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2025-09-01-accounts

Babygro Babygro Report Charity Number. 1196651 COMMUNITY FUND SoNeAt Lab

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the period 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025

Babygro’s Purposes

The purposes of Babygro, as set out in our governing document, are:

‘For public benefit, the advancement of education and health, in particular but not exclusively, by (a) providing parents with information about parent-infant communication and its links to attachment, brain development and later life health and wellbeing; and (b) providing evidence-based support to parents relating to infant feeding, crying and sleep.’

Babygro’s Activities

Babygro is a registered charity for parents and babies that brings to life the latest research on parent-infant communication, brain development, attachment, and links to later-life mental health and wellbeing.

Our services during this reporting period included:

  1. Free-of-charge Babygro courses for parents and babies, in which parents discover how babies’ brains develop and how responsive communication between parent and baby supports later-life wellbeing and resilience to stress.

  2. Free-of-charge infant support sessions on topics that often create anxiety for new parents, including infant sleep, feeding, fussing, soothing, and digestive discomfort.

  3. The Babygro Book, which illustrates, in accessible images and with minimal words, how babies’ brains develop and how everyday parent-infant communication supports bonding, brain development, and emotional resilience.

  4. Training and continuing professional development for professionals working with infants and families.

Babygro’s long-term ambition is to empower parents, and those who work with families, with the information they need to promote health and wellbeing in babies from the earliest possible stage.

There are two features that make Babygro’s work distinctive.

First, Babygro makes research accessible. Our materials use images, activities, video examples, songs, discussion, and nurturing parent-baby activities to translate complex neuroscience and developmental psychology into language and experiences that are relational, and easy to understand.

Second, Babygro is informed by its partnership with the Social Neuroscience of Human Attachment Lab at the University of Essex. This relationship helps ensure that our work

remains grounded in leading-edge research on attachment, caregiving, brain development, and parent-infant relationships.

The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning activities and deciding how best to use the charity’s funds.

Summary of Babygro’s Main Achievements

During the period 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025, Babygro continued to deliver free, research-informed support for parents and babies in Cornwall. Demand remained high, with sessions continuing to be filled largely through word of mouth, social media, and parent recommendation.

Across the year, Babygro reached parents and carers through support sessions, Babygro courses, digital resources, and professional training. Families continued to travel considerable distances to attend sessions, with postcode data showing an average travel distance of approximately 16 miles. This demonstrates both the perceived value of Babygro’s work and the continuing need to improve access for families who may find travel difficult.

Sleep and Newborn Support Sessions

During this reporting period, Babygro delivered 20 Sleep and Newborn Support Sessions, with 159 parent/carers and their babies.

These sessions provide evidence-based support on issues that often create high levels of anxiety in early parenthood, including infant sleep, feeding, fussing, digestive discomfort, soothing, and confidence in responding to babies’ needs.

Parents attending Sleep and Support Sessions reported increased confidence in their sleep choices and reduced anxiety around infant sleep.

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arent Ratings Before and After
articipating in our Sleep Session
Con dence in Sleep Choices An iety around nfant Sleep
arent Rating
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Feedback from sleep sessions highlighted the importance of presenting evidence without pressure or prescription. Parents valued the opportunity to receive balanced, research-informed information in a non-judgemental environment, while also sharing experiences with other families. They described feeling reassured that there was “no one perfect way”, and more able to make decisions that worked for their own baby and family.

One parent wrote:

“The sleep workshops were great for learning about choices and realising there’s no perfect way.”

Another parent reflected:

“ n a world where you are surrounded by videos and opinions, these sessions made me feel much more confident in decisions for ourselves. We are all different and it’s ok to take paths that work for you as a family. No judgement!”

Following the Newborn Support Sessions parents reported more confidence in their ability to soothe their baby and reductions in their babies’ e perience of digestive discomfort.

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arent Ratings Before and After
articipating in our Newborn Session
Severity of igestive iscomfort Con dence in Soothing Baby
arent Rating
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Feedback showed that parents valued practical, research-backed information around digestive discomfort, soothing, and infant behaviour. Parents described feeling reassured at a time when many new parents feel anxious, tired, and overwhelmed by conflicting advice.

One parent said:

“These sessions are invaluable. Even though this is my second child, the session was so relevant as every baby is different! Every new parent should attend this or at least have the opportunity to access this training - and the fact it is free is just amazing.”

Eight-Week Babygro Brain Development Course

During this reporting period, Babygro delivered three parent-baby course cohorts, reaching approximately 40 parents and babies. These included cohorts in September 2024, March 2025, and June 2025.

The Babygro course introduces parents to research on infant attachment, parent-infant communication, brain development, emotional regulation, and long-term resilience. Across the course, parents learn through a combination of accessible teaching, video examples, practical parent-baby activities, reflective discussion, singing, baby massage, and peer connection.

Parent evaluation data showed strong and consistent increases in confidence. Across a range of measures, including reading and responding to babies’ cues and regulating babies’ feelings and behaviour, parent confidence increased on a five-point scale from an average of 2.8 before the course to 4.5 after completing the course.

Parents described the course as both informative and emotionally supportive. They particularly valued the combination of research-informed content, warm delivery, opportunities to connect with other parents, and practical tools they could use at home.

