During his year as the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Councillor John Gardner is working to raise awareness and much needed funds for his chosen charities.

The chosen charities for the year are close to the Mayor's heart - Parkinson's UK and local charity, Leo's Neonatal. One of Councillor Gardner's grandchildren was born prematurely and benefitted from the support Leo's Neonatal provided to them as a family.

Leo's Neonatal

One of Councillor Gardner's grandchildren was born prematurely and benefitted from the support Leo's Neonatal provided to them as a family.

Leo's provides dedicated mental health and well-being support to families across the North East who have been impacted by having babies who have been born sick, premature or have needed neonatal care.

They offer a specialised approach comprising our highly trained peer support team who have lived experienced of neonatal stay or loss, as well as counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing).

Leo's also provide dedicated care for the babies and children who have spent time in the neonatal unit. They offer everything from yoga, baby massage, Bath Babies, sensory play, sensory community groups, swimming and much more.

Leo's was commissioned in 2023 to run a bespoke baby loss service for parents in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland who have been affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss and termination for medical reasons. Their team offer caring support to parents from the moment of loss, up to two years after.

Learn more about Leo's at their website.

Parkinson's UK

There are over 7,000 people living with Parkinson's in the North East and around 154,000 people in the UK. Every hour, 2 people in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson's, the same as 18,000 every year.

Parkinson's is a neurological condition that affects voluntary movements such as walking, talking, writing and swallowing. Parkinson's is a progressive condition which means symptoms will get worse over time and at present there is no cure.

Support from the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees this year will help Parkinson's UK fund much needed advice and support to these people, their families, friends and carers.

Find out more about Parkinson's UK at their website.