The Challenge

Edgbaston Ladies 1s and 2s used the second lockdown as an opportunity to fundraise for Noah's Star – supporting families of premature and sick babies, based in Birmingham Women's hospital.

Across lockdown November, the 1s took on the challenge of running the length of the UK and back and the width, aiming to cover 2415km and the 2s took on the challenge of undertaking 200 hours of activity. Both teams smashed these challenges whilst smashing multiple fundraising targets in the process.

Whilst the challenge is over, the fundraising isn't, every donation means the world to us and Noah's Star.

The Cause

Sociability Care CIC was established by Jo-Anne Shellum in 2015 based on her own personal experience. In July 2015 her twin boys, Oscar and Noah were born at 25 weeks. Sadly, Noah only lived for 30 hours. Due to his prematurity Oscar has a range of health conditions including cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease. Jo-Anne is determined to use her experiences and passion to help other families in similar circumstances. - first leading to Sociability Care CIC and then, in 2017, the launch of Noah's Star.

Noah’s Star allows parents to spend quality time with their premature and sick babies without having to worry about their other children. Noah’s Star runs a sibling support group at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, providing an area for children to play, and activities to occupy them whilst their parents spend time with their poorly baby. This enables children to receive emotional support, encourages family bonds during a stressful experience and reduces the strain and pressure on parents during what is often the most challenging time in their lives.

The pandemic has put additional stresses on the families of premature and sick babies during what already is an incredibly difficult time for them, including severe restrictions on visitation on the ICU and no siblings allowed to visit the Neonatal ICU, building huge levels of separation anxiety amongst parents who are having to focus on their babies needs, which has a negative impact on the siblings. To address these heightened needs amongst families of premature and sick babies, Noah’s Star have adapted provision to include the following:

- Counselling sessions for families and siblings – funding for 130 hours of counselling has been secured so far but additional funding is needed to extend this provision, with sessions costing £45 per hour.

- Online yoga, rhythm time, meditation and family fun day sessions.

- Mental wellbeing workshops, support groups and 1:1 support via the phone, email and Zoom.

- Creation of children’s books for the siblings of premature and sick babies, helping them understand and process this journey.

- Mentoring support for children and young people.