‘Childhood Needs Magic'

We teamed up with Together for Short Lives and Heard to create Childhood Needs Magic, a heartfelt short film that aims to transform how people see children’s palliative care. Narrated by Dr. Ranj Singh—an award-winning presenter, author, and doctor—the film follows four children supported by NHS and hospice professionals from Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, Jessie May, and Little Havens at Havens Hospices. Our goal was to challenge the common misconception that children’s palliative care is only about end-of-life. Instead, we wanted to highlight the ongoing, expert support that helps children and their families, wherever and whenever they need it. With this film, we hope to inspire more families to seek out the support they deserve and raise awareness about the true impact of children’s palliative care.

Childhood Needs Magic centres on the idea that every childhood deserves a little magic and imagination, no matter how short. Inspired by the natural ability of children to find joy in everyday moments, the film combines live-action and animation to bring to life the rich inner worlds of four children receiving palliative care. We see children imagining themselves in magical settings—from exploring a jungle in a storybook to feeling like they’re under the sea in a sensory room. As the story unfolds, colourful and abstract animations reveal the joy children find in simple moments shared with their carers and loved ones. These precious moments are made possible by the expert care provided by children’s hospices, allowing children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions to experience the simple joys of being a child.