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

This year’s Once Upon a Smile Christmas Ball, held at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly, was a spectacular success, bringing together over 250 guests for an afternoon of celebration, entertainment, and charitable giving. Guests enjoyed a glamorous afternoon with fine dining, festive cheer, and a shared sense of community.

The charity was set up by best friends and actors Danny Miller (Emmerdale) and Daniel Jillings (Coronation Street) in 2011 after recognising a significant gap in support for families following the death of a loved one, particularly for those grieving the death of a parent, child, or sibling or grandparent. Their commitment to providing both emotional and practical support has since helped countless children, and their families navigate their bereavement journey.

This charity event hosted by the co-founders featured breathtaking performances from talented artists, including the incredible Holly Ellison of The Voice, whose stunning vocals captivated the audience. Guests were also treated to the uplifting harmonies of the Rock Choir, the high-energy routines of Powerhouse Cheerleading, and a soulful set by the talented Jack Curley.

One of the most moving moments of the evening was a heartfelt speech by Mel, a parent who has been supported by Once Upon a Smile. Speaking alongside her young children, Mel courageously shared their family’s experience of the death of a loved one and the profound impact of the charity’s support. Her powerful words deeply resonated with attendees, highlighting the importance of the charity’s work in helping families through their most challenging times.

Thanks to the generosity of attendees, the event raised vital funds to help the charity continue its invaluable work, supporting bereaved children and young people.

This year’s event raised over £18,100.

Watch our Christmas Ball 2024 video below!

Audenshaw’s Christmas House Shines Bright to Support Children’s Bereavement Charity, Once Upon a Smile.

This holiday season, Audenshaw’s iconic “Christmas House” is lighting up once again, not only to bring festive cheer but also to support a cause close to many hearts. The extraordinary holiday light display at the beloved “Christmas House” is raising funds to support Once Upon a Smile, a Greater Manchester charity dedicated to providing essential emotional and practical support to bereaved children and families.

The family behind “Christmas House” has been transforming their home into a magical winter wonderland for years, delighting locals and visitors alike with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and a range of holiday-inspired displays. This year, they are inviting the community to enjoy the spectacle while helping raise funds for children’s bereavement charity Once Upon a Smile. They offer unique, comforting support to children and young people following the death of a loved one.

Based in Trafford, Once Upon a Smile operates the only child bereavement centre in the North West designed by children they support. Sidley House features specially designed rooms, including a cinema, arts and crafts space, and more, providing children with a safe environment to express emotions and explore their imaginations. Funds raised from Christmas House will directly support these efforts, helping ensure that grieving children and their families continue to have access to Once Upon a Smile’s compassionate support.

“The Christmas House is a fantastic example of community spirit, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support. The funds raised through this event will go a long way in helping us provide vital support to children and families facing the most challenging times. We hope everyone who visits the Christmas House feels the warmth of both the season and the difference they’re helping to make.” – Dan Jillings, Charity Co-Founder

How to Visit and Donate

The “Christmas House” at in Audenshaw, M34 5EW will be open to visitors from Friday 29^th November till the New Year. Entry is free, but visitors are encouraged to donate through cash donations on-site or via an online link.

Come join the Audenshaw community in celebrating the festive season while making a meaningful difference in the lives of bereaved children and families.

For the enjoyment and safety of visitors to the Christmas House, please make sure to park away from the attraction.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been recognised at the This is Manchester Awards, winning “Organisation Making a Difference in the Community.”

This award celebrates our continued dedication to supporting bereaved families and providing vital emotional and practical support to children and young people during the most challenging times in their lives.

Winning this ‘Organisation makes a difference’ award is a testament to the hard work, passion and commitment of our team, volunteers and supporters. Together, we’ve created a space where families can find hope, healing and a brighter future.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our charity, from our incredible staff to our supporters and donors who make our work possible. This recognition belongs to all of you.

Let’s continue making a difference-together.

Last week, Trafford Palazzo was buzzing with excitement as our charity hosted two spectacular events: our Once Upon a Smile Birthday Party and a high-energy Nerf Corporate Event. The venue was transformed into a hub of joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments, making it a day to remember.

Once Upon a Smile Birthday Party

The Birthday Party was a heartwarming celebration aimed at bringing smiles to the faces of children and families visiting the centre. The event was filled with fun activities, from craft activities to interactive games, ensuring that everyone had a great time.

A highlight of the party was the appearance of mascots of the charity and Trafford Palazzo Sidley and Maximus.

 

Sidley and Maximus Dancing Competition

Adding an extra layer of excitement to the day was a dance competition between Sidley and Maximus. Sidley the bear is known for his charisma and dance prowess, paired up with Maximus, The Trafford Palazzo bear. They created great entertainment for children and their families. Sidley managed to pip Maximus to become winner of the dance competition!

Nerf Corporate Event

On the corporate side, our Nerf Action Xperience event was a hit, offering a unique and engaging team-building experience. Employees from various companies came together to participate in exhilarating Nerf battles as part of our birthday celebrations. The event offered players different zones for competitive play, obstacle courses, and strategic planning sessions.

 

Congratulations to team Cargill for winning overall team!

The combination of the Once Upon a Smile Birthday Party and the Nerf Corporate Event made for an amazing day at Trafford Palazzo. The events provided a great start to our month of celebrations which will help raise vital funds to support our work.

We’ve been shortlisted!

We were also delighted to be told that we have been shortlisted for the Trafford Palazzo charity of the year. VOTE HERE

A huge thank you to everyone involved in particular Trafford Palazzo, Nerf Action Xperience, our volunteers, kind donations from KeyTeq, Taste & See and Café Sorrel and our guests.

We are delighted to announce that Aspire Scientific is now part of our Corporate Partnership Family.

Aspire Scientific, a leading medical writing and communications agency, will be partnering with us over the next 12 months. This collaboration will greatly enhance our ability to provide tailored practical and emotional support to bereaved children and their families.

Throughout the partnership, the agency will engage in a range of fundraising activities and help raise awareness of our charity.

“We are thrilled that the team at Aspire Scientific is joining our family. We are excited to work with them and are truly grateful for their support.” – Dan Jillings, Co-Founder & CEO of Once Upon a Smile

We extend our heartfelt thanks for their support and for choosing Once Upon a Smile as their charity of choice. We look forward to a fruitful partnership ahead!

Children and their parents often worry that they will forget things about loved ones who have died. But after a death there are many ways that children and families can remember loved ones.

Parents of Once Upon a Smile have come up with 10 ways to remember loved ones on special days:

1. Visit the grave or the place where their ashes are buried or scattered
2. Listen to their favourite music
3. Make a memory box
4. Have their favourite meal
5. Write a special message on a helium balloon and let it go into the sky
6. Write a letter or a poem
7. Light a candle
8. Share memories with family members
9. Plant a tree or a flower in their memory
10. Look over photos and remember the happy times shared