SMILE Children’s Charity

28/10/2026

If you’re a parent or carer of a child with a disability, complex needs or serious illness, we’d love to welcome you to our new SMILE Carer’s Circles.

Caring for someone you love can sometimes feel lonely, so we’ve created a relaxed space where you can take a little time for yourself, meet other carers who understand, enjoy a chat over coffee and cake, and hear from guest professionals who can offer practical advice and support.

📅 Next meeting: Tuesday 3rd November
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
📍 David Livingstone Centre

We’re delighted that our guest speaker will be Jessica Forsyth from ACT Counselling and Training Services Ltd will be sharing some ways to help you look after your own wellbeing while caring for others.

Whether you come for the company, the conversation, the support or simply a cuppa and a scone, you’ll be made very welcome. 💛

Places are free, but we’d appreciate it if you could register your interest using the link below so we know how many people to expect.

https://forms.gle/evq3a4zAhutwhCbM7

We’d love to see you there. 🫶

26/10/2026

💛 Could your business join us for a special evening at Crossbasket Castle on 14th November?

Due to an unexpected cancellation, we now have one table available at our SMILE Children’s Charity Ball at the beautiful Crossbasket Castle on Saturday 14th November. ✨

We would absolutely love for one of our wonderful local businesses to join us for what promises to be a truly special evening!

🥂 £775 for a table of 10
🥂 £77.50 per person

It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring together colleagues, clients, friends or family for a memorable evening, while making a real difference to children with disabilities, complex needs and serious illnesses across our communities.

Every penny raised will help SMILE continue supporting the hundreds of families who rely on us and bring our ambitious SMILE House project closer to reality. 💛

We know how incredibly generous our local business community has been, and we’re hoping someone might be able to step forward and join us.

If your business would consider taking the table, please send us a private message.

And even if you can’t attend, a share of this post would mean so much to us.

Thank you for always being behind SMILE. 💛

23/10/2026

Today, SMILE Children’s Charity had the pleasure of attending the ASN Drop-In event at Bellshill Cultural Centre, following a kind invitation from Steven Bonnar MSP.

It was a fantastic opportunity to meet so many wonderful families, carers and professionals, share more about the work we do at SMILE, and hear first-hand about the experiences and challenges facing families raising children with additional support needs in central Lanarkshire.

Events like today remind us just how important it is to bring families, organisations and professionals together, sharing knowledge, building connections and ensuring that every child and family feels supported, included and heard. 🫶💛

A huge thank you to Steven Bonnar, Roz and everyone involved in organising today’s event, and to all the lovely people who took the time to stop and chat with us.

💛 Together, we can make a real difference to the lives of children and families across our communities.

21/10/2026

The Falkirk Wheel Abseil is coming soon!
Taking place on Sunday 22nd March 2027 at the iconic
Falkirk Wheel.
This fantastic event offers the chance to abseil 100ft off the world’s first, and only rotating boat lift.
By taking part you will also be helping to raise vital funds for SMILE to help the families & children we support.

We have limited places available - to book please DM us or email - [email protected]

Please note to help cover costs we ask you to fundraise a minimum of £200 🫶💛

Please note that participants do need to be at least 11 years old to take part, with written permission from a guardian if under 16.

No experience necessary - expert guidance will be provided throughout.

20/10/2026

Our friends at Pamis have invited SMILE Carers to attend their Autumn Wee Retreat with the amazing Yoga and Wellbeing with Cat this Thursday 7-8.30pm. If you would like to attend please message Lesley Pamis 🫶💛

19/10/2026

💛 CAN YOU HELP SMILE? 💛

We’re looking for donations of bottles of alcohol to help support our upcoming fundraising events!

Whether it’s a miniature or a full-sized bottle, every donation would be very much appreciated and will help us raise vital funds to support children with disabilities, complex needs and serious illnesses, and their families.

🍾 If you can spare a bottle, we’d be incredibly grateful!

Donations can be handed into:

📍 SMILE Children’s Charity Shop
101 Union Street
Larkhall
ML9 1EB

Thank you, as always, for your kindness and generosity. Your support really does make a difference! 💛

16/10/2026

🫶 FREE Holistic Therapies for Carers of Newly Diagnosed Children/Children on the pathway to diagnosis 🫶

Thanks to funding from Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland we are delighted to be offering our FREE sessions at Hilary's House of Calm for unpaid carers of children newly diagnosed with neurodiversity, serious illness or disability in Lanarkshire.

