Tiny Lives Trust

The Great North Run is under a month away and we're so proud of the hard work are putting into their training. 🏃

Our Facebook group is full of top tips for training and is a great way to connect and cheer each other on ahead of the 8th September. Remember to tag us in your training pics, we love to hear your stories!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3327588997256263

Today we are marking International Neonatal Nurses Day by saying a huge thank you to the incredible professionals who dedicate their lives to caring for poorly and preterm babies who spend time on the unit.

Let us know your message to the amazing nurses on Ward 35 in the comments below, or in a private message, and we will make sure they are passed on. 💛

💛Fab Fundraiser Spotlight 💛

We want to say a big thank you to Jackie Pucci and everyone at Hylton Castle Working Mens Club who have raised an incredible £12,837 for Tiny Lives! Jackie’s granddaughter Mia spent time on the unit when she was born and we were thrilled to receive the cheque from Mia and her younger brother Theo. Your dedication and commitment has made a big difference to babies and families spending time on Ward 35. You're the best!

The Tiny Lives team is here for you every step of the way 💛

We’re counting down the days to September as that means we will be back with all our fully funded programme of Meet, Chat, Learn classes!

Our classes are open to families that have spent time on either the Neonatal Unit (Ward 35) or Transitional Care at the RVI and we can't wait to see you there.

We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to the lovely team we are proud to have on board, these friendly faces are:

Clare (Soothing baby massage and children's yoga) who runs our Wellbeing for Mothers and Babies on a Monday at West Denton Community Centre in Newcastle as well as Baby Massage and Yoga classes on a Tuesday at the same location.

Christine (Kalma Life Gateshead runs Baby Yoga and Massage at the MetroCentre on a Tuesday

Lucy (The Baby Hub Gateshead) runs Music, Movement and Sensory on a Wednesday in Newcastle at Owl Tree Café and on a Thursday at Raven Valley Gym in Gateshead

Jill and the Paddlepod team at Shiremoor (PaddlePod are the people behind our water confidence classes on a Wednesday

Emily (ARTventurers Newcastle and Gateshead runs one of our art and creative play classes at Great Park Community Centre in Newcastle

Nicola (ARTventurers South Shields, Jarrow and Hebburn) who is stepping in as maternity cover for Becky and we are confident that her art and creative play classes on a Friday at St Lukes Methodist Church hall in Hebburn are going to be just as wonderful

Classes start week commencing Monday 9th September and bookings will be going live on Tuesday 20th August!

https://www.tinylives.org.uk/meet-chat-learn/

We want to say a huge thank you to Clennell Education Solutions for their ‘Schools out for Summer’ partner event which raised an amazing £5,046.58 to support our work here at Tiny Lives!

You're all amazing 💛

We have some exciting news to share with you... 💛

Becky, our wonderful art and creative play provider is expecting Baby 3! Everyone at Tiny Lives, especially your superhero artists past and present, would like to say a very big thank you and also wish you all best for this exciting chapter.

ARTventurers Tyne Valley and Consett, which takes places every Friday in Blaydon, has provided our families with memories to last a lifetime. Keep your eyes peeled for news of who will be stepping in as maternity cover from September and we'll be announcing more news about Meet, Chat, Learn this Friday!

When you spend time on the unit you will suddenly hear lots of new words and phrases that you won't have come across before.

Remember that no question is a silly question and it is absolutely ok to ask staff on the unit to clarify what certain things mean. Every mam and dad that arrives on the unit will receive a parent pack which is full of useful bits and pieces to help make the initial transition to the Neonatal Unit a little easier.

Here are some of things you might hear when you are on the unit. If there are any words and phrases that you would have found helpful to know before you spent time on Ward 35, pop them in the comments below. 💛

https://www.tinylives.org.uk/2024/08/your-neonatal-dictionary/

The summer holidays are in full swing, and we love to see our Tiny Lives merch out in the world!

Do you sip a coffee from a Tiny Lives cup on the beach? Enjoy a puzzle with one of our pens on the train or rock our t.shirt out and about? Show us the best place our products have ended up in the comments, we can't wait to see your pics!

https://thetinylivestrust.myshopify.com

Join our Tiny Lives team! 💛

Would you like to use your knowledge and skills to make a difference to families of premature and sick new-born babies during the most difficult of times? We are currently recruiting for two vacancies to join our small team!

💛 Fundraiser (Corporate Partnerships and Trusts)
💛 Finance and Operations Officer

You can find out more information on each role, along with how to apply, via the link below. If you have any questions please do let us know, we would love to hear from you.

https://www.tinylives.org.uk/workwithus/

Well done to the 13 members of the Winn Group team who took on Tough Mudder in Yorkshire last week!

