The Smallest Things Top Ten of 2021
It has been quite a year and despite the rollercoaster of lockdowns, restrictions and new variants, The Smallest Things have continued to make great strides in promoting the good health of premature babies and their families. Here is what we got up to in 2021….
1. We had over 500 response to our ‘Life After Neonatal Care: A Post Pandemic Survey’
Following on from our last survey in 2017, we were keen to find out how things had changed (or not) for parents and families who had experienced premature birth and neonatal care, particularly considering the pandemic that has impacted so many areas of our lives. We had a fantastic response and appreciate every person who took the time to share their experiences - thank you.
2. We mobilised our community to support the bringing forward of Neonatal Leave and Pay
The introduction of Neonatal Leave and Pay is scheduled for 2023 but The Smallest Things have consistently called on ministers not to delay, particularly in light of the ongoing pandemic. A huge thank you to all of our volunteers and supporters who wrote to their MPs before the budget announcement in March - whilst the implementation of Neonatal Leave and Pay hasn’t yet been brought forward, having it on the radar of a wide range of MPs is an important step.
3. We recruited more schools to our Prem Aware Award scheme
In 2021, we had our first North East and North West schools sign up and continued to grow our Prem Aware Award scheme members in other areas of the country. Watch this space in 2022 as we aim to significantly increase the number of Prem Aware schools - if you work for or know of a school who would be interested, you can find out more here.
4. We rolled out the picnic rugs for our annual event
Despite the upheaval of Covid-19 restrictions throughout 2021, our supporters organised and hosted picnics for our Biggest Picnic Weekend on 25-27 June. These get-togethers, whether big or small, helped raise much needed funds for The Smallest Things and we were delighted to see the fun being had on our behalf!
5. We took on our first employee
Until summer 2021, we were a team of dedicated volunteers who gave our spare time to The Smallest Things. That volunteer team continues but with the added role of Operations Manager which was filled by Fiona in June 2021. We are all excited to see what is in store with us all working together in 2022!
6. We continued to grow our social media following
The Smallest Things now has over 18,500 followers on our Facebook page which not only gives us the opportunity to share news and updates with you but also creates a safe community for families who have experienced premature birth and its ongoing impact. We love to hear your stories and read your comments - if you’re not currently following, please do take a look!
7. We cheered on our first Smallest Things runner
Our supporter Sara ran the Great North Run for The Smallest Things in September - and achieved her personal best at the same time! We are hugely grateful to her for running for us to raise funds to help us carry out our vital work for families of premature babies.
8. We published ‘After NICU 2021: a Post Pandemic Report’
Our latest report gives valuable insight into the long-lasting impact of having a premature baby and life after neonatal care by exploring the complex and problematic issues families can face following premature birth including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings we shared in this report illustrate the importance of our work in improving the experiences of families affected by premature birth. You can find the full report here.
9. We watched our Employer with Heart charter go from strength to strength
Thanks equally to long term supporters and new members of our community advocating for increased support for parents of babies and children born prematurely, we have been joined by multiple allies from across the public and private sectors who have signed the Employer with Heart charter and implemented the necessary changes. If you would be interested in taking this forward in your workplace, you can find more information here.
10. We held our first online festival on World Prematurity Day
Our fantastic line-up of speakers brought together many people who are working to make the world a better place for children born prematurely and their families. The festival saw us launch our ‘After NICU 2021 report’, host an Employer with Heart panel, talk about our Prem Aware Award and share a Dads Do NICU discussion group. Recordings of each of the sessions can be found here.
We achieved so much in 2021 and we want to go even further in 2022 - to do that, we need your help. Please support us in our work to improve the lives of families impacted by premature birth by donating today. Every penny really does count.