Cottsway becomes first housing association to be awarded with our Employer with Heart charter mark

Cottsway has pledged to support employees who become parents of premature babies.

We are delighted that Cottsway housing association amended its maternity and paternity leave policies earlier this month meaning that mothers and fathers who work at the organisation will be entitled to extra paid leave after a premature birth.

Employing 150 people, Cottsway is the first housing association in the UK to gain The Smallest Things Employer with Heart charter.

Clare Sellman (pictured), head of corporate services, said:

“We understand that becoming a parent to a premature baby can mean waiting weeks before you can bring your baby home from hospital and is an extremely distressing time. By extending our maternity and paternity leave policies we hope our employees will be able to concentrate on spending precious time bonding with their new born rather than juggling work and home commitments.  

“We’re delighted to be recognised as an Employer with Heart and extremely proud to be the first housing associated to have been accredited with the charter.”

The Employer with Heart charter was launched by The Smallest Things in February 2018 asking employers to extend paid leave for staff whose babies are born premature. Welcoming the news Catriona Ogilvy, founder and trustee at The Smallest Things, added:

“We are delighted that the Cottsway have signed up to our Employer with Heart charter, leading the way as the first Housing Associated to do so, giving parents of babies born prematurely the extra time they need. Visiting a fragile baby on a neonatal unit for weeks, sometimes months, is terrifying and shouldn't be counted as maternity or paternity leave. This extra time will give parents more chance to bond with their babies, take care of them at home for longer and recover from the trauma themselves.”

Cottsway joins a growing list of employers supporting staff following the premature birth of a baby and we’re delighted to add them to our Employer with Heart Hall of Fame.