Winn Group has chosen Tiny Lives as its Charity of the Year, and as part of that they took on the notoriously challenging Tough Mudder course. Ross Jackson, Winn Group CSR Team Member said, “Tiny Lives does incredible work in the toughest of times for families dealing with a difficult start to life for a little one.

“We're kicking off our fundraising for the cause by taking on the entertainment sponsorship for their charity ball later in the year, as well as entering a team in the Tough Mudder event. This is the first of several events across the year as our team fundraise for this worthy cause.”

Well done to the whole team, we were cheering you on every muddy step of the way. 💛

Today is and we want to celebrate the friendships that are built both on Ward 35 and at our Tiny Lives groups and classes. 💛

Having a friend who understands what you are going through can really make a difference on difficult days and it is heartwarming for us to see you build relationships that we know will last a lifetime.

Tag your friend in the comments below to say thanks for always being the best!

Not long to go until the Tiny Lives Ball 2024! 🥂

Step into the world of W***y Wonka's Chocolate Factory this October and raise vital funds to support the parents and babies of the RVI's Neonatal Unit.

Our ball simply couldn't happen without the generous support of our corporate sponsors, and this year we are delighted to be supported by....

⭐ ⭐
⭐ Pin Point Recruitment ⭐
⭐ Trustack ⭐
⭐ Winn Group ⭐
⭐ Trinity Square, Gateshead ⭐
⭐ Nearby Taxis ⭐
⭐ Irwin Mitchell ⭐

Find out more about all of our amazing sponsors below:

https://www.tinylives.org.uk/2024/07/celebrating-our-ball-sponsors-2024/

💛 Fab Fundraiser Spotlight 💛

Just over 2 weeks ago we attended a great golf day held in aid of Tiny Lives at Tyneside Golf Club! The golf day was organised by Lewis Curry, father to Louie, who spent time in the Neonatal Unit when he was born. The sun was shining and over 100 golfers took part in a brilliant day, with every golfer receiving a little goody bag to say a big thank you for taking part.

Lewis has raised thousands of pounds for Tiny Lives and this wonderful donation will help us to continue supporting the families and babies spending time on the unit.

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Screen on the Green this morning and made it such a brilliant event!

We loved meeting you and your toys and it was such a treat to sit in the sunshine and enjoy Toy Story with you all. If you have any pics of you and your family enjoying the morning we would love to see them. Tag us in your photos or pop them in the comments below. 💛

Our friends at the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) are creating resources and training about chronic respiratory disease and air pollution/quality for health visitors, as well as resources for families. To make sure the team creates resources that are useful to you as parents/carers they would like to hear from you about your experiences. These experiences could be having a child with a chronic respiratory condition (Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Preterm Chronic Lung Disease), what you think about air pollution/quality and if this is something you would like to know more about.

The voluntary survey should only take about 10 minutes and all responses will be collected anonymously. All entries who provide an email address at the end of the survey with be entered into a prize draw for a £25 shopping voucher.

The iHV team is also looking for parents/carers to help to develop resources - if are interested in this opportunity tick the box at the end of the survey. If you have any questions please email [email protected]

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CRD_parent

Recently we funded a project focused on 'Lactation after Loss', a free online eLearning course designed to support RVI staff to better support bereaved parents following baby loss, specifically the management of lactation. We are over the moon that this project is now live and available for medical professionals to use.

‘Lactation After Loss: Choices for Bereaved Parents’ is a free, high-quality, endorsed e-learning for NHS staff. You can explore critical concepts surrounding lactation following baby loss, from the physiological processes involved to the practical options available for families. It is here to:

💙 Support mothers in the face of loss with actionable lactation guidance
🧠 Understand the impact of baby loss, from lactation physiology to breast milk donation options
👐 Guide mothers with compassion through sensitive discussions to find supportive lactation solutions

Hear from Prof. Nicholas Embleton, the expert behind the course, in the short video via the link below:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/page-medical-communications-limited_nec-babyloss-breastmilk-activity-7207377269298737152-1Dqm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

They really do 💛

Are you joining us at Screen on the Green to watch Toy Story next Friday? We hope so!

There is just one week to go until we take over the brilliant Get Into Newcastle : Visit Newcastle City Centre, NE1 Screen on the Green in Newcastle City Centre and we can't wait to spend the morning with you and your favourite toys.

Our Tiny Lives team will be there on the day to say hello, and we'll have plenty of things to get involved with too, including a tombola with some fun prizes to be won!

