The
Smallest Things
The Smallest Things trustees present their report for the year ending 15 December 2022.
Catriona Ogilvy (charity founder and trustee), Sarah Miles (trustee), Matt Wilkinson (trustee), Kerry Myles (trustee) and Lynne Peachy (trustee)
Our Aims:
Our overarching charitable aim is to promote the good health of premature babies and their families; raising awareness of premature birth and the needs of families following intensive care and promoting high quality care for mothers affected by postnatal depression, anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder associated with premature birth.
Our Objectives:
The Smallest Things is a tiny charity with a big voice.
Our objectives reflect our charity’s aims and ethos and are targeted to benefit parents of premature babies and the long-term outcomes for children born prematurely directly.
In our work to support and promote the good health of premature babies and their families the trustees have acknowledge the need for the charity to continue to develop and grow and welcomed new volunteers to our team over the last year.
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.
Our key objectives for 2022 have been:
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To continue to grow and expand The Smallest Things charity, raising awareness and providing support for families.
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To enhance and scale up the Prem Aware Award scheme, helping schools across the UK to support the educational needs and improve long-term outcomes of children born prematurely.
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To campaign to bring forward government legislation for Neonatal Leave and Pay entitlements.
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The Smallest Things Annual Report 2022
- To raise awareness of the neonatal journey and highlight with health professionals the additional support that parents may need after leaving neonatal care.
Achievements and performance
The Prem Aware Award Scheme:
The Smallest Things Prem Aware Award scheme raises awareness of the impact of prematurity on development and learning, supports parents and carers, and helps schools to recognise and meet the specific learning needs of children born prematurely.
The scheme promotes use of the ‘Preterm Birth Information for Educational Professionals’, a free online training resource developed by Professor Samantha Johnson and her colleagues in the PRISM (Premature Infants’ Skills in Mathematics) Study
Team, funded by the charity Action Medical Research. The online resource outlines the impact premature birth can have on a child’s development and learning, and offers practical ways to support children born prematurely at school.
“As a mother of a 23-week preterm child, I feel a huge sense of relief that there is finally a resource that will help educators understand the social, emotional and academic needs of my school-age child. This resource is long overdue and rightly focuses on the lifelong needs of those who experience daily the challenges that preterm birth may bring.”
— Gill, a parent and teacher
The Smallest Things have attended two teacher training events this year, in Glasgow and at the University of Leicester, to promote the Prem Aware Award Scheme. Articles have been published in the teacher trade publications such as TES, and we launched our Prem Aware Ambassador role to reach even more schools. In addition, we are delighted to have
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The Smallest Things Annual Report 2022
partnered with Tiny Live charity to introduce the Prem Aware Award to schools across Northern Ireland too.
We continue to work to our aim for all UK schools to be Prem Aware by 2030!
Red Book Stickers
Acting as a visible reminder, The Smallest Things re-launched our Red Book stickers this year to alert healthcare professionals to a parent and their baby or babies’ neonatal history.
To date 200,000 stickers have been sent out to hospitals across the UK, with nearly three quarters of UK neonatal units now giving out stickers to parents on discharge.
Every year, tens of thousands of babies are born prematurely in the UK and families face the agonising journey of uncertainty and trauma through neonatal intensive care. But parents tell us all the time that their journey does not end when they leave the neonatal unit and we know that the needs of parents and children born prematurely last long after leaving hospital.
Parents told us:
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77% of parents told us they experienced anxiety following discharge from neonatal care
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24% of parents responding to our 2021 After NICU survey had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following discharge from neonatal care
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49% of parents reported feeling isolated following neonatal care
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29% felt that their health visitor understood theirs or their baby’s needs
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18% of parents agreed with the statement ‘My GP understood mine and my baby/babies’ needs’
The Smallest Things stickers are designed to:
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Prompt a conversation between health professional and parent about their neonatal care journey
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Highlight the extra support parents of premature babies may need
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The Smallest Things Annual Report 2022
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Increase awareness that parents following neonatal intensive care are at greater risk of developing postnatal depression, anxiety and PTSD
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Offer a gentle reminder to use a baby’s corrected age when plotting their weight on a growth chart
Growth
We have continued to growth, though remain largely run by a team of dedicated volunteers. Our first paid role, a 12-month Operations Manager contract came to an end in June 2022, but we were pleased to welcome an admin officer role in September, starting on a rolling 3-month contract and supporting the work of the trustees.
Neonatal Leave and Pay
Following seven years of campaigning by The Smallest Things for extended paid parental leave for families of premature babies, Stuart McDonald MP’s Neonatal Care (Leave & Pay) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 15 July 2022.
The Bill, which is set to proceed to the House of Lords in January 2023, will ensure parents of sick and premature babies are given the additional time they need while their baby or babies are in hospital. The Smallest Things have continued to work with the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy on the details of the policy, making sure that the voice of parents is at the forefront of the Bill.
Employer with Heart
While the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill passes through Parliament, The Smallest Things has continued to work with employers across the UK to amend their own parental leave policies in line with our Employer with Heart Charter.
Finances and Accounts
The Smallest Things is a small charity who receive small donations thanks to fundraising events throughout the year. Following the Covid19 pandemic we are thankful to all our volunteers and supporters who hosted fundraising picnics and took on in-person events once again.
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The Smallest Things Annual Report 2022
Once again, we were selected as a company charity of the year, receiving a £6,250 donation and following a one-off personal donation of £20,000 we were able to fund a part-time oneyear contract (July 2021-July 2022) for an operations manager post.
Details of our February 2021-February 2022 accounts can be seen below:
| Date | Details | Debit | Credit | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-Feb- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 4,100.50 | ||
| 22-Mar- 21 |
ACCENTURE UK LTD Donation | 6,250.00 | 10,350.57 | ||
| 25-Mar- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 10,332.57 | ||
| 26-Mar- 21 |
PERSONAL Donation | 20,000.00 | 30,332.57 | ||
| 30-Mar- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 48.05 | 30,380.62 | ||
| 31-Mar- 21 |
Service Charge | -18 | 30,362.60 | ||
| 07-Apr- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 146.55 | 30,509.17 | ||
| 21-Apr- 21 |
B/P to: Ms S L Miles | -66.24 | 30,442.93 | ||
| 26-Apr- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 30,424.93 | ||
| 28-Apr- 21 |
B/P to: Michelle Hird Infographics/Design | -200 | 30,224.93 | ||
| 05-May- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 9.61 | 30,234.54 | ||
| 07-May- 21 |
B/P to: Valerie Wallace | -90 | 30,144.54 | ||
| 25-May- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 30,126.54 | ||
| 01-Jun- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 193.59 | 30,320.13 | ||
| 02-Jun- 21 |
B/P to: Valerie Wallace | -60 | 30,260.13 | ||
| 25-Jun- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 30,242.13 | ||
| 28-Jun- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 179.47 | 30,421.60 | ||
| 30-Jun- 21 |
B/P to: Fundraising Regula | -50 | 30,371.60 | ||
| 30-Jun- 21 |
Service Charge | -18 | 30,353.60 | ||
| 06-Jul- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 485.47 | 30,839.07 | ||
| 12-Jul- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 367.37 | 31,206.44 | ||
| 20-Jul- 21 |
GIVING COM LTD SAFEGUARD | 789.74 | 31,996.18 | ||
| 26-Jul- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 31,978.18 | ||
| 29-Jul- 21 |
B/P to: Matt Wilkinson | -203.47 | 31,774.71 | ||
| 29-Jul- 21 |
B/P to: Fiona Hatcher (Staff Salary) | - 1,501.91 |
30,272.80 |
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| 03-Aug- 21 |
GIVING COM LTD SAFEGUARD | 155.18 | 30,427.98 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Aug- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 311.12 | 30,739.10 | ||
| 13-Aug- 21 |
B/P to: HMRC Cumbernauld | -398.83 | 30,340.27 | ||
| 16-Aug- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 129.26 | 30,469.53 | ||
| 25-Aug- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 30,451.53 | ||
| 27-Aug- 21 |
B/P to: Catriona Ogilvy | -309.99 | 30,141.54 | ||
| 27-Aug- 21 |
B/P to: Fiona Hatcher (Staff Salary) | - 1,325.44 |
28,816.10 | ||
| 14-Sep- 21 |
GIVING COM LTD SAFEGUARD | 347.57 | 29,163.67 | ||
| 15-Sep- 21 |
Direct Debit (ENABLE LTD) | -475.2 | 28,688.47 | ||
| 21-Sep- 21 |
GIVING COM LTD SAFEGUARD | 157.22 | 28,845.69 | ||
| 27-Sep- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 28,827.69 | ||
| 28-Sep- 21 |
B/P to: Fiona Hatcher (Staff Salary) | -922.87 | 27,904.82 | ||
| 28-Sep- 21 |
B/P to: HMRC Cumbernauld | -279.85 | 27,624.97 | ||
| 28-Sep- 21 |
B/P to: Matt Wilkinson | -35.98 | 27,588.99 | ||
| 30-Sep- 21 |
Service Charge | -18 | 27,570.99 | ||
| 01-Oct- 21 |
VOCATIONAL SKILLS SOLUTIONS LIMITED - Do- nation |
1,500.00 | 29,070.99 | ||
| 06-Oct- 21 |
B/P to: Ms S L Miles | -54 | 29,016.99 | ||
| 06-Oct- 21 |
B/P to: HMRC Cumbernauld | -15.32 | 29,001.67 | ||
| 11-Oct- 21 |
Direct Debit (NEST) | -28.58 | 28,973.09 | ||
| 12-Oct- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 137.14 | 29,110.23 | ||
| 25-Oct- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 29,092.23 | ||
| 28-Oct- 21 |
B/P to: Fiona Hatcher (Staff Salary) | -801.96 | 28,290.27 | ||
| 01-Nov- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 38.84 | 28,329.11 | ||
| 10-Nov- 21 |
Direct Debit (NEST) | -16.15 | 28,312.96 | ||
| 25-Nov- 21 |
EVENTBRITE WPD Fesitval | 191.85 | 28,504.81 | ||
| 25-Nov- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 28,486.81 | ||
| 29-Nov- 21 |
B/P to: Catriona Ogilvy | -62.39 | 28,424.42 | ||
| 29-Nov- 21 |
B/P to: MARTIN COTTERELL | -500 | 27,924.42 | ||
| 29-Nov- 21 |
B/P to: Catriona Ogilvy | -50 | 27,874.42 | ||
| 29-Nov- 21 |
B/P to: Fiona Hatcher (Staff Salary) | -801.96 | 27,072.46 | ||
| 30-Nov- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 33.73 | 27,106.19 |
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The Smallest Things Annual Report 2022
| 10-Dec- 21 |
Direct Debit (NEST) | -68.6 | 27,037.59 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-Dec- 21 |
JUSTGIVING | 29.03 | 27,066.62 | ||
| 24-Dec- 21 |
B/P to: Fiona Hatcher (Staff Salary) | -840.22 | 26,226.40 | ||
| 29-Dec- 21 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 26,208.40 | ||
| 31-Dec- 21 |
Service Charge | -18 | 26,190.40 | ||
| 10-Jan- 22 |
Direct Debit (NEST) | -24.9 | 26,165.50 | ||
| 10-Jan- 22 |
Inward Payment - SMURFIT KAPPA UK LTD | 250 | 26,415.50 | ||
| 11-Jan- 22 |
B/P to: Ms S L Miles | -66.24 | 26,349.26 | ||
| 18-Jan- 22 |
JUSTGIVING | 117.12 | 26,466.38 | ||
| 25-Jan- 22 |
Direct Debit (GIVING.COM / JUSTG) | -18 | 26,448.38 | ||
| 28-Jan- 22 |
B/P to: Fiona Hatcher (Staff Salary) | - 1,287.04 |
25,161.34 | ||
| 01-Feb- 22 |
JUSTGIVING | 48.85 | 25,210.19 | ||
| 10-Feb- 22 |
Direct Debit (NEST) | -68.6 | 25,141.59 |
Structure, Governance and Management
The Smallest Things trustees volunteer their time freely and no remuneration or expenses have been paid this year. The trustees have continued to meet regularly via video conferencing calls throughout the year and welcomed two new trustees to the board in October.
An activity plan continues to structure the charities work and enables us to evaluate our effectiveness. Our overarching objectives are clearly documented in our formal 2020-2023 strategy document and the board of trustees look forward to meeting face-to-face in Spring 2023 to look ahead and prepare our 2024-2027 strategy document as we continue to grow.
The Smallest Things
1171631
104 Strathyre Avenue, SW16 4RQ
www.thesmallestthings.org
ENDs
www.thesmallesttings.org
The Smallest Things Annual Report 2022