Thanks to the JC and Jewish News for featuring our piece about toy monkey deliveries.

Hundreds of Camp Simcha cuddly monkeys have been delivered to London hospitals to bring smiles to children on the wards.

Barnet Hospital’s Paediatric Homecare, Epilepsy, Diabetes teams and the Paediatric Inpatients Therapy team,  as well as Great Ormond Street Hospital, The Royal London Hospital and The Evelina Children’s Hospital all received big bags of the cuddly toys, miniature versions of the charity’s Simi the Monkey mascot.

Play therapist at Barnet Hospital’s Galaxy Ward, Andrea Nichols, said toys like this make a real difference to the children in hospital, especially now.

“We are still restricted with what we can offer patients with the play room being partially closed – with only one child allowed in at a time, so it makes things that little bit easier for us knowing the children will be excited to receive these cute monkeys. We are thankful as ever to Camp Simcha for their continued support throughout this pandemic.”

Meanwhile play therapists at The Royal London Hospital took to their Instagram stories to thank the charity with a little video of play team staff dancing with the cuddly toys in front of a monkey mural.

Camp Simcha Hospital Co-ordinator Joanne Woolich said: “We know the toy deliveries are always well received by the children in hospitals. We also hope it helps raise awareness among staff and families receiving the monkeys so that more and more people know that we are here to support families with seriously ill children.”