Premature baby charity scoops prestigious award
By Charities Correspondent
A charity founded by parents of children born prematurely has been recognised with a national award for its work supporting families and helping improve the lives of premature children.
The Smallest Things’ team of volunteer Ambassadors won the Outstanding Team category at the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Gopi Menon Awards on 18 September.
The award celebrates people making a difference to babies and families through outstanding work in perinatal care.
The Smallest Things works closely with the University of Leicester to help children born prematurely get the support they need as they grow up.
The charity’s work has been supported by University funding, with both organisations working together to turn research into practical support for families, schools and early years settings.
One example is the charity’s Prem Aware Award, which recognises schools and early years settings that have completed free, evidence-based training developed by the University’s PRISM (Premature Infants’ Skills in Mathematics) Study Team.
The training helps staff understand the potential impact of premature birth on children’s development and learning, while offering practical ways to support them.
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Professor Samantha Johnson, Professor of Child Development at the University of Leicester, said the university was “absolutely delighted” that the team had received the award.
She added that the Ambassadors’ work was helping to raise awareness of the needs of children born prematurely and their families.
Catriona Ogilvy, Founder and Director of Policy, Campaigns and Research at The Smallest Things, said the award was “testament to their hard work and commitment” to raising awareness and changing practice.
The charity said it hopes to continue working with the University of Leicester to put research and evidence-based resources into practice through its Prem Aware scheme.
Kate Dinwiddy, Chief Executive of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, congratulated the team, saying the awards recognise people who “go above and beyond for babies and families”.
