Sheffield Hospitals Charity's Bereavement Services Enhanced by £1,500 Donation
Sheffield Hospitals Charity's bereavement services have been bolstered by a generous £1,500 donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes. This contribution is specifically aimed at supporting the charity's vital work in caring for families during and after the tragic experience of baby loss.
Supporting NHS Care from Birth to End-of-Life
The wider charity plays a crucial role in assisting Sheffield's hospitals, community teams, and health and social care services by covering costs not funded by the NHS. This enhances care across the entire spectrum, from birth to end-of-life, and everything in between. One notable initiative funded by the charity is the Jessop Wing Bereavement Suite at Sheffield Teaching Hospital.
This suite provides a quiet, peaceful environment for grieving families. It features a baby bathing area used for Islamic funeral preparations, a garden, a spacious lounge area for family and friends, a cot, a bookcase, a toy box, and tea and coffee making facilities.
Direct Impact of the Donation
Katherine Ebbs, Trust and Foundation Officer at Sheffield Hospitals Charity, expressed her gratitude, stating, "We were so thrilled to have been chosen for this donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes. Contributions like this one mean we can continue our vital work supporting Sheffield's NHS."
The £1,500 donation will directly fund several key projects:
- Memorable items such as gifted keepsakes and memory boxes that families hold dear.
- Resources and facilities in the Tulip Room, where parents can stay and spend time with their baby.
- Support for the annual baby memorial and thanksgiving service, including bereavement books to aid conversations around normal grief experiences.
Ebbs added, "From everyone at Sheffield Hospitals Charity, I would like to offer Barratt and David Wilson Homes our most sincere thank you. Its investment in Sheffield's NHS bolsters our commitment to provide additional funding to support people at every stage on life's journey."
Personal Nomination Adds Emotional Depth
The nomination for this donation came from Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West employee Katy Taylor-Cushing, who personally experienced the charity's services when her son, Xander, sadly passed away. Katy shared, "The staff were exceptional and we were able to stay with our baby for two days and had him blessed by the hospital's chaplain which was so comforting. We were offered beautiful handmade outfits, hats and a memory box, and the charity also very kindly helped arrange a funeral for our baby."
She also highlighted the annual memorial service, noting, "We attend the memorial service every year which takes a lot of time, money, and effort to host. The consultants, midwives and hospital staff all attend, and it brings bereaved parents together to share their stories, remember our angel babies and see the staff who went through the journey with us."
Community Fund Initiative
This donation is part of Barratt and David Wilson Homes' Community Fund scheme, administered through The Barratt Redrow Foundation. This initiative is designed to support both national and local charities, regardless of size, across the UK, aiming to leave a lasting legacy in the communities where the housebuilder operates.
Gavin Birch, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West, commented, "We're incredibly proud to support Sheffield Hospital Charity's Bereavement Services and the brilliant work it does with this donation. It's heartwarming to see our colleague grateful for the charity's help at a difficult time and nominate the bereavement services for this donation, adding a personal touch to an already worthwhile cause."
