Cherished children’s TV presenter Jen Pringle, a proud ambassador for The Sick Children’s Trust, delighted families on Sunday (14 September) when she hosted the Make the Children Smile event at our Stevenson House ‘Home from Home’ near The Royal London Hospital.
Families past and present came together to enjoy singing, dancing, games, face painting and activities, with Jen – who regularly appears on 5’s early morning pre-school block Milkshake!. Jen led the festivities and took time to speak with parents about their experiences of staying close to their seriously ill children in hospital. Reflecting on the day, Jen said:
“It’s just been wonderful because the children are all so happy and smiley, and so up for playing the games. It’s been really nice to chat to the parents and understand how important it is to have a ‘Home from Home’ like this, so close to the hospital. For families, it’s literally priceless. You can’t put a value on what this place, and the other homes around the country, mean to them.”
Jen, who became an ambassador for the charity in 2017 after supporting our Big Chocolate Tea campaign, spoke about why the charity’s work means so much to her personally:
“Now that I have children of my own, I think it’s even more important. Whenever they’re poorly, or need hospital treatment, the thought of being far away is unimaginable. People often don’t know about The Sick Children’s Trust until they need it. Taking that extra worry away from families, when they already have so much to deal with, is the most important thing.”
She added that the practical support of a ‘Home from Home’ is just as vital as the emotional reassurance:
“When you’re worrying about your child, you haven’t got time to think about getting home, the expense of travelling or parking. Being able to stay just across the road from the hospital means parents can focus on their child, where they need to be. Having a kitchen to cook in, or simply a private space, makes such a difference. You can’t put a price on it.”
The day was filled with happy memories as families reconnected, some returning to Stevenson House years after their stay to celebrate how far their children had come. Asked about her favourite moment, Jen said:
“It’s hard to pick! But just seeing the parents and their children smile was wonderful. Some families hadn’t seen each other for a while, so being together, catching up, and celebrating progress was really special. It was just a lovely excuse to get together, smile, and have fun.”
Stevenson House Manager Imtiaz Pathan added:
“It was so special to welcome families back to Stevenson House and to see the children enjoying themselves. Having Jen here made the day even more memorable. Her support helps shine a light on the difference our ‘Homes from Home’ make when families need us the most.”
We are deeply grateful for Jen’s ongoing support, which helps raise awareness of our work and the difference our ‘Homes from Home’ make.
