The Sibling Support Group returns on Saturday 5th April, 5th July and 29th November.
Join an informal, supportive group and meet other families who have spent time on Ward 35 with their baby or babies who have sadly died.
There will be memory-making activities such as crafts with a festive theme and refreshments are provided. Children of all ages are welcome, no matter how long ago their sibling(s) were on the unit.
The group is facilitated by staff from the Neonatal Unit and is supported by Tiny Lives. It is open to all families/siblings no matter how long ago they were on the Unit.
Booking is essential and you register your interest here.
We are delighted to welcome Andrew Dunsmure as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Tiny Lives Trust.
Andrew brings a wealth of experience and a passion for Tiny Lives. His leadership will be instrumental in driving our vision and strategy forward and we’re excited to have him step into the role of Chairman.
Speaking with Andrew recently, he said “I’m thrilled to step into the role of Chair at Tiny Lives, a charity that holds deep personal significance for me. As a parent with experience of neonatal care, I understand just how vital the right support is for families navigating this journey. With an exciting new strategy ahead, I’m looking forward to working with the Board, team, and supporters to strengthen and grow the impact of Tiny Lives, ensuring every family gets the help they need when they need it most.”
Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day and we thought we’d put together a guide on how you can support a family on the Neonatal Unit.
You may have friends, colleagues, neighbours or relatives with a little one on the neonatal unit. Here are a few things you can do that would help support them during this challenging time.
1) Batch Cooking Batch cooking meals that are easily reheated or frozen is a great way to help a neonatal family. Often times, families are grabbing what they can at the hospital and don’t have time to think about cooking a fresh meal. A lovely homecooked meal that is easily reheated keeps parents well fed but also means they don’t need to spend a long time away from the unit.
2) Offer Support It may sound simple, but sometimes friends and family don’t know how to react and can unintentionally withdraw. A simple text message to offer any support you can provide can make a huge difference. You might not get a response back, but just knowing that the offer of support is there can really help families with their mental health.
3)Offer Help Offering to help where you can, from walking their dog, to offering a lift to the hospital; offer to help where you are able! This can take a huge weight off the shoulders of families who may be worrying about things that you can easily assist with and leave them with more brain space to focus on their little one.
4) Lend an Ear Can you lend an ear for half an hour? Sometimes parents need time to decompress and have a chat, maybe over coffee, maybe over the phone. If you can lend an ear, you can help ease stress. Families may want to talk about their time on the neonatal unit, they may also want to talk about other things, but just being there to listen can make a huge difference, especially on those longer or more challenging days.
5) Ask Ask. It might seem like a simple action, but simply asking if and how you can help can open the conversation for families. Families may not want to outright ask for help or support, but it’s easier when someone else has started that conversation.
We’re thrilled to announce the Tiny Lives 2025 Charity Ball will take place on Saturday 4th October 2025. The theme this year is Sparkles! We have an incredible headline sponsor this year and you’ll hear more about that from us very soon, keep your eyes pealed to our socials for more information…
The event is held at the Hilton Hotel Newcastle/Gateshead. The evening starts with a sparkling drinks reception, followed by a three course meal and throughout the evening you will be entertained with games and auctions throughout the night.
Please remember Tiny Lives is an independent, local charity supporting premature and sick newborn babies and their families, who have experienced life in the Neonatal Unit at the RVI in Newcastle. We can only do this because of our wonderful supporters. Would you, your friends or your workplace like to be a part of a special fundraising evening for families experiencing one of the most challenging times of their lives? If so, contact Louise for tickets.
If you or your workplace would like to donate a prize to our raffle (every donation makes a difference, from a bottle of fizz/gin to a voucher!) please get in touch with Louise.
Tiny Lives are always here to support you and your mental health. You can reach out to us at any time, whether five months or five years since you were on the unit. We aim to get you the appropriate support as soon as possible.
Counselling Tiny Lives is proud to fund counselling for former Ward 35 parents. It doesn’t matter how long ago you were on the unit, you can still access this service. You can access this service as an individual or a couple. All you need to do to get started, is fill out the relevant referral form and Tiny Lives will take care of the rest.
Mams Chat Our Mams Team is made up of Mams who have all been through the Neonatal journey on Ward 35, and who volunteer their time to support Mams who are currently on the Ward. They have a WhatsApp group titled ‘Mams Chat’ where you can chat with our peer supporters and other Ward 35 Mams. Scan the QR code to join.
