Spoons, which has an office based at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit inside the Royal Oldham Hospital, has received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, to help develop its neonatal care across Greater Manchester, including provision for extra Family Support Coordinators.

These Family Support Coordinators will help families better transition from hospital to home, supporting vulnerable parents to attend local groups and sessions and making referrals to other services that may be able to help them give their babies the best start in life.

They will also conduct home visits to support those who find it challenging to get out.

Spoons was set up by Operations Director Kirsten Mitchell after her own baby spent 127 days in neonatal care.

In 2020, the organisation received a separate grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to help it reach more neonatal families across Greater Manchester.

Spoons now supports around 300 families every year and operates out of five sites at hospices in Oldham, Bolton, and three in Manchester.

Mitchell said: “The effects of neonatal care can have a real and long-lasting impact. This wonderful grant will help us to support families through traumatic times and look to the future.”

She added: "On behalf of parents of neonatal babies in Greater Manchester, a huge thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30m each week for good causes throughout the UK.