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We’re dedicated to Neonatal families

The History of Tiny Lives

Born in 1983, ‘Tiny Lives’ was the brain child of Dr Hans Steiner, a paediatrician who with Dr Edmund Hey took care of babies at the Neonatal Unit in the Princess Mary Maternity Hospital. ‘Tiny Lives’ became the name for the charitable fund relating to the care of babies at the Princess Mary.

In 1993, the Neonatal Units at the Princess Mary Maternity Hospital and Newcastle General Hospital merged into a new unit, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.  Because each of the two units had been raising money separately, when the two units joined, the charitable funds were combined too. Until then, Tiny Lives had been held by the Special Trustees of the Newcastle Hospitals but when the new combined fund was created (still called Tiny Lives), its management was moved to the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.

By 2012, the Tiny Lives Fund had developed to the point where it needed to become a charity in its own right, rather than simply a charitable fund. In early 2013 under the name “The Tiny Lives Trust”, Tiny Lives began its life as an independent charity.

Tiny Lives has supported thousands of babies and their families over this time. Each year, the charity supports over 800 babies and their families from the RVI alone and aims to raise £580,000 a year to maintain this support.

Meet Our Team

Say Hello to the people behind Tiny Lives

kelly@tinylives.org.uk

Kelly Blakeney

Chief Executive Officer

hannah@tinylives.org.uk

Hannah Gould

Finance and Operations Manager

rachel@tinylives.org.uk

Rachel Hardwick

Fundraising & Engagement Manager

louise@tinylives.org.uk

Louise Carroll

Community Events Fundraiser

jacqui@tinylives.org.uk

Jacqui Adams

Projects Development Officer

kate@tinylives.org.uk

Kate Driver

Admin and Communications Assistant

charlotte@tinylives.org.uk

Charlotte Ball

Family Support Coordinator

hannah.beales@tinylives.org.uk

Hannah Beales

Finance and Admin Assistant

Patrons and Ambassadors

Jonny Wilkinson made his name as one of the shining lights of English rugby union and is widely regarded as one of the greatest to have played the sport. He spent 12 seasons at Newcastle Falcons and became a patron of Tiny Lives in 2015, after supporting the charity for many years.

Jonny Wilkinson CBE

Tiny Lives Patron

Sophie is a Nurse on the RVI Neonatal Unit. It was a long-held career dream for her, as she spent time on the Unit as a baby after being born at just 24 weeks gestation.

Sophie Proud

Tiny Lives Ambassador

Board Members

Giles McCourt (Chair)

Andrew Dunsmure (Vice Chair)

David Hall (Treasurer)
Dr. Richard Hearn

Dr. Jennifer Dixon
Joanne Carangelo-Hutchins
Jennifer Carruthers Jones
Ailie Hodgson
Sarah Southam

Tiny News

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