The charity has passed momentous milestones and celebrated special anniversaries:
Highlights
2023 has been a big year for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation. It opened its third compassionate housing property, Frankie’s Den, a fully equipped and furnished home-from-home next to Southampton Hospital, on 22nd September 2023. Thanks to Ken and Linda Acott generously donating the flat, the charity is now able to support even more Bailiwick of Guernsey families with premature babies or critically ill children needing off-island treatment. Having the third flat will give the charity extra capacity for longer-term stays to help children needing treatment for conditions like cancer. Only 100 steps away from the hospital, Frankie’s Den offers comfort and peace to those going through the hardest of times.
The PPBF also reached a special milestone this year. It celebrated its 20-year anniversary on 17th November 2023. Andy and Jo Priaulx’s daughter Dannii celebrated her 20th birthday on this day. The following day, the Special Care Unit (formerly Neonatal Unit) held a Family Fun Day at Les Beaucamps High School, kindly organised by neonatal nurse Emma McKane, to raise funds for the PPBF and celebrate 20 years of working together. Many families that had been helped by the unit and the charity over the years were pleased meet up to celebrate and gather for a family photoshoot. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with this community event.
Challenges
The cost-of-living crisis has been a challenge. The price of goods increased for the contents of Baby Boxes that the charity gifts to families on the Special Care Unit. The charity also funded equipment for the hospital, thus increasing its fundraising targets, which included various specialist training dolls for healthcare staff to use as training aids to ensure proper care and resuscitation of premature and newborn babies, including airway management.
Cost of living was also a big challenge with regards to the charity’s flats in Southampton, with increasing utility bills, general costs for running properties, purchasing goods, etc. All charges increased in general for UK property owners and the PPBF was no exception, gaining an extra property to furnish, run and maintain.
As a non-profit without government funding, the PPBF relies on sponsorship, grants and kind donations from the community. Every year the charity provides thousands of safe and cosy nights. To help manage the cost of supporting families staying in the PPBF’s compassionate housing, the charity launched its Buy-A-Night campaign. £5 a month or £60 a night can make a real difference in helping safeguard these flats for thousands more nights, for families in our community. The charity can’t continue this journey without help from islanders. Please go to www.ppbf.org.gg/buy-a-night to find out more.
The PPBF would like to thank all its supporters in 2023, they couldn’t have done it without you.
2024
The PPBF will be launching its Pre-Loved Baby Clothes Boxes for people to purchase for their babies up to 12 months, or to give as a gift. The charity will also be taking donations on Tuesday and Thursday mornings of preloved clean baby clothes (aged up to 12 months) in good condition to be sent to another loving home. Follow their Instagram page: @ppbfpreloved.
PPBF will be continuing its 20th year celebrations, including an extra special platinum themed Blingo over two nights on 25th April (corporate night) and 26th April (open to all) at St Pierre Park Hotel. To book a table of eight for this glamorous event, email: fiona.murray@ppbf.org.gg.
The charity is also looking for corporate sponsors for events or to become ‘Charity of the Year’ for local businesses. If your company is interested, please email: sammy.meerveld@ppbf.org.gg or go to www.ppbf.org.gg/corporate for further information.
Finally, the PPBF is looking forward to collaborating with other Guernsey charities in 2024 – watch this space.