At the Nigel Prosser Foundation, we’re always looking for ways to make life a little easier for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. Sometimes that means looking beyond our own services and asking where support is needed most.
Recently, members of our team visited The Riverbank Ward, the children’s department at Worcester Royal Hospital, where we met with Millie and Georgie, who are play therapists, to discuss how we can work together to improve the experience of children with SEND and to see how we could help make hospital stays easier for both the children and parents.
The visit was particularly meaningful for our founder, Michelle.
Just a few months ago, Michelle’s son, Toby, was admitted to The Riverbank Ward after becoming seriously unwell due to a lack of food and fluid intake. During what was an incredibly worrying time for the family, one thing became very clear, there was very little sensory equipment available to help children like Toby feel calm, regulated and comfortable whilst receiving treatment.
For many children with SEND, hospitals can be overwhelming environments. Bright lights, unfamiliar noises and changes to routine can make an already stressful situation even more difficult. Access to sensory resources can make a significant difference, helping children feel safer, reducing anxiety and making their hospital stay a little less frightening.
No family should have to face that extra challenge whilst caring for a sick child.
That’s why we’re determined to make a difference.
Raising funds for a sensory trolley to make hospital stays easier for children
On Saturday 16th May, we’ll be hosting Nigel Prosser’s Furtastic Funday at The Shed, Stourport, with one of our main fundraising goals being to provide a fully equipped sensory trolley for The Riverbank Ward.
The trolley will be filled with engaging, calming sensory resources that can be used by children with SEND during their stay in hospital, giving staff practical tools to help children feel more settled, supported and understood.
Any additional funds raised on the day will go directly towards our weekly SEND Support Groups at Brookside Family Hub, helping us continue to provide vital support for local families every week.
How you can help us
We’re also collecting donations of new, wipeable toys for the children’s ward.
You can also donate directly through our website – Help families with special needs.
If you’re attending Furtastic Funday 2026, we’d be incredibly grateful if you could bring along a suitable toy and leave it at our toy donation stand. To meet hospital infection control requirements, donations must be new, easy to clean and suitable for use in a hospital setting. Unfortunately, soft toys and small items that could present a choking hazard cannot be accepted.
Every donation, no matter how small, will help brighten a child’s stay in hospital.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Nigel Prosser Foundation. Together, we can help make hospital visits a little less daunting and ensure children with SEND receive the comfort, understanding and support they deserve when they need it most.
