‘Childhood Needs Magic'

Childhood doesn’t stop when a child becomes seriously ill. But too often, that’s how the world sees it. Together with Together for Short Lives and Heard, we set out to show something truer and far more powerful: that with the right support from hospices and NHS teams, childhood can still be full of imagination and wonder.

This became Childhood Needs Magic, a short film blending live action with animation. Four children’s real experiences shaped the story – children supported by Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, Jessie May Children’s Hospice and Little Havens Hospice. Their imaginations carried us into jungles, underwater kingdoms and quiet spaces where play becomes possibility. Dr Ranj Singh’s narration wove these worlds together, giving voice to the wonder that sits alongside complex care.

The film created a powerful shift in how people understood children’s palliative care, reframing it from something clinical to something that creates room for life.  

Audiences connected deeply with that message. By blending real stories with imaginative worlds, Childhood Needs Magic helped move conversations from fear to empathy. It showed that childhood, even in the hardest moments, still holds colour, creativity and possibility.