One parent wrote:

“This course fills a real void in the world of new parenting. I really valued having exposure to some key evidence relating to infant-parent communication which was delivered expertly by Amanda and Emily. They created such a safe and nonjudgemental environment to apply the research to our own real time challenges, and an engaging, warm space to connect with other babies and parents. Given the importance of the early years, it’s a shame it isn’t on offer to everyone.”

Another parent described the course as:

“By far the most important and enjoyable group I have joined as a new mum. I have learnt so much and it has undoubtedly improved the bond have with my baby.”

Parents also reported applying the learning at home with partners and older children. Several described increased confidence in their parenting choices, improved understanding of their babies’ communication, and a stronger sense of connection with their baby. (See end of report for more detailed parent testimonials)

Parent Connection and Community

A consistent theme across Babygro’s work during the year was the importance of community. Parents repeatedly described the value of meeting others at the same stage of life, sharing challenges without judgement, and feeling part of a supportive group.

Parents described Babygro as a warm and welcoming space where they could learn, connect with their babies, and build relationships with other parents. The small details of hospitality - including a warm welcome, tea, coffee, cake, and time to settle with babies - were frequently mentioned as part of what made the sessions feel nurturing and safe.

One parent described Babygro as:

“Such a supportive environment to connect with our baby, learn, share and ask questions.”

Another said:

‘’ learned so much, met amazing people, and felt far less scared and alone.’’

This sense of community is central to Babygro’s public benefit. As well as providing information Babygro creates spaces in which parents feel reassured, less alone, more confident, and better supported during the intense transition into parenthood.

We loved the warm welcome. cuppa and cake. connection time with babLJ and the research sharinq and learnin4. Me and my partner have been appI￿1n9 the approaches tauqht reqularlLJ at horne with our baby. It's meant that we feel so much more contident on our new journey as parents. The Ctsmmunlt￿ this has built has been totallLJ invaluable. What an inuedible cou r$e and place of sanituarul It has honestlLJ been incredible We have learnt so much. It has been great to attend with w parl ner n<1 huoely helplul in our parentinq styles and with our confidence. Ltsokinq at htsw we $Pfj3ak and comrnunimte ￿th uour to optimise outcomes Lynd ensure Synchron￿ was helpful. We will reallLJ miss these engaging and I nspi ri ng sessions!

Babygro Book and Wider Digital Reach

The Babygro Book continued to provide a free, accessible route for parents and professionals to engage with research on baby brain development and parent-infant communication.

During the wider period from which our monitoring data was drawn, Babygro recorded approximately 9,500 visits to our website and more than 500 downloads of the free-ofcharge Babygro Book.

The book continues to be accessed by parents and professionals, including midwives, health visitors, paediatric consultants, children’s charities, local authorities, and policymakers. This demonstrates that Babygro’s reach e tends beyond those attending in-person sessions in Cornwall.

Professional Training

Babygro continued to develop its professional training offer during this reporting period, supporting practitioners who work with babies, young children and families.

During the year, Babygro delivered professional training and CPD to 51 practitioners, including staff and volunteers from Action for Children, members of NHS staff from the “Thriving Together” specialist parent-infant team, educational psychologists, speech and

language therapists, health visitors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, clinical leads and other early years professionals.

Dr Pascal Vrticka (SoNeAT Lab) and Dr Amanda Lucas delivering CPD for practitioners at the University of Essex (Jan 2025)

Training included:

rofessional feedback highlighted the value of Babygro’s ability to translate comple research into accessible, engaging and practical learning. Participants particularly valued the use of visual materials, video examples, physical representations of brain networks, interactive discussion, and links between research and real-life practice with families.

One Speech and Language Therapist for infants commented:

“This should be mandatory training for any health/education worker.”

A Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist attending the infant sleep training reflected:

“ really liked how sleep was presented within the quality of the relationship… Wonderfully researched and coherently presented relevant material. Thank you - it was a great day.”

Other participants described the training as “very engaging and helpful for practice”, “really comprehensive”, “up to date”, “safe and containing”, and “useful on both a professional and personal level”.

By supporting professionals, Babygro’s impact e tends beyond the parents and babies who attend sessions directly. Training practitioners creates wider ripple effects, helping research-informed messages about parent-infant communication, responsive caregiving, sleep, attachment and early brain development reach more families through the services and professionals they already trust.

Public Benefit

Babygro’s work advances education and health by making evidence about parentinfant communication, infant development, and early relational health accessible to parents and professionals.

During this reporting period, Babygro provided free-of-charge support to parents and babies in Cornwall, helping parents to:

The charity also provided public benefit through its free digital resources and professional training, extending access to knowledge about early relationships, attachment, brain development, and lifelong mental health.

The trustees remain committed to ensuring that Babygro’s services are inclusive and accessible. During this period, in-person services were provided free of charge in order to reduce financial barriers and build trust with parents during a vulnerable stage of family life. Postcode data, however, showed that families travelled an average of approximately 16 miles to attend sessions, highlighting the need to develop more accessible local delivery in future.

Financial Review

During the period 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025, Babygro’s total receipts were £23,264.

This was made up of:

Total payments for the period were £23,259.

The largest area of expenditure was salaries, reflecting the staff time required to design, deliver, administer, and evaluate Babygro’s courses, support sessions, resources, and training. Other expenditure included venue hire, payroll and pensions, website/email/eplatforms, travel and refreshments, marketing, printing and stationery, workshop equipment, and other administration.

At the end of the financial year, Babygro held cash funds of £346. These funds were unrestricted. Restricted funