Each year, Hull Hospitals’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cares for over 500 premature babies, some stay for hours or days, whilst others stay for weeks and months. Hull is one of four Level 3 NICU’s within the Yorkshire and Humber region, caring for babies from 22 weeks gestation offering specialist intensive care for babies locally and across the country.

WISHH, the official charity of Hull Hospitals has launched its annual appeal, ‘Space to Grow’ to raise £100,000 to enhance the facilities of Hull’s NICU, which will complement the Hospital Trust’s expansion of the unit by 5 cots.  Through the appeal, funds raised will enable WISHH to create:

A sensory room – to enable babies to learn and develop new connections in their brain through light and sound stimulation.

Development of siblings’ facilities – to enable siblings to play whilst families visit, helping to alleviate the stress parents are already going through.

Enhancement of the current parents’ facilities – to create a parents ‘Haven’ to allow them to discuss sensitive issues in a calming environment, whilst also allowing them space to gather their thoughts.

Creation of a staff training facility – to create a fresh and contemporary learning environment for neonatal staff.

Francesca Matthews, Neonatal Ward Manager said, “Due to the complexity of medical needs, more babies are staying for up to 49 gestational weeks. These ‘older’ babies and their families would greatly benefit from sensory stimulation to support their developmental process, ensuring excellent clinical care alongside vital developmental support. Such facilities will also provide these families with a degree of normality, being able to interact within a calming and creative environment with their baby.

Parents and families who are spending time on the unit for extended periods, will greatly benefit from the new sibling’s and parent’s facilities enhancing and improving their experience at what is a very difficult time. Training is also paramount for our staff and to have a dedicated space will enable educators to deliver specialist training to team members.”

The ‘Space to Grow’ appeal launch has received a fantastic start of £26,000 towards the appeal’s fundraising goal, donated by inspirational fundraisers who all have their own stories to tell on how Hull NICU has touched their lives. Read more about their personal stories below.

Jack Jowitt, Aged 8, Beverley. Jack’s close friend Riley witnessed first-hand the love and care his baby cousins received from staff at Hull NICU and wanted to raise funds to support the work of the unit.  Sadly, Riley lost his life at the age of 15 and Jack was determined to follow in his friend’s footsteps to continue his fundraising, having his long hair cut to support NICU. Jack, through the help of family and friends raised over £9,000. When we asked why he was cutting his hair, Jack answered, “I’m doing it for charity and for Riley, to fulfil his wishes”.

Beverley Cricket Club. The club’s third team skipper Kevin and his wife, Lottie were looking forward to the birth or their baby, when unexpectedly they both needed urgent lifesaving care. Thanks to the brilliance of the excellent NHS staff, their son, Gabriel, was successfully delivered and cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Lottie’s life was also saved. In recognition of the wonderful care they both received, the club took part in the Lyke Wake Walk, involving 62 participants aged from 12 to 64 years, who came together and walked over 40 miles in a day, raising over £9,700!

Victoria Beadle of Siemens Gamesa is the founder of The Fabulous Fletcher Fund, in memory of her son. Victoria and her family are heavily involved in supporting NICU, funding a ventilator, photo therapy lamps and provided thousands of smaller items to support families staying in NICU, including children’s books, knitted items, blankets, incubator covers and baby nests. Victoria rallied the support of colleagues across Siemens to vote for NICU/WISHH as their chosen charity of the year with staff taking part in fundraising events raising over £4,800.

Sue Lockwood, Chair of the WISHH Charity said, “When Neonatal staff in Hull set out their plans to make improvements to benefit premature babies and their families and asked WISHH for our help, trustees had no hesitation giving our support. We are delighted to launch the WISHH Charity’s ‘Space to Grow’ Appeal to raise £100,000. The improvements needed are over and above what can be provided by the NHS.

Parents who have had their pre-term baby cared for in Neonatal Intensive Care know that alongside the highly complex clinical skills needed for their tiny babies, the impact and strain on the family is significant. Many difficult days and nights are spent alongside their infant and family engagement is so important. Current facilities don’t always make that easy.  Please help us reach our target in any way you can.”

WISHH are inviting members of our community, schools and local businesses to get in touch to become involved by pledging support of our ‘Space to Grow’ appeal.’  To become involved or for further information, contact Lisa Whitton, WISHH Charity Manager lisa.whitton3@nhs.net or call on 01482 622299.

Donations can be made via our Just Giving Page rebrand.ly/SpaceToGrowDonate WISHH have opportunities through places at events to support the appeal, from the Hull Half Marathon on the 11^th June, NHS Big Tea, 5^th July, The Yorkshire Three Peaks on 9^th September. Supporters can choose their own creative way to support our appeal. Businesses are welcome to get in touch to find out how to become an integral part of the appeal.

Supporters can post a cheque made payable to “WISHH Charity” – writing on the reverse ‘Space to Grow Appeal’, posting it to us at WISHH Charity Space to Grow Appeal, First Floor Administration Block, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, HU16 5JQ.