Radio Lollipop offers ridiculous amounts of fun

Radio Lollipop has provided fun and entertainment to children in hospital for more than 30 years and the team at Whangarei Hospital are on the lookout for new volunteers.

They will be holding an information session in October to recruit new volunteers prepared to spend some time each week on the children’s wards.

Blair Walker, 23, has been a volunteer for seven months and enjoys making the kids smile.

“I really enjoy the one-on-one time with the kids, getting to know them as a person and relating to the things that they enjoy,” the Kamo resident says.

The organisation was started by Hedley Finn and Dave Glass in the UK in 1979 at St Mary’s Hospital for Children in Surrey.

 Over the years, it has expanded to boast stations in numerous hospitals throughout the UK, New Zealand, America and Australia.

 A team of trained and dedicated volunteers visit children in the wards to provide one-on-one play and entertainment.

 The children can also tune into the radio station, call the studio, make requests and shout outs.

As Whangarei does not have the radio facility the volunteers are able to spend more time on the wards.

Established in 2008, Radio Lollipop at Whangarei Hospital operates on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s between 6pm and 8pm.

Volunteer co-ordinator Julie Hulse, says the volunteers can visit up to 25 children each night when the ward is full.

“It’s fun and rewarding,” she says.

“The children appreciate us setting up fun activities for them to do in the evening to take their mind off being in hospital.”

Blair adds that to be a Radio Lollipop volunteer, you must enjoy “ridiculous amounts of fun.”

Radio Lollipop information session is on October 5, 3pm to 4pm at Whangarei Hospital.  Email info@radiolollipop.co.nz for more information.