Since commencing operations in 1979, Radio Lollipop has become a trusted partner, sought after by leading children’s hospitals in the UK, Australia, New Zealand (since 1992), the USA and, more recently, South Africa. Radio Lollipop has now delivered care, comfort, play and entertainment to over 40 hospitals, and currently operates teams in 36 hospitals across six countries.
The charity has positively interacted with well over 11 million children and an equal number of their siblings in hospitals around the world, and today more than 1,400 trained Radio Lollipop volunteers support over half-a-million children in hospital annually.
Radio Lollipop’s unique combination of play, humour, music, arts and crafts, storytelling, broadcasting and one-to-one engagement has resulted in ‘happier children, happier families, less stressed staff and a lower level of medication. meaning faster recovery’. Everyone benefits, including hospital administration budgets!
Auckland-based director of Radio Lollipop New Zealand, Angela Mackie, tells Verve: “We are currently broadcasting at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, Waipapa Hospital in Christchurch, and have teams of volunteers based at KidzFirst, Whangarei and Waitākere hospitals. The New Zealand Board are presently reviewing opportunities to expand their services to operate in other areas around the country so as to reach every child in hospital.”
Big-hearted volunteers dedicate three hours, one night a week. Combined, it provides company and entertainment for the kids up to five nights every week—and there’s always room for more.
It’s an especially meaningful experience for Sarah Morrison who enjoyed Radio Lollipop first-hand when she was in hospital as a child. She loves volunteering for the organisation so much that she’s now been doing it for 14 years, with roles including chair of the management team and radio presenter, as well as having visited Radio Lollipop stations around the world.
“When I was six years old, I was in hospital for a few days, and I remember feeling quite bored and grumpy!” she recalls. “I remember they came to my bedside and were telling jokes and making me laugh. I went down to the studio and chose a song and it just made my time in hospital a lot more fun.”
Rather than volunteers having designated roles, “everyone chips in”, helping out both on the wards and in the studio—though there is a little more training required for those wanting to DJ in order to “learn how to push all of the buttons and whatnot!”
Puja Jinu, who is studying medicine, has been volunteering with the group since 2019. She serves as the programme controller and a radio presenter and is responsible for booking guests.
“I heard about Radio Lollipop from a friend during my first year at uni,” she says. “I’ve always loved kids but had never had the opportunity to work with them before, apart from babysitting.”
The doctor-to-be admits that she was a little apprehensive about how easy it would be to interact with the poorly kids on the wards at first, but they, along with the team of volunteers, soon put her at ease.
“All day the children are dealing with nurses and doctors, and often procedures,” says Puja, “so they’re so thrilled to have people that just come to sit and chat with them.”
Sarah, who’s a primary school teacher by day, remembers one young boy’s first night in hospital who was feeling particularly down, and his worried parents sitting next to him.
“We told him that we were making some really cool crafts, including a guitar, but his mum said that he’s probably not feeling up to it as he was lying down and didn’t want to sit up. We offered to help him out, so he was lying on his side and drawing. Then he asked the bed to put up a little, then a little bit more, and within 15 minutes he was sitting right up with a tray across his lap, chatting about his guitar and what songs he would play. His parents were so happy. It’s moments like that that make it so worthwhile.”
Puja says that every week there are wonderful new experiences, but, similarly, she gets the biggest kick from adding a little sunshine to a child’s otherwise gloomy day.
“Volunteering there has definitely enabled me to grow as well,” she adds. “Everyone is so different, from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a love for the kids and a desire to put smiles on their faces. We all get along so well that going in becomes almost like a family gathering—it’s such a wonderful environment to be part of.”
Get Connected
• Keep up-to-date with all of the latest Radio Lollipop news and events, or find out how you can help, on Facebook or Instagram @radiolollipopnz
• Visit the Radio Lollipop fundraising page at: givealittle.co.nz/cause/donate-a-book-to-a-child-in-hospital
• Check out the volunteer-written song, ‘Moments Matter’ on Radio Lollipop’s YouTube page
• Find out more at radiolollipop.co.nz
