TV Weather Presenter, Laura Tobin visits Croydon Hospital's neonatal unit
Shared Purpose Partnership
Press release:
TV Weather Presenter, Laura Tobin teams up with Mama Bamboo to support its partnership with Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity, donating size 0 tiny baby nappies to neonatal units across the country
Award-winning eco-disposable nappy and wipe brand Mama Bamboo announced a partnership with the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity which seeks to support families affected by premature birth.
The campaign is supported by TV Weather Presenter, Laura Tobin whose daughter Charlotte was born prematurely at 27 weeks weighing just 2lb 8oz. Six years on, Charlotte is thriving, and Laura is on a mission to support mothers and babies born prematurely.
In the UK over 90,000 babies are born sick or prematurely every year and one in thirteen babies are born prematurely. Alongside the team at Ickle Pickles, Mama Bamboo want to make the stressful time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) a little easier by donating their brand-new size 0 tiny baby nappies to five neonatal units including the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Croydon University Hospital. Each unit will receive a free monthly subscription of size 0 nappies for a total number of 74 cots.
Since 2009, the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity has been raising money for intensive care equipment that treats premature babies and helps to keep them alive. Alongside the initiative, Mama Bamboo is inviting their customers to help donate nappies to other NICU parents. To donate, visit the “Give Another Mother” scheme on the Mama Bamboo website www.mamabamboo.com. Simply add the donation to your basket and checkout. Mama Bamboo have pledged to match any donation pound for pound.
The partnership has already had an impact supporting families impacted by premature birth, since having launched six weeks ago, donations to Mama Bamboo’s Give Another Mother Scheme have increased by 282%.
“This is a brilliant grassroots scheme that can make a difference from day one. I received a pack on my first day on the ward and it was so nice to have these super soft nappies for my tiny baby. It gave me a few days to sort out a subscription and took just a little of the stress away in that first week” Marie Proton.
“These Mama Bamboo nappies are great, easy to use and good quality. Thank you to Mama Bamboo and Ickle Pickles for this wonderful and much-needed gift.” Ashley, mum to baby Cason.
Laura Tobin who is fronting the campaign said: “I am so proud to be part of this fantastic campaign supporting mothers and babies in need at this critical time. Charlotte was born 27 weeks at just 2lb 8oz. It was a very difficult period in our lives, and I know what incredible impact the campaign with Ickle Pickles and Mama Bamboo will have on these families going through what I did 5 years ago.”
Christie Hanson, Senior Sister at the neonatal unit of Croydon University Hospital commented: “We are delighted and grateful to be supported by one of our charity partners Ickle Pickles as well as our Trust Charity. We are especially grateful for the donations from Mama Bamboo. Receiving these nappies will really benefit the tiny babies and their families on our unit.”
Laura Crawford, Founder of Mama Bamboo: “We understand that an unplanned stay in the neonatal ward is stressful and parents are deeply concerned about using the most natural, non-irritating products on their tiny new babies. Newborn skin is so delicate and porous, and even more so when premature. Plastic and harsh chemicals are the last thing new parents want to put on their tiny babies. We want to give these parents the softest, most breathable, bamboo-based products to put against their baby’s delicate skin and alleviate the pressure for parents to find high quality, well fitting, nappies during those very first few hours of life.
We are incredibly proud of the partnership with the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity which aims to make a difficult and stressful time, a little easier.”
Rachael Marsh, Co-founder of the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity said: “I am really excited about our new charity partnership with Mama Bamboo. The Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity has been working hard on our shared purpose fundraising and we see this as a huge success. At Ickle Pickles and Mama Bamboo, we are both dedicated to improving the lives of tiny babies. Together, we want to do everything we can to give every newborn a chance and help families affected by premature birth. We are proud to have supported the design of Mama Bamboo’s nappies with the delicate skin of premature babies in mind. This partnership is a positive reminder of what is possible when a committed and ethical company such as Mama Bamboo joins forces with a community-focused charity.
I am hopeful that over time, many of the 90,000 babies born prematurely in the UK will benefit from Mama Bamboo’s ‘Give Another Mother’ scheme. Currently, you can donate to help fund sustainable bamboo nappies for five neonatal units to make the stressful time at an Intensive Care Unit a little bit easier. I know firsthand how stressful a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be because my son Charlie was born at 28 weeks and 2 days (12 weeks before his due date) weighing just 2lb 4oz - as much as a 1kg bag of sugar. Our tiny Ickle Pickle inspired us to give back and help other parents. With your and Mama Bamboo’s help, we hope to expand donations to more neonatal units across England and Wales - because every newborn deserves a chance.”
