At the I Love MCR Awards 2025!

We’re absolutely thrilled to share that Once Upon a Smile has been shortlisted for Most Loved Charity at the I Love MCR Awards 2025!

These awards celebrate the people, organisations, and initiatives that make Greater Manchester such a special place — and we’re honoured to be recognised alongside so many incredible charities and causes.

This nomination means so much to us, and we’d love your support. If our work has touched you, your family, or your community, please take a moment to cast your vote. Every vote helps raise awareness of the support we provide to bereaved children and families across Greater Manchester.

Charity Marks Milestone with a Call for Community Support This Summer

This August, Once Upon a Smile, Greater Manchester’s only dedicated children’s bereavement charity, celebrates 14 years of providing vital emotional and practical support to children and families following the death of a loved one.

Since its founding in 2011, Once Upon a Smile has supported thousands of children aged 3–18 across the region through one-to-one and group bereavement sessions, play and creative activities, and practical family support.

Operating from Sidley House in Trafford, a one-of-a-kind children’s bereavement centre, the charity offers a warm, safe environment where children can explore their grief through play, creativity, and peer connection. With themed spaces including a LEGO room, cinema, music zone, and baking space, Sidley House is designed to help children express feelings they may not yet have words for.

To mark its 14th birthday, the charity is inviting the public and local businesses to get involved by donating, fundraising, or attending a birthday event. From bake sales and dress-down days to corporate sponsorships and monthly giving, there are many ways to support.

How to Help:

• Donate on the charity JustGiving page
• Fundraise at work, school or in your community
• Join a birthday event or become a partner
• Share the charity’s message to raise awareness

Every penny raised helps Once Upon a Smile continue its work with grieving children—offering support that is immediate, tailored, and long-lasting.

Children’s bereavement charity, Once Upon a Smile, once again brought glitz and glamour to their popular fundraising event – The Grand Ball.

Hosted at the iconic Emirates Old Trafford by the charity’s Co-Founders and actors, Danny Miller (Emmerdale, I’m a Celebrity) and Daniel Jillings (Coronation Street), guests were treated to a magical night filled with live performances and spectacular entertainment.

Acts included Jo and Jon of S-Club, Katrina (formerly of Katrina and the Waves), The Trilogies, Princes of Motown, The Rock Choir, Urban Fusion Dance featuring Alfie Andrew, and also Max Fox, known for their performances on America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent. There were also incredible speakers at the event who talked with kindness about the support they’ve received at Once Upon a Smile. The evening was an unforgettable celebration of talent, generosity, and community spirit.

Funds raised will directly support bereaved children and young people through tailored sessions at Greater Manchester’s only dedicated child bereavement centre.

Since being founded in 2011, Once Upon a Smile has seen a significant rise in referrals for bereavement support. The charity remains dedicated to providing a safe, supportive environment where children can express their emotions and rebuild their lives after the death of a loved one.

We thank our partners, Taurus Security Group* The JD Foundation, event partners Roydon Group, Marc Darcy, Besseges Ltd, and sponsors TRM Domestics Ltd and Phillips & Cohen Associates along with our loyal volunteers and supporters, for their continued contributions which helped us immensely with the event.

A special mention to HireRequirements, Green Contract Services, Hickling and Squires and Think! for their incredible support.

And a huge thank you to our incredible speakers and performers on the evening. 

*Taurus Security Group includes partners: TW Cleaning Group, Taurus Executive, KHC Shutters & Blinds, Skillhaus Decorating Services Limited and Radcliffe Football Club.

Once Upon a Smile is delighted to announce the generous sponsors supporting this year’s Grand Ball, an evening dedicated to raising vital funds for bereaved children and families. The event, known for its unforgettable atmosphere and incredible fundraising efforts, will be made possible thanks to the support of several key partners.

• Headline Sponsors: The JD Foundation and Taurus Security Group
• Event Partners: Roydon and Marc Darcy
• Drinks Sponsor: Besseges FM
• Instant Win Sponsor: TRM Domestics Limited and Phillips & Cohen Associates

And thanks to our friends at Green Contract Services and Think!

With their incredible support, this year’s Grand Ball promises to be more spectacular than ever, ensuring Once Upon a Smile can continue providing emotional and practical support to bereaved children when they need it most.

The Grand Ball will take place on Saturday 10^th May at the iconic The Point at Emirates Old Trafford and will feature an evening of entertainment, including special appearances by Jo and Jon from S Club, Katrina, formally of Katrina and the Waves, The Princes of Motown and Emmerdale favourites, The Trilogies. With more incredible appearances on the night.

There will also be an auction and raffle with some incredible prizes to be won.

It also wouldn’t be a Once Upon a Smile event without some extra sparkle on the night.

