“I think they are kind-hearted and caring. I went from flooded with worry to flooded with happiness.” Riley, Patient
“A thousand thank yous for bringing a smile to my child’s face for the first time in a week.” Christine, Parent
“The children love them, they can coax a smile out of the trickiest of patients and relax the most anxious parent. It gives the nurses a boost to see the children and their families smile. It really is such a valuable resource that makes a remarkable difference to recovery.” Sarah Amos, Play Specialist, Colchester Hospital
What is Clown Round:
Our Clown Doctors bring fun, laughter and distraction to children, young people and their families in hospitals and hospices across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.
Our team of Clown Doctors visit young people on the wards and engage them in clowning, storytelling, music, magic, circus skills and improvisation. They focus on supporting and empowering young patients during what can be a challenging time, tailoring activities thoughtfully and sensitively with individuals at the heart of each interaction.
Who is Clown Round for:
Young patients and their families in hospitals and hospices across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.
When & Where is Clown Round happening:
Clown Round has been running since 2008 and visits usually take place at the James Paget, Ipswich, Colchester and Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals and to EACH Hospices in Suffolk and Norfolk.
Our Clown Doctors are currently making weekly visits to Norfolk and Norwich and Ipswich Hospitals and are looking forward to returning to our other partner Hospitals soon.
We continue to work with EACH Hospices to visit families via video calls as well as returning to outside socially distanced visits when we can.
In early 2020 Clown Doctors worked hard at home to create a series of videos which allowed them to reach young patients in hospital and at home while they are unable to make visits in person.
You can view these videos here: https://www.suffolkartlink.org.uk/clown-round-videos/
Contact:
Siobhan Johnson on 01986 873 955 or siobhan@suffolkartlink.org.uk
Further information:
Clown Round has been made possible by generous funding from BBC Children in Need and the Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
