Latest news with #LottieKing
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Struggling North East neonatal charity offers private service
A neonatal charity is charging fees for a new trauma support service to help it get through a "funding crisis".Leo's, in Middlesbrough, provides mental health support and trauma therapies for families who have suffered the loss of a baby or difficult charity said a drop in funding and donations had led to the launch of Birth Trauma North East CIC to support families across the wider region. Director Lottie King said the charity had identified a gap in regional provision of birth trauma therapies and wanted to make sure more people got help quickly. Leo's neonatal counselling service closed in November due to a lack of funding. The shortfall also meant the charity had to change its focus and provide community groups and early intervention for babies."The funding crisis affecting charities is sector-wide, and we knew we needed to be looking at how we could generate our own income to help keep the doors open," Ms King said. "Alongside that, we knew that we could help more people with the skills and knowledge we have and wanted an opportunity to do that." Birth Trauma North East offers online and in-person therapies which are led by perinatal charity said 20% of session fees would be donated back to Leo' new service has also received a £10,000 start-up grant from local funder LARCH. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Life-changing' neonatal charity's services saved
A neonatal charity hailed as "life-changing" has had some of its services saved through new funding. Leo's, based in north-east England, supports families' mental health and well-being through initiatives such as neonatal peer support, which matches parents with people who have experienced similar trauma. It was facing an uncertain future because of fewer donations and grants. The charity has partnered with law firm Slater and Gordon, which has committed funding. Leo's founder Lottie King said: "If it hadn't have been for them, our whole neonatal provision would have gone." The money has saved the charity's neonatal peer support service. "Our neonatal trauma service has proved a lifeline to so many parents and it would have been absolutely devastating if we had to close," Ms King said. Ms King, who is from Yarm in Stockton, set up the charity in 2018 after one of her own twin boys was born prematurely and died a few hours after birth. The story of how Lottie King set up Leo's charity Since then, the charity has helped thousands of families across the region. Senior associate at Slater and Gordon in Newcastle John Lowther said the firm was "delighted" to partner with the organisation. "We are so pleased we can help them to continue their life-changing work," Mr Lowther added. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here Mum celebrates son's legacy on his 10th birthday 'I owe my life' to funding-hit neonatal charity 'First time I saw my baby I said goodbye' Leo's Neonatal
