Latest news with #LittleMiracles
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire foodbank runs out after demand surges
A charity that supports families of children with special education needs and disabilities (Send), said a rise in demand for its services was "heartbreaking". Little Miracles supported more than 5,000 people in April across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with counselling, therapy, activities and family also operated a food bank and said the demand had gone "crazy" and it was "struggling to cope" - Last week it "ran out of food". Founder Michelle King said the increased need was especially prevalent among families with children who had complex needs, and as a small organisation, "it is scary to support so many people". She added it was "preparing for the demand to get worse". 'Uncertain' Peterborough City Council previously said requests for assessments for Send children had risen by 20% between King said last year, the charity supported more than 50,000 it still had a "massive" waiting list and feared things could get "worse" with changes proposed to government-offered this year, the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced planned benefit cuts as part of her Spring Statement, which included changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit. Reeves hoped the cuts would save £5bn by 2030 and get more people into work."Even currently, the threshold to qualify for social services is very high and charities are having to help those who don't make the cut", Ms King said."The new proposals are scaring people. They are feeling uncertain and anxious. It is a very tricky time." Little Miracles said it faced challenging times and had appealed for donations to its foodbank, which served hundreds of families. "We are so dependent on our fundraising, but there are less people who are in a position to give now," Ms King said."We are lucky to have partnerships that donate food, but we never have enough. Earlier this week, as well, we ran out of food."She said everyday staples, including pasta, tinned items and food cupboard basics were desperately needed."This is not what we expected when we set up 15 years ago," she added. "There shouldn't be so many families in a state of worry and in dire need really. It is a heartbreaking situation." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Incubator to help babies in a new way
Little miracles Dunedin family support co-ordinator Shelley Gormon (centre) and Dunedin hospital neonatal intensive care unit nurses Nicole Dunford (left) and Saskia Vink transport a decommission incubator to Woolworths South Dunedin, where it will be used for fundraising. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH A piece of lifesaving equipment has a found a new home in a Dunedin supermarket, continuing to support New Zealand's littlest miracles. A decommissioned incubator has become a donation box at Woolworths Dunedin South for the Miracle Month of May, an annual campaign to raise awareness and funds for sick and premature babies and their families. Little Miracles family support co-ordinator Shelley Gormon, of Dunedin, said the money would provide fuel and food vouchers for whānau cot-side. "Of course at that time they're feeling quite vulnerable and quite traumatised, because babies going through [neonatal intensive care units] is quite an unexpected journey," she said. Every year more than 5000 babies in New Zealand started life in an incubator, either cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (Nicu) or special care baby units. This included Mrs Gormon's now 13-year-old daughter Mia, who was born at just 28 weeks and had a 10-week Nicu stay. "[Little Miracles] didn't have a presence like we have now. "[Now] we can actually meet people and walk alongside them and share stories," she said. The charity aimed to raise $50,000 for its family assistance fund and Woolworths had already made a one-off cash donation of $20,000. During May, for every participating baby product sold in Woolworths supermarkets, the company would give 5c to the cause, Mrs Gormon said. She hoped the campaign would also raise awareness of the charity so it could continue its mahi with families across the country. Dunedin Hospital Nicu nurses Nicole Dunford and Saskia Vink helped transport the incubator and said they saw the work Little Miracles did at babies' bedsides every day. The trio were decked out in purple — the international colour for prematurity.
