Health & Wellbeing Education & Young People
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Starlight Children's Foundation · London, UK

Starlight Impact Report 2025

Starlight's Impact Report 2025 sets out how the charity uses play to prevent avoidable trauma for children in healthcare. Starlight delivered 3,371 services across the UK and estimates they were used nearly 1.2 million times, with more than 900 healthcare settings receiving its toys, toolkits and technology. The report covers its new research into the routine use of holding children down for procedures, the Play Well Toolkit launched with NHS England, two parliamentary events, training for health play specialists and nurses, and its first Health Play Innovation Award.

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About

Starlight Children's Foundation is the UK's national charity for play in healthcare. Its vision is a time when no child experiences trauma as a result of their healthcare. It provides toys, distraction and preparation resources and training to hospitals, hospices and other healthcare settings, and campaigns for play to be embedded in every child's healthcare experience.

Key Metrics

3,371 Starlight services delivered across the UK
1.2 million estimated times Starlight services were used (nearly)
90% of health professionals surveyed agreed Starlight resources helped to distract children

Key Outcomes

  • Launched the Play Well Toolkit with NHS England, setting out standards for commissioning and designing health play services.
  • 89% of health professionals surveyed agreed Starlight's services created a more positive healthcare experience for children, and 80% said they reduced trauma, anxiety and distress.
  • More than 900 healthcare settings received Starlight toys, toolkits and technology to support treatment preparation and distraction.

Geography

UK-Wide

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