Mums who endured a traumatic birthing experience are being helped to overcome it and ensure their babies get the best start in life.
Now thanks to a National Lottery grant that essential work can carry on.
Spoons, which is stationed at Royal Bolton Hospital has received £157,000 to help develop its neonatal care across the region.
Kirsten Mitchell, operations director at Spoons, said: “The effects of neonatal care can have a real and long-lasting impact.
“This wonderful grant will help us to support families through traumatic times and look to the future.”
The money will go towards, among other things, funding for extra family support coordinator roles.
These roles will help families better transition from hospital to home, support vulnerable parents to attend local groups and sessions, and make referrals to other services that may be able to help them give their babies the best start in life.
Family support coordinators also conduct home visits to support those who find it challenging to get out.
One of the family support coordinators will be multi-lingual and will specifically support families from marginalised and diverse backgrounds, including migrant families, and those facing specific challenges.
READ MORE: National Lottery funds are 'vital' to projects in Bolton
Kirsten added: “As we face more economic uncertainty ahead, our families are relying on us more than ever.
“On behalf of parents of neonatal babies in Greater Manchester, a huge thank you to the The National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players.”
Kirsten set up the charity after her own baby spent 127 days in neonatal care.
After struggling to find the kind of support she needed in the weeks and months that followed, Kirsten offered other families in her position the chance to connect both online and in person.
Spoons now supports around 300 families every year and operates out of five sites.
All sites provide emotional support, trauma, therapy, and counselling, as well as practical help such as emergency financial aid with baby essentials, travel to hospital, and guidance around medical terminology.
Spoons is one of 194 charities and community groups across Greater Manchester that have been awarded over £7m of National Lottery funding in the past quarter.
And over £100 million of National Lottery funding has been awarded to nearly 2,500 community groups in the UK over the same period.
READ MORE: Charity secures almost £70k National Lottery funding
Gillian Halliwell, head of regional funding for the North West, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, Spoons can continue to be a vital source of support for those families tackling the challenges associated with a traumatic birth.
“Our funding plays a big role in helping to foster support networks and it is great to see groups like this making such a positive difference and continuing to support their communities to thrive.”
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.
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