Charity calls for volunteers to bring joy to children in hospital
Radio Lollipop offers play sessions and entertainment to children at Southampton General Hospital.
The organisation currently has just 13 volunteers and needs to raise that number to more than 20 to keep its service going.
The charity has launched a nationwide campaign, "Donate the Joy," encouraging people to get involved through a summer recruitment drive.
Tina Jones, trustee at Radio Lollipop Southampton, said: "Our existing volunteers are brilliant, but we need more.
"I would really encourage people to come forward and give it a go.
"We are a friendly, supportive team – and the smiles on the children's faces will make it all worthwhile."
The campaign, run in partnership with outdoor advertising company JCDecaux, features billboards across the country highlighting the impact of Radio Lollipop's work.
READ MORE: GP to lead Hampshire charity helping people live healthier lives
In Hampshire, posters can be found at Millbrook Road West and Wyndham Place in Southampton, as well as several locations in Portsmouth.
The charity has supported children in Southampton for 31 years, offering colour, creativity, and comfort to young patients during challenging times.
Volunteers visit children's wards two evenings a week, armed with puzzles, games, colouring competitions, and crafts to engage and entertain.
The sessions, held from 6pm to 8pm on Mondays and Thursdays, aim to bring normality, laughter, and distraction to children during their hospital stay.
Radio Lollipop says it urgently needs more volunteers to ensure both evenings remain fully staffed.
For more information or to apply, visit radiolollipop.org.
Anyone interested in volunteering must be at least 18 years old and able to pass the required background checks for working with children.
Full training is provided, and volunteers must commit to at least two-and-a-half hours one evening per week, for ten out of 13 sessions.
To help raise awareness, the charity is encouraging people to find a #DonatingTheJoy billboard, take a selfie, and share it on social media to inspire others to get involved.
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