WINNER: BABIES IN BUSCOT SUPPORT (BIBS) SPONSORED BY ROC SEARCH
The charity provides support to babies and their families in the special care unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, The Buscot Ward.
They provide a family support practitioner, a weekly parent support evening, and events raising awareness about the issues faced by parents of babies on the ward.
They also raise funds for new equipment for the ward as well as managing and updating facilities provided for the families of Buscot babies.
Liz Josif, fundraising manager, and Sarah Critchley, CEO of the charity, attended to collect the award.
Ms Josif said: “It’s the first time we’ve ever been nominated in over 37 years, so it’s just wonderful to be here.
“It celebrates everything that’s great about Reading and we’re really proud of what we do, especially because the charity is myself, Liz, and our family support worker – we’re a tiny charity.
“So it’s really nice to know that other people are proud of what we do.”
She explained: “It is wonderful to have received the award; when we’re out in the community meeting families, we are always astounded by just how many people our charity touches.
“Ten percent of babies, born locally end up in neonatal care– that’s about 600 babies passing through the Buscot Ward every year.
“Those those children go on and grow up, have their own children– so we end up on a situation where at least half of the people that we speak to know us, or know somebody who’s benefited from the ward.
“So not only do we feel like part of the ward, but also like part of the community.”
Ms Critchley agreed: “It’s nice to see the impact we’ve had on family life, not just the baby, but also the parents and the family–parents, aunts and uncles–who come to support us because they watched their family goes through it.”
Ms Josif explained: “We are a parent-led charity; we’re both parents of Buscot ‘graduates’ ourselves, so it means something to us.
“We’ve walked in the shoes of the families we support– and that’s why we’ve done it; we want to ensure that babies get to go home with their parents, and all of them are looked after.
“The NHS is amazing for the work they do, and people want to give back to the ward.”
They gave their thanks also: “To our family support worker Sammy, as well as the nurses and medics on the Buscot Ward.
“And everyone who continues to fundraise for BIBS in what has been a very tough time for the charity financially.
“We’re incredibly grateful for their support.”
Other nominees were mentioned in this category this year.
RSM UK, whose partnership with BIBS saw them create many fundraising events that raised more than £20,000 and Trevor Goodall, from New Life Special Care Babies, who raised money for an incubator to give to BIBS.