Dads Team The Dad’s Team is made up of Dads who have all been through the Neonatal journey on Ward 35, and who volunteer their time to support Dads who are currently on the Ward. They’re a friendly bunch, so don’t be afraid to get in touch!
Join the Dads Chat by scanning the QR Code below.
One of the hardest steps is asking for help and when you make that step, Tiny Lives will take care of the rest.
The Department for Business and Trade has announced that the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act will be implemented starting 6 April this year.
We are pleased to share that the Department for Business and Trade has confirmed the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act will take effect on 6 April this year, as of 20 January.
The new Neonatal Care Leave entitlement is the result of successful campaigning, supported by numerous charities including Tiny Lives, to enhance the employment rights of parents with a sick newborn or premature baby. Previously, many of these parents faced the difficult choice of returning to work while their baby remained in the hospital, often receiving critical care.
This legislation, which received Royal Assent in May 2023, grants employed parents the right to take one week of leave for each week their baby spends in neonatal care, up to a maximum of 12 weeks, provided the baby is under 28 days old and stays in the hospital for 7 days or longer.
Parents will be able to take this leave in addition to other statutory entitlements, such as maternity and paternity leave, and will receive pay where eligible. As a ‘day one’ employment right, this entitlement applies from the very first day of a new job.
Chief Executive of Tiny Lives, Kelly Blakeney welcomed the bill and said ‘This news has been a long time coming and we’re delighted that working families are going to be entitled to vital time to focus on their baby, without the additional worries of work or pay. This will make a huge difference for thousands of families in the North East and North Cumbria.’
We have a number of support groups and classes for Neonatal Parents and we understand it can be both overwhelming and confusing to identify which classes/groups best suit your needs. We’ve put together a flowchart to help you better identify which group/class is best for you and your baby.
Meet, Chat, Learn Classes Our Meet, Chat, Learn Classes are open exclusively to families from Newcastle’s RVI Neonatal Unit & Transitional Care and range from Baby Yoga and Massage to Music, Movement and Sensory. They are fully funded and are the perfect way to bond with your baby and meet Neonatal parents in a supportive environment.
Stay and Play We know how hard it is for new parents who have left Ward 35 being unable to meet up face-to-face with other parents who understand the neonatal experience. Our Stay and Play sessions take place on a monthly basis at the Alan Shearer Centre. These sessions take place on a Saturday morning and provide an opportunity for parents to meet other parents who share their experience and meet with Tiny Lives staff and peer supporters in a relaxed and friendly environment while the little ones play.
Stay and Splash We know how hard it is for new parents who have left Ward 35 being unable to meet up face-to-face with other parents who understand the neonatal experience. Our Stay and Splash sessions take place on a monthly basis at Paddlepod Whitley Bay. These sessions take place on a Sunday afternoon and provide an opportunity for parents to meet other parents who share their experience and meet with Tiny Lives staff and peer supporters. We have access to the pool, play area and cafe.
Bubbles The Bubbles Groups are support and developmental groups facilitated by the Newcastle Community Nursing Team and Newcastle 0-19 service for parents whose babies have been discharged (up to 2 years/walking independently) from Ward 35 at the RVI.
For more information please download this leaflet. You can book on here.
Mams Chat & Dads Team Both Mams Chat & the SCBU Dads Team are made up of parents with lived experience of having a baby on the Neonatal Unit & Transitional Care. The experience for Dads and Mams is often very different and both groups are available to offer support and lend an ear. You can access the WhatsApp group for both of our support groups.
When you’re admitted to the Unit, the real world doesn’t stop. Bills still have to be paid, family members juggled and other responsibilities don’t go away.
We can help you navigate your way through this confusing and difficult time. Tiny Lives part-funds a Family Support Social Worker, Fiona Bell, who can offer practical advice on financial matters, benefit entitlement, communicating with your workplace and more. Fiona works to identify how best Tiny Lives can support you during this challenging time and is also an excellent shoulder for any other concerns – you can go to her with any worries, or just for a chat.
Fiona works on the unit and tries to catch up with every family to see if she can assist you in any way. On the off chance you haven’t bumped into Fiona yet and would like to have a chat with her, please speak with your nurse. You can also email her or call 07855143977. You can also contact Fiona’s colleague Vicky Gordon by email too, and her colleague Julie via email, or by calling 07787691286.