DATE: Friday 26th July

TIME: 10am

No booking is required for the Tiny Lives showing of Toy Story or any of the other Screen on the Green movies and the showing is free for well-behaved toys, children and grown-ups.

https://www.tinylives.org.uk/2024/06/screen-on-the-green-x-tiny-lives-is-back-this-summer/

It can be hard to know what to say if friends or family members are spending time on the unit with their newborn - but there is one word our parents often miss out on hearing....

"Congratulations!"

When a new baby has come into the world early, or is poorly, it can be easy to forget that this is still a joyful moment for parents as they welcome a new member of the family. So, take a moment to congratulate new m**s and dads in your life and celebrate those early milestones along with them. 💛

We want to say a huge thank you to Laura Murray and members of the Greggs Commercial and Customer Teams who took on a 20 mile walk for Tiny Lives earlier this month!

The team has raised over £1,300 already from their challenge. You're all amazing North East ROLL models and every step supported parents and babies right here in the North East.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/tiny-lives-20milewalk-1717063738455

Last week Kelly and Jacqui took part in a Family Integrated Care Workshop in Sunderland to learn more about how Tiny Lives can ensure better outcomes for babies and their families here in the North East and share ideas with other organisations working with families.

We are always proud to be asked to be part of events like this which will influence the future of neonatal care in the UK. 💛

Arriving on Ward 35 is a daunting and often a completely new experience and it can be difficult to take everything in and know the right questions to ask. Lots of parents enter the unit in the middle of the night which can be disorientating and we know it can also be a difficult time for family and friends who would like to visit new parents and babies on the ward. Visitors often don’t want to add to an already stressful experience by asking logistical questions about where to go and what to do when they arrive, so we’re here to help.

We’re here to make everyone’s experience on the neonatal unit as simple as it can be, so parents, family, and friends can concentrate on being there for their new arrival. With that in mind, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions. If there is anything that you would have found helpful that you think others might find handy we would love to hear your thoughts too!

https://www.tinylives.org.uk/2024/07/what-to-expect-when-you-arrive-on-ward-35/

We all know someone exactly like this 💛

Our new batch of sibling packs are ready to be delivered to Ward 35 thanks to our brilliant volunteer and supporter Michelle!

We know that when you have older children, spending time on the neonatal Unit can be a challenge. That's why we provide Sibling Packs for all older brothers and sisters on the Unit (suitable from ages 3+), which are complete with craft activities to keep boredom at bay, as well as books that help to explain what a Neonatal Unit is.

Thank you! 💛

With the summer holidays just around the corner, we have some Meet, Chat, Learn summer specials planned for you!

Starting week commencing 22nd July we have:

💛 3 weeks of Music, Movement and Sensory with The Baby Hub Gateshead at The Owl Tree Childrens Cafe on a Wednesday or at Raven Valley Gym Club on a Thursday
💛 4 weeks of Art & Creative play with ARTventurers Tyne Valley and Consett at Blaydon Youth & Community Centre
💛 Stay & Splash session on Sunday 28th July at PaddlePod (Whitley Bay)
💛 Stay & Play session on Saturday 10th August at the Alan Shearer Centre
💛 Bubbles runs every Wednesday through the holidays

We will be back with our full Meet, Chat, Learn programme in September!

Find out more and book below 👇
https://www.tinylives.org.uk/meet-chat-learn-summer24/

World Prematurity Day takes place on November 17th and this year we want to invite you and your school, club or community group to participate in a special challenge....

World Prematurity Day brings global attention to the significant impact of premature birth, which affects 1 in 10 babies worldwide. In celebration and support of those born prematurely and their families, Tiny Lives is launching an exciting new initiative - ‘Take on 10 for Prem!'

At Tiny Lives we want all premature and sick newborn babies and their families living in the North East & North Cumbria to have the best possible chance to thrive, and if your school or group 'Take on 10 for Prem' you can help us do this. We would be thrilled to have you and your friends and family on board, making a difference and celebrating the strength and resilience of those born prematurely. As well as raising vital funds for the neonatal community from the North East and North Cumbria.

To find out more about 'Take on 10 for Prem' please get in touch with Louise at [email protected] or call 0191 230 2112. 💛

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support a great cause. Together, we can make a significant impact to premature and sick newborn babies and their families.

https://tinylivestrust.enthuse.com/cf/take-on-10-for-prem

We want to say a big thank you to the brilliant Rachel Hibbert who has been with us all week completing her work experience. She has worked so hard packing our Great North Run packs and totally getting stuck in to every task with a smile.

Rachel spent time with us on the neonatal unit when she has born nearly 15 years ago and both her and her family have continued to be big supporters of Tiny Lives ever since. It has been a pleasure to watch Rachel grow up into a hard-working, considerate and happy young woman 💛