Please email the page for more information and to book in:

[email protected]

Because Carers need Care too! 💛

11/10/2026

💔 Our hearts are broken. Rest peacefully, beautiful Robbie. 💔

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the devastating news that beautiful Robbie Frew gained his angel wings on 9th October, following his courageous battle with cancer. 💔

Robbie was a remarkable young boy who showed strength, bravery and courage far beyond his years. A wee warrior who touched the hearts of so many and who will never, ever be forgotten.

We had the absolute privilege of welcoming Robbie and his family along to our recent SMILE trip to Blair Drummond Safari Park. To have shared even a little part of Robbie’s journey and helped create precious family memories is something we will hold close to our hearts forever. 💛

There are simply no words that can ease the unimaginable heartbreak his family are facing.

To Robbie’s devoted mum and dad, Claire and Dean, his twin sister Sophie and little sister Hallie, please know that you are surrounded by so much love. Our entire SMILE family is holding you close in our hearts, and we will be here for you, not just today or in the difficult days ahead, but whenever you need us.

No family should ever have to experience such an unimaginable loss, and no child should have to fight such a cruel illness.

Robbie, you were so incredibly brave. Your beautiful smile, your fighting spirit and the love you brought into this world will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew you.

Fly high beautiful boy. Rest peacefully wee warrior. 🕊️💙

With the family’s wishes at the forefront of our hearts, we are sharing the GoFundMe page kindly organised by Ashley Hamilton to offer some practical support to Robbie’s family during this devastating time.

If you are able to make a donation or simply share the page, it would mean so much.

Forever young. Forever loved. Forever Robbie. 💙

With all our love,
Your SMILE Family 💛

Please help us come together in support of Dean, Claire, Sophie and Hallie during the heartbreaking loss of they’re beautiful Robbie 💙

07/10/2026

🇩🇪 Guten Tag! 👋

On 13th November, Charlotte & Phoebe are setting off on an incredible challenge - travelling from Edinburgh to Berlin… but there’s a catch!

🚗 They can ONLY hitchhike!

They’ll have just 72 hours, no money for transport, and will be racing against other teams to see who can make it all the way to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin! 🇩🇪

But before they go, they have another challenge…

💛 They’re hoping to raise at least £600 for SMILE Children’s Charity!

SMILE supports over 500 families across Lanarkshire, Glasgow and surrounding areas who have children with disabilities, complex needs or serious and life-limiting illnesses.

From accessible family days and inclusive activities to carer support, holistic therapies and opportunities that help families feel less isolated, SMILE is there to make life that little bit brighter.

And now they’re taking on their biggest project yet - transforming the former Canderavon Nursing Home in Stonehouse into SMILE House, a unique £2 million project which will include a free family respite facility, sensory and inclusive play, therapy and wellbeing spaces, and a Family Support Hub.

Charlotte & Phoebe want their crazy 72-hour adventure to help SMILE get one step closer to making that dream a reality. 💛

Every donation, whether £2, £5, £10 or more will help.

Please support Miles4.Smiles and follow their journey from Edinburgh to Berlin! 🚗🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿➡️🇩🇪

Let’s get them to the Brandenburg Gate… and smash that £600 target! 💛

https://race2berlin-2026.raiselysite.com/miles-4-smiles

05/10/2026

Our amazing Avondale Young Farmers were running the AJ Bell Glasgow Half Marathon 2026 yesterday for SMILE Children’s Charity - They are truly amazing and their fundraising page is still open if anyone would consider supporting them and their amazing work that they do in our community🫶💛🚜

https://www.justgiving.com/
crowdfunding/ ayfcfundraisingforsmile?
utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

💛🏃🏼‍♀️KEEP RUNNING, KEEP SMILING🏃🏼‍♀️ 💛

Wishing the very best of luck to everyone taking part in the AJ Bell Glasgow Half Marathon 2026! 🏃‍♀️

We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way — especially our members running and fundraising in support of SMILE Children’s Charity. 💛

You’ve done the training, now go enjoy the atmosphere, soak up the cheers and cross that finish line with a HUGE smile! 😃

Best of luck - you’ve got this! 👏🏻🎉

If anyone would like to donate, please see the link below:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ayfcfundraisingforsmile?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL