Contact Details & Application forms
For contact details and application forms, please visit www.mothercareplc.com/charity.| Mothercare Group Foundation News |
| The Mothercare Charitable Foundation continues to make a real difference to the lives of children and families across the world through its donations. Here’s a round up to celebrate some of our most recent activities... |
 The Foundation has pledged to support Wellbeing of Women’s soon-to-be-launched ‘Eating for Pregnancy’ service with a donation of £80,000 over the next two years. Wellbeing of Women is the only UK charity dedicated to solving the health problems that affect only women. Over the past 40 years, the charity has invested millions of pounds to fund the very best in medical research and training, resulting in some remarkable progress. In fact, every woman living in the UK since 1964 will have benefited from advances in healthcare made possible by Wellbeing of Women. "The Mothercare Charitable Foundation is delighted to be supporting Wellbeing of Women’s Eating for Pregnancy service. Ensuring both mother and baby get the right nutrients throughout pregnancy is of vital importance; this service aims to help women make healthy, informed choices and ultimately, to give their baby the very best start in life." Karren Brady, Chair, The Mothercare Charitable Foundation "We are very grateful for Mothercare’s continued support for this project. The Eating for Pregnancy Service recently celebrated its first birthday! The start-up costs from the Mothercare Group Foundation were enormously helpful in bringing this information to a much larger audience, and we are very grateful for the Trustees support. Gemma Hobson, Organisations Fundraising Manager - 31.3.09 Eating during labour - Latest News Since the 1940s, women have been advised not to eat during labour to reduce the risk of complications if Caesarean is required, principally due to the risk of breathing food back into the lungs while under a general anaesthetic. However, we have been pleased to dispel another myth following the publication of an article in the British Medical Journal that showed that light diet during labour has no effect on labour and birth outcomes, and neither does it increase the risk of vomiting. Gestational diabetes - Common Problems in Pregnancy Gestational diabetes is normally identifiable during the second or third trimester and occurs mainly when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the extra needs of pregnancy. This condition affects 1-3% of all pregnant women. We have added new information in response to a growing number of enquires. This covers diagnosis and changes in diet required to sustain a healthy pregnancy. Health in Pregnancy Grant From 6th April 2009, anyone who is at least 25 weeks pregnant will be eligible for the government’s new Health in Pregnancy Grant - a one-off payment of £190. We are very keen to see that these grants are spent wisely - this is a major opportunity to educate pregnant women and healthcare professionals on nutrition in pregnancy. Crucially, a midwife or doctor is required to sign the claim form, so we are working on information for these healthcare professionals, to ensure they are able to advise women on health choices - especially regarding nutrition. We will also be linking to Directgov.uk’s grant toolkit for healthcare professionals so they are aware this grant is now available. Forthcoming features Linking to Gurgle We have a meeting scheduled with Pettrina Keogh and Nifa at Gurgle in April to look at enhancing our existing links and commercial opportunities, as well as further developing our relationship with health experts in this area. Ask the Expert We are working all the time to refine the content of the site based on the enquiries we get from the general public. For example, in response to a large number of enquiries about cheese consumption during pregnancy, we have added to this section and as a result we have found that the number of questions we have received to our experts has decreased. This means we are adequately addressing concerns through the website. Thanks to the Trustees once again for this tremendous support! " Liz Campbell, Director, Wellbeing of Women www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk |
The Mothercare Group Foundation is committed to funding research with the aim of ensuring the good health and wellbeing of mums-to-be, new mums, babies and young children. To date, the Foundation has supported a number of medical research projects, including:
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 Mothercare Group Foundation has donated £35,000 to the Centre for Better for Births at the University of Liverpool to fund a research project into fetal distress in labour. The funding has enabled the University of Liverpool to appoint a research assistant to work at Liverpool Women’s Hospital for a 12 month period to investigate this special area. The Centre for Better Births is a collaborative initiative between the University of Liverpool and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Europe’s largest hospital for women, which aims to make births better and safer for mothers and babies everywhere. The University aims to capitalise on its unique advantages and groundbreaking research in this area to form the Centre. The key objectives of the Centre are to gain new insights into why labours can go wrong, to improve pregnancy and labour outcomes for women and to significantly reduce the numbers of emergency Caesarean sections and miscarriages. The Centre will also enable scientists and health professionals to work together to improve labour and delivery for women everywhere by developing safe therapies which can be quickly translated to the cot and the bedside. An £11.9 million development of the clinical and research facilities required is being undertaken at Liverpool Women’s Hospital this year, which comprises of The Hewitt Centre (IVF) for the Reproductive Medicine Unit, new accommodation for the existing University Obstetrics team and a new Centre for Better Births that will house the world-leading research into uterine physiology. For further information go to www.liv.ac.uk/development/better-births.htm |
 The Foundation has donated £20,000 to The New Children's Hospital Appeal. The appeal is in the process of raising £20 million for a new children's hospital currently under construction in Manchester. Upon opening in 2009, it will be the largest children's hospital in the UK, with 390 beds and a footprint from Cumbria in the North to Stoke in the Midlands. Funds raised by the Appeal will also benefit younger children's services in the well respected Saint Mary's Hospital for Women and Children. This hospital will also move into a new state-of-the-art building next to the new children's hospital. The Foundation's £20,000 donation will be used to purchase 5 pull-down beds, providing a much needed facility for parents wanting to be at the side of their child during their stay in hospital. For more information on the Appeal, please visit www.newchildrenshospitalappeal.org.uk |
 The Foundation has recently donated £2,000 to the charity Hope UK, towards their Drug Awareness for Parents and Training for Family Workers project. Much of Hope Uk's drug education work with children, young people and families is carried out by their own voluntary Drug Educators. These are people who have completed 120-hour Open College Network accredited training course and who give up their own time to help others. They speak to children and young people as well as parents, youth and children's workers. Their awareness and training sessions are engaging, interactive and tailored to meet the needs ofthe groups concerned. www.hopeuk.org |
| Kids Out KidsOut, ‘the fun and happiness charity’ continues to receive Mothercare toys for their ‘Box of Delights’ toybox scheme. The KidsOut 'Box of Delights' project, works with the Women's Aid Federations of England and Northern Ireland to provide brand new toys to children when they are re-housed into a new, safe, home, after fleeing situations of domestic violence. The toys are age and gender specific, and each box carries a value of around £100. www.kidsout.org.uk |
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 The Jennifer Trust received a donation of just under £3,000 to purchase specialist multi-sensory toys for babies with Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Each year, around 50 babies are newly diagnosed with Type 1 SMA. Their muscles are so weak that they are unable to lift their heads, have difficulty rolling over and are unable to sit unsupported. Their brains are totally unaffected and many babies are bright, alert and responsive and need stimulating with toys and games like any other child, however these toys need to be light or operate themselves. The funding from The MCF enabled the purchase of 10 new multi-sensory packs. www.jtsma.org.uk |
 A donation of £5,000 was approved for The Peace Hospice’s STARS bereavement programme. The Peace Hospice, based in Watford, provides care for people with a terminal illness throughout South West Hertfordshire. The charity was nominated in memory of a Mothercare employee who spent her last days being cared for at the hospice. STARS is a series of six sessions for bereaved children aged 5 to 12, three of which are held at The Peace Hospice and two in Borehamwood. Trained volunteers help children find practical tools for coming to terms with their grief, give emotional support and help families to find ways to express their feelings. The programme is a starting point for children and families on the road to life without their loved one. If you would like to know more about STARS or other bereavement services for South West Hertfordshire contact their helpline: 01923 229595. www.peacehospice.org.uk |
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Child Care Action Trust This East Sussex-based charity works with physically disabled children and those with learning disabilities and has received £9,000 from the MCF. CCAT’s Step Together Centre opened last year, doubling the number of children it can accommodate. The MCF funding will pay for modifications, including disabled toilets for children who use the centre. The charity’s main focus is to provide equipment and facilities, in particular mobility equipment, to help children get around and share the same experiences as their able-bodied peers. It has helped more than 600 children since it was founded in 1998. www.thechildcareactiontrust.org.uk |
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Handicapped Children's Action Group A little girl from Watford is able to play with her friends again, thanks to an MCF donation of just over £700, which has paid for a new mobility trike. Her condition, Cerebella Hypoplasia, means that she was born with an underdeveloped, and therefore small, cerebellum. This is a similar condition to Cerebral Palsy and affects her balance and muscle tone, speech and eyesight. The new Terrier Trike not only allows the 6 year old to join in with friends’ activities, it also helps her strengthen her leg muscles, improves her balance and helps with her hand/eye coordination. |
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