The Little Things Make a World of Difference

Media Release 13 November 2013

The Little Things Make a World of Difference

The infectious laughter, the impulsive hugs and kisses and the smiles that melt away the cares of the world are the hallmarks of happy, healthy children. All too often they’re taken for granted. Until, of course, they’re not so happy and very, very unwell.

The official launch of Radio Lollipop this Thursday will bring a little more joy to the lives of those children in Christchurch Hospital when it commences a radio broadcast direct into the Children’s Ward from a converted campervan. Initially the station will broadcast three times a week, for two hours a night.

Established in 1979 at the Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children in Surrey, England, Radio Lollipop is an international charity whose volunteers around the world provide care, comfort, play and entertainment to children in hospital. Volunteer DJ’s take requests, put children “on air” from their bedside while other volunteers work at their bedside playing games, creating crafts and running competitions.

“Radio Lollipop provides a unique experience for children while they are in hospital. The hospital environment can be very stressful for children. Radio Lollipop provides distraction in a fun way,” says Anne Morgan, Service Manager of Child Health at Christchurch Hospital.

“Feedback from parents who had a child in Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, where Radio Lollipop is already well established, talked about their experience with Radio Lollipop in very positive terms. Child Health (Canterbury) is absolutely delighted to be able to tell families that Radio Lollipop has arrived and is here to stay.”

Radio Lollipop volunteers have been quietly working with children in the wards at the Christchurch Hospital, since July this year, reading stories and organising play time.
The local chairperson of Radio Lollipop in Christchurch, Alice Ruddenklau, said “Radio Lollipop is more than just fun and games - it is really helpful as calm and happy children recover quicker. We’ve had a wonderful response from people who believed that after all we’ve been through here, the children of Christchurch deserve the chance to receive the full Radio Lollipop service, complete with a radio station.”

The pressures on physical space within Christchurch Hospital, due to damage sustained during the earthquake, necessitated an innovative solution for a broadcast facility.

“A mobile facility in the form of a campervan seemed like the perfect alternative to a traditional studio within the hospital itself. Furthermore it will allow for Radio Lollipop to be accessed by other hospital facilities around Canterbury as and when appropriate,” said Barrie Cooper, Christchurch Director of Radio Lollipop.

It has taken more than a year to raise the money required to purchase a mobile vehicle and convert it into a fully operational broadcast unit. The mobile station is a first of its kind for the organisation internationally and will be parked at the Riverside entrance to the hospital during the hours of broadcast. The frequency of broadcast will increase as more volunteers are trained in the ways of radio.

ENDS.

FACT SHEET

• Radio Lollipop first began in 1979 at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children in Surrey, England
• Radio Lollipop has since spread to more than 17 hospitals throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the United States
• Most Radio Lollipop sites have a fully equipped in-house radio station and a team of volunteers involve the patients in recreational activities linked to radio programmes
• All programmes are child-focused and filled with mentally stimulating fun and games Volunteer deejays play Top 40 hits and children’s favorites, take call-in requests, and put kids “on air“ from the bedside or in the studio
• Broadcast internally several times per week, each programme may feature games, art projects, interviews with local celebrities and contests in which kids can win prizes
• The iconic radio station already streams from the Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland
• Over $70,000 was raised to get the mobile unit up and running, with support received from local charities and trusts and contributions from more organisations throughout the Canterbury community and the wider Radio Lollipop family.

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