Our testimonials
From our storytellers...
"A nurse came up to me and said 'what you do is brilliant. M is always more relaxed when you're there for her observations and tests. I always want to stay and listen to the stories myself. But you're not just helping M, you're helping her Mum too. She had hardly any sleep last night and has been really grumpy. Now she's not.'"
"N is a 3-year-old boy who faced significant challenges due to his deteriorating eyesight. When I first met him, he was in a dark corner of the ward, visibly frightened and disengaged from his surroundings. His parents were distressed and unsure how to help him connect with others. I introduced myself to N's parents and asked if I could read to him. His mother was hesitant, unsure if he would respond. I chose a story with lots of sound effects and a calming theme, and a slow pace. As I began reading, N's blanket started to move, and a small head peeked out. When N smiled, the reaction from his parents was overwhelming; they hadn't seen him smile in weeks."
From our Beneficiaries...
Child Patient
"Thank you so much to everyone who makes Henry Dancer Days possible. I can't properly word how overwhelming and frightening the first weeks of inpatient can feel, but being able to buy treatment-accessible clothing that allowed me to feel comfortable in hospital, helped me cope a bit better amidst the chaos of it all. When something so simple helps so much, it's really worth it. Thank you so, so much again!"
Rob Grover (Father)
"The costs of travelling to and from London, Birmingham and Worcester, alongside the adaptations we had to make to ensure our daughter's comfort and needs were met, meant that the idea of a family outing or activity seemed out of the question. Henry Dancer Days gave us that much needed and long anticipated family opportunity. It was E's dream come true (and something that had kept her going through her gruelling treatment), when we were able to complete an escape room, go bowling and have a meal out all in one day. It was the treasured family day we had all been hoping for, and one that would not have been possible without Henry Dancer Days."
From Our Pottery Project...
"A child wasn't engaging with anything at all and wouldn't leave his bed. Nurses were concerned. We tempted him with pieces he could paint and, at first he reluctantly looked, then got out of bed to paint. The parents were thrilled simply to see him moving."
A 15 year old girl enjoyed the pottery sessions so much that, on completing treatment, she enrolled in a ceramics course at Gateshead College, helping her to rebuild her confidence.