What we do
We exist for one reason – to grant magical wishes to enrich the lives of children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.
Whether it’s starring in their own films, walking with dinosaurs, going on an amazing holiday, meeting a celebrity hero, or having a life-changing bedroom makeover; our wishes are varied, personal and, most importantly, magical.
We go above and beyond to grant very special wishes to very special children; their dreams made a reality at a time when they need it most.
Because a child’s life shouldn’t be about illness, hospitals and diagnosis – it should be about wonder, joy and hope.
We’ve seen the effects a wish can have on a seriously ill child: from creating incredible memories, building confidence and bringing happiness, to providing respite from the daily struggles that come with a life-threatening condition.
We know what wishes can give, and this is the driving force behind why we continue to do what we do.
Do you know a child fighting a life-threatening condition, who could benefit from a magical wish?
We accept wish referrals from parents or guardians, medical professionals – or even the children themselves. If you have any questions about the wish process, give us a call on 01276 40 50 70 or email referrals@makeawish.org.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
What is a wish?
Our wishes give seriously ill children the chance to do something extraordinary. For many children, a wish is an opportunity to do something they never thought possible when life is tough. Children’s wishes can range from being a princess for the day or meeting their hero, to going on a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday – click here to read about some of the wishes we’ve granted. Whatever each child’s wish is, we make the experience a truly individual and memorable one.
What are the criteria for receiving a wish?
To have their wish granted, a child needs to be a UK resident, aged between 3 and 17 years, and fighting a life-threatening condition. We speak to each child’s consultant to establish whether their condition is medically classed as life-threatening.
In addition, a child should not have received a previous wish from us, or from another wishgranting organisation – we’re only able to grant one wish to a child.
We can accept a wish application if we receive it on the child’s third birthday, or before the day of their 18th birthday.
How do I help a child get a wish?
Download our referral form here – this is a short form that you’ll need to print off and post back to us. Please remember that the child’s parent/guardian needs to sign the medical release form – this will let us to write to the child’s consultant as soon as possible, in order to establish medical eligibility. Please post the form back to: Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, 329-331 London Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3HQ.
If you have any problems downloading or completing the referral form, please contact us on 01276 40 50 70 or email referrals@makeawish.org.uk and we’ll send you a form in the post.
What happens next?
Once we’ve spoken to the child’s medical consultant and they’ve confirmed the child has a life-threatening condition, we’ll send a short form to the family asking for further information about the child. When we get this form back, we’ll arrange for our specially trained volunteers to visit the child to find out what their wish is.
Please note that our wishes are restricted to within Europe.