‘Fiona and Vicky were my rocks, not only whilst in special care but even throughout all hospital admissions with my daughter. Even after I sadly lost her they were amazing. They even visited me on a ward when my other daughter Aurora was poorly. They are beautiful, amazing souls!’
Leaving a gift in your will is a way to show your support to Tiny Lives that doesn’t impact you financially here and now. We understand how personal writing a will is and we’re grateful for you for exploring this further. Here, we explore what leaving a legacy means and the impact you leave behind.
What is a legacy? A legacy is a gift of money or other personal property that’s granted to someone or a charity in the terms of a will.
Why should I make a will? Making a will is a way to celebrate the people and things that are most important to you including a cause or an interest. – It can help to give you peace of mind. – You can name guardians for your children. – It can help with inheritance tax.
What types of gifts can I leave in my will? There are two main gifts you can leave in your will. One is apercentage or share of what is left of your estate once all other payments and gifts have been made to your loved ones called a residuary gift. The other is a fixed sum of money called a pecuniary gift.
Do I need to use a solicitor to write or amend my will? This is your decision. You may choose to consult a solicitor to draft your will but it isn’t a necessity. We would recommend you ensure your will is reviewed by an expert legal advisor.
Our Legacy Promises If you are considering leaving a gift to Tiny Lives in your will, we would like to make these promises to you; – We completely understand that your loved ones are your priority and come first in your will. – We will use your gift wisely, ensuring it makes a real difference to those we support. – We understand that wills are personal, private choices and we will not ask the size or type of gift you intend to give us. Any details you do give us will be held in the strictest of confidence.
If you’d like to discuss leaving a legacy with a member of the Tiny Lives team, please contact Rachel at rachel@tinylives.org.uk or give us a call at 0191 230 2112.
This Christmas, we’re happy to share Leighton’s Christmas story with you! Leighton spent time on Ward 35 over Christmas 2023 after being born at just 1lb 1oz and spending 22 weeks on the unit. Leighton’s Mam, Sam, has shared her experience of spending time on the unit over the festive period and how Tiny Lives supported their family during Leighton’s various treatments during and after his stay.
Sam said, “From the second Leighton was born I felt immense love and fear all at once. He was wheeled past me and I got to feel his tiny little fingers, he grasped my finger and I just sobbed but the team at Tiny Lives were a god send. The first time we heard of them was to give us a parent pack and a sibling pack for his sister. She was over the moon her brother had given her a present and it kept her entertained with colouring and creating gifts to keep as she gets older.
The book explaining what it’s like to have a sibling in the NICU was a brilliant addition and I know Maddie really benefited from this, she took it to school to share her story.The parent pack was well thought out, especially the travel cups – we definitely got their wear out of them. We were quickly introduced to Julie the Social Worker, she worked alongside us for the whole 22 weeks supporting us with the parking permit and funding for fuel. It was something we didn’t have to worry about anymore – we had enough going on. Then we met the psychologist Bridie, I was a bit skeptical at first I didn’t know how I would feel talking to someone as my emotions were all over the place but she was brilliant! We had weekly chats, she gave me some excellent advice and just listened when I needed someone.
The physiotherapist Claire was fantastic. She worked with Leighton on a regular basis but also worked with me so I knew how to execute these exercises effectively with Leighton. Sometimes you just need to know you’re on the right path and doing what you can, Claire always gave me that confidence. Since coming home we have had regular check ins with many of the Tiny Lives staff, they are part of our journey. We LOVE our ArtVenturers class for all our NICU babies. It’s so nice not having to explain anything but chat about our experiences. I find it really useful seeing children who are older and how far they’ve come.
Today Leighton loves spending time with his big sister, his smile radiates when he sees her. He loves new experiences and takes it all in. His favourite hobby is going to Art Venturers – the paint is his absolute fave! He loves getting into mischief and eating!”
This year over 40 babies will be spending their first Christmas on the neonatal unit here in Newcastle.
At Tiny Lives we believe in celebrating every milestone of the neonatal journey and, with your support, we aim to fill every day of the year with moments of joy that parents can treasure. This Christmas, give a gift that makes a difference to premature and sick newborn babies and their families by donating via the link below.
