well. And then this wonderful, magical magician shows up by his bed side - really made our day!! We were thrilled by his performance and his presence. What a ray of sunshine he brought to our hearts.Parent · Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Freddie was great, he really helped take my daughter's mind off the procedure she was having and the fact that that she was nil by mouth so helped her with her rumbling tummy too. Really great to see this in hospitals and the difference it made to the children, such a small gesture but a big impact.Parent · Derbyshire Children's Hospital

David really lifted my daughter's spirits in hospital. He made her laugh and made her forget where she was and the reason she was in hospital. David was so lovely and was a complete breath of fresh air while feeling down in the dumps.Mother · Birmingham Children's Hospital

We've had so much fun whilst waiting for my son's surgery. What a joy... we have had such a lovely time whilst waiting... no nerves at all.Parent · RJAH Hospital, Oswestry

Lily was feeling very bored and a bit scared. On both fronts Andy made her so happy. Today she is asking when he will come again. This was brilliant. It really made her day.Lister Hospital, Stevenage

My son is a cancer patient and was having an MRI scan and being put to sleep. He was really tearful but trying to be brave, before Russ arrived. Russ lit the whole room up and gave such brilliant distraction to my son. Thank you so much Russ you were incredible and really brightened up the room the second you walked in. Freddie's been having scans for 8 years and today has been the happiest I've seen him before heading for his scan. Thank you. These moments go a long way for medically complex families.Parent · New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton

This was a magical experience that we've never ever experienced before. My son was really agitated, down and anxious before this performance and now he's smiling, chatty, laughing and happy, thank you so much for providing this service.Parent · RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry

Brought a smile to my daughter's face. For that moment, she wasn't focused on her pain. I think this is a wonderful service you are offering to the children.Parent · Croydon University Hospital

Made her happy and forget everything that was going on. She was crying just before Malcolm arrived and was smiling when he had left.Parent · Coventry University Hospital

Pod's Third Aim

Pod visits provide a fun experience that children often remember long after they've been discharged.

This positive memory can help them cope better with the prospect of readmission and further treatment.

If a child has had a positive experience the first time of admission, this will be remembered for further admissions. Our families that regularly attend the ward are aware of our Pod visits; they know these visits are a very positive experience. We have children that walk on the ward and the first thing they ask for is Barrington.Royal Oldham Hospital

Skittleman entertaining young haematology patients

Skittleman really makes a difference for our young haematology patients having to spend 6 hours every 4 weeks having blood transfusions.Queen's Hospital Romford

Graeme was amazing - he had an entire ward of mixed aged kids laughing and entertained. He came at a perfect time when boredom and hunger were hitting in. He completely distracted and amazed my daughter (and me!). Can't thank you enough - just heartfelt thanks. Jess has been in hospital a lot and this is the first time we've been lucky enough to have seen and heard about Pod. Thank you for what you do. Her visit to hospital won't be remembered for the operation but the magical entertainment.Parent · Great North Children's Hospital

Yesterday's visit was wonderful. It was a lovely moment of laughter for me and my daughter during a worrying time. And we weren't the only family that enjoyed it. It even brought families together that were strangers before, having conversations about it together afterwards, laughing and joking about how much fun it had been.Parent · Royal Oldham Hospital

Grace had an amazing time with Nikki and Charlie today. It was absolutely brilliant. Grace spends a lot of time in hospital, so this really did cheer her up. I think she will be talking about this for a long time. Thank you so much for letting us join in today. It really has made a huge difference to Grace's Day in hospital.Parent · Southampton University Hospital

My daughter has been in for a while and this has made a happy environment for her and also makes return trips back easier, knowing she has entertainers. Thanks, keep doing what you are doing for kids.Parent · Whittington Hospital

I know he's going to chat about it all day and it'll probably be what he tells everyone about his hospital stay.Parent · Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading

I had the pleasure of meeting Barrington for the second time yesterday. My daughter had been telling her brother all about this funny magician that she had met when she was in hospital last year. She was trying to help him not be as nervous about going in for his tonsils out. I was thrilled when Barrington walked into the waiting room and distracted Tommy for a while before he was called in. We couldn't believe the chances of him being around again. He is absolutely fantastic with the children and the fun moments he provides makes all the difference to parents and children at what are often difficult times.Parent · Victoria Hospital Blackpool

It made her really happy and helped alleviate her boredom. She said it was the best part of being in hospital!Parent · Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow

My son absolutely loved the balloons and magic tricks - he has been talking about it all day and telling all the nurses. Colonel Custard was great and the highlight of my son's day.Parent · Luton & Dunstable Hospital

This has been the highlight of our hospital stay. I wish he would come every day. He made my daughter giggle so much that she could not stop. What a great way to entertain the children. If we ever come back again, I hope this magician is here. This is something we will never forget and talk about for a very long time. Thank you so so much.Parent · Oldham Hospital

Help us keep the laughter going

Every pound goes to entertaining children in hospital.

Pod's administration is paid for by an entirely separate charity - every pound you give Pod is spent on entertainment for children in hospital.

Donate to Pod Contact Margaret