The Business of Laughter

Clown Round is back to funny business bringing comfort, distraction, support and fun to children and young people aged 0-18 years old in hospitals across the eastern region. The team will be running 20 sessions across our partner hospitals and hospices until Christmas thanks to recent fundraising and public support to help continue this work.

Children on the wards can expect to see a couple of therapeutic clowns, once a month at James Paget, Norfolk and Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, The Treehouse, Ipswich and The Nook, Norwich. Led by the child, the specially trained artists engage using music, juggling, magic, storytelling, puppetry and improvisation. Creatively transforming the medical environment with an opportunity for playful connection and positive interaction to help improve psychological well-being, increase resilience, reduce isolation and pain levels through the endorphin boosting activity of laughter.

Back on Buxton Ward at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital this month, Dr. Dizzy Daydream and Dr. Dot-to-Dots were met with a warm welcome from children, families, and medical staff, particularly for those isolated in side-rooms because of high clinical need who benefitted from some extra cheer.

A huge thank you for the amazing public support received through the Just Giving fundraising campaign which has helped to make this possible.

Just £10-£20 gives one child time with a pair of Clown Doctors on their rounds.

You can continue to support the project and share the link below until the end of January 2023 as we work towards our target.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/clownround

We’d also like to thank the following Charities, Trusts, Businesses and individuals for their generous donations from:
Freemasons – Angel Lodge
Michelle & Dan Brown
Ridley Godfrey Foundation
De La Rue Family Fund (via Suffolk Community Foundation)
Chivers Trust
Natilik

Photos by Joanna Millington