Life of A Volunteer - The Dizzy Adventure

Being a Radio Lollipop volunteer has been such a delightful experience so far. My lollipop name is Dizzy, and I get to be a glimmer of joy in what can often feel like a very heavy atmosphere for children and their families. My day job is extremely emotive and involves supporting families through complex and stressful situations, so I originally chose to volunteer because I wanted to offer something completely different. I wanted to give families a moment they could choose to engage in, without obligation or paperwork or pressure. Just joy, fun, and connection.

I also have a personal link to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and children in hospital. As a child, I had surgery at GOSH, and although my experience was nowhere near as difficult as what many families face, I still remember the mixture of fear, uncertainty and pain. Volunteering at Radio Lollipop felt like a full-circle moment, a chance to stand on the other side and offer comfort, laughter, and a bit of silliness to children who truly need it.

Some of my most notable memories are when children sometimes start off withdrawn, upset, or in pain, but slowly brighten throughout our visit. Hearing their name read out on the radio or seeing them grin when we knock on the door with our trolley of fun in our hands feels incredibly special. There have been so many WOW moments: the little victories when a child too tired to speak suddenly joins in a game, or when a parent or nurse says “thank you” because, for the first time that day, that child has smiled.

The other Lollipoppers also make every shift something to look forward to. Watching their creativity, their talent for turning a simple game of Uno or Dobble into a dramatic showdown, and the way they instinctively know how to put families at ease has been genuinely inspiring. We've laughed so much together on the wards that sometimes I forget we're in a hospital at all.

I keep volunteering because it makes such a big impact on these families experience hospitals and how rewarding it feels for me. It's such a privilege to see how powerful those small moments of happiness can be for people and I am so glad a service like this exists!!