Tickets are now SOLD OUT!

We’re thrilled to introduce the brand-new Once Upon a Smile Newsletter-your go-to source for the latest updates, stories, and events from our charity!

Our newsletter will keep you informed about the incredible work we’re doing to support bereaved families, share inspiring stories from the children and young people we help, and provide exclusive insights into upcoming events, fundraising opportunities, and ways to get involved.

What to Expect

• Charity News – Updates on our latest projects and initiatives.
• Impact Stories –  Experiences from those we support.
• Upcoming Events – Ways to get involved and make a difference.
• Fundraising Highlights – Stories of amazing supporters and their efforts.
• Volunteer Opportunities – Join us in making a lasting impact.

Our newsletter will be released 3 times a year to provide our supporters updates on all things Once Upon a Smile

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website, designed in partnership with Think!, as part of a wider rebrand of Once Upon a Smile! This exciting transformation reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible support for bereaved children and families, ensuring they can easily access the information and support they need.

Working closely with the talented team at Think!, we’ve created a website that is not only visually engaging but also user-friendly, making it easier than ever for families, supporters, and professionals to navigate our services. The new site showcases our unique child bereavement centre, upcoming events, ways to get involved, and the impact of our work.

This website is a key milestone in our wider rebrand, ensuring that everything from our visual identity to the way we communicate our services reflects the warmth, creativity, and care at the heart of Once Upon a Smile.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Think! for their invaluable support in making this happen.

Take a look for yourself and explore our new website today!

Award-winning actors, Danny Miller (Emmerdale and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner) and Daniel Jillings, co-founders of children’s bereavement charity, Once Upon a Smile, will be taking on the Great Manchester Run this May to raise vital funds for the charity.

Best friends Danny and Daniel founded Once Upon a Smile in 2011 after recognising a significant gap in bereavement support for children following the death of a loved one. Their charity provides both emotional and practical support to help children navigate their grief in a safe and nurturing environment at Greater Manchester’s only dedicated child bereavement centre.

Taking place on Sunday, 18 May, the Great Manchester Run offers them both a chance to contribute personally to the cause they are so passionate about. It’s also an opportunity for the public to get involved, whether by running alongside them or by donating, to help raise funds for Once Upon a Smile. As they make their way through Manchester’s streets, the event will serve as both a fundraising effort and a moment to thank the charity’s incredible supporters.

We’re thrilled to announce that Charlie, a dedicated supporter from our friends at Smarter Home 4U, will be lacing up his running shoes to take on the 2025 London Marathon in support of Once Upon a Smile!

Charlie’s passion for making a difference shines through as he prepares to run one of the world’s most iconic marathons, all to help us continue providing emotional and practical support to families navigating the death of a loved one.

This incredible challenge is a true testament to Charlie’s dedication to our cause, and every mile he runs will help raise vital funds, ensuring bereaved children and young people receive the support they need following the death of a loved one.

Together, we can help families find hope and strength when they need it most. Let’s cheer Charlie on and show him the power of community spirit!

Thank you, Charlie, for going the extra mile – quite literally – for Once Upon a Smile. We’ll be rooting for you every step of the way!

Stay tuned for updates on Charlie’s marathon journey!

We are delighted to announce that Once Upon a Smile has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to further our vital work supporting bereaved children and their families across Greater Manchester and beyond.

This grant will enable us to continue to deliver our tailored support at Sidley House, our dedicated bereavement centre, which provides a safe and welcoming space for children to express their emotions, build resilience, and receive the specialist support they need.

Once Upon a Smile is the only child bereavement charity in the North West with a dedicated centre for children-designed by children with lived experience. This funding will support children and their families, offering them the compassion and care they deserve.

Keep up to date with everything Once Upon a Smile by joining our mailing list.

A message from our Co-Founders…

On behalf of everyone at Once Upon a Smile, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your incredible support. It means the world to us you are part of our Once Upon a Smile family.

As many of you know, we are dedicated to providing emotional and practical support to children, young people, and families navigating the heartbreaking journey of experiencing the death of a loved one. Your contributions help us continue offering safe spaces, specialist support, and unique programs designed to bring comfort and understanding when it’s needed most.

Because of you, we’ve been able to deliver over 1,800 sessions for children as young as 2, continue to offer all 908 primary schools across Greater Manchester our We’re Here for You bereavement support and launch our new cinema room at Sidley House. We were also successful in the recent This is Manchester Awards as an organisation making a difference in the community. These are just a couple of the amazing accomplishments from our incredible team of 7.

These amazing achievements are also a direct reflection of your compassion and belief in what we do

We look forward to continuing this journey with your support and cannot wait to share more stories of the impact you’re helping us create.

Thank you once again. Have a safe December everyone.

Daniel and Danny