Joint birthday celebrations at Lollipop Live!

Radio Lollipop volunteers with Evelina London patients and their families

Radio Lollipop teamed up with Evelina London to mark their 40th and our 150th birthday with a live music festival at our hospital.

A lively indoor festival in our atrium marked 40 years of Radio Lollipop, our hospital radio station, and 150 years of Evelina London. The Lollipop Live festival, now in its second year, was a fun-filled afternoon of live music performances, games and craft activities. Many of our patients and their families had the chance to enjoy cake, party bags and sing-a-longs. Families could also tune-in from the wards, as Radio Lollipop broadcast the whole event live.

Sue Pruden, lead play specialist, said: “We are so pleased Radio Lollipop hosted this festival at Evelina London with such key milestones to celebrate. Our 150^th birthday is all about celebrating our patients, and events such as this really make a positive difference to their hospital experience”.

Brit School student, Maya Lane, and the Urban Fox Orchestra steel drum band, who are known for their performances at Notting Hill Carnival, were amongst the live music performers. Children’s author, Sibeal Pounder, whose books include ‘Witch Wars’, hosted an interactive workshop and gave out copies of her new book ‘Bad Mermaids’.

Radio Lollipop London founder, Hedley Finn MBE, said: “We have reached a significant milestone with 40 years of service; over 13,000 volunteers have provided our unique brand of radio and play to over 10 million children in hospital and their families. Our key role is to help the children feel special, important and involved, we do this using craft activity, music, prizes, play and socialisation as part of the magic mix we deliver every single day around the world.”

Radio Lollipop is an international children’s charity run entirely by volunteers; providing care, comfort, play and entertainment to children and young people in hospital. Patient staying at Evelina London can listen to Radio Lollipop on their bedside radio (radio button number five), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6.15pm-8pm. The studio is based in our atrium on level 3 (Beach), and Radio Lollipop volunteers visit the wards to play games and take song requests.