Leo’s Neonatal is a trusted charity which prides itself on ensuring families get the right mental health support and the right care when having a sick or premature baby. Ran by Lottie, a neonatal parent who has experienced baby loss and is also a mum of a ‘neonatal graduate’ with additional needs. Lottie has a team, which includes other neonatal parents and NHS staff to ensure families are well-supported. They understand what many don’t and have the right tools to support them during their neonatal stay, and when they get home.
One of the many services that Leo’s offer is a counselling service providing support to adults and children. Siblings often require extensive support for anxiety after their experiences of having a critically ill sibling, or in many cases, the loss of a sibling. Support was also offered to grandparents, many of whom are equally impacted by a neonatal stay.
Funding of £20,000 (in January 2020) from The John William Wilson Fund allowed Leo’s to expand on their counselling service, increasing their initial offer of 5 hours per week to 13 hours per week. This included 1-2-1 sessions, as well as group sessions, resulting in over 100 families accessing support much more quickly and reducing the strain on the NHS services.
