Festive fundraising for Gosset ward

The fundraising team have been donating gifts for the ward for 8 years

The Fundraising for SCBU Northampton General Group has been spreading Christmas cheer once again for babies and families who will be in the Gosset neonatal ward this Christmas.

Babies there on Christmas day will each receive a Santa sack full of gifts all donated by the local community. These present sacks include toys, clothes, a time capsule, blankets, bibs and books to give them and their family a special first Christmas together.

Michelle Hardwick, Ward Manager on Gosset, explained the difference these donations make to families. “We’re so grateful for the donations that the fundraising group give us each year and that they have donated these Christmas gifts for the eighth time. The support from the fundraisers is fantastic and we are delighted that so many of the fundraisers are the families of former patients.

“Small gestures like these go a long way in showing the families that there are people who have been in their position before and that at Christmas time especially someone is thinking of them”.

However it isn’t just the babies who will receive gifts on Christmas day, parents are given hampers full of food, and toiletries to help them during their time at the hospital.

Theresa Wright, who started the fundraising group after her own children stayed on the ward, thanked the supporters “Thank you to everyone that helps every year with donations for the ward. We have lots of donations from parents who have had babies on Gosset ward and we’re always grateful for their support.

“We do a lot of fundraising throughout the year and help the ward to buy things to support patients and help to improve their experience. We hold fundraising events throughout the year including the ones at Christmas and an annual auction which raises anywhere between £3,000- £7,000. We always welcome anyone who wants to get involved with the fundraising events. More information can be found on our Facebook page”.

The ward cares for babies who need some form of special, high dependency or intensive care nursing. Most of the babies admitted to the ward are due to premature births.

To join the Facebook Group please search for Fundraising for SCBU Northampton General Group on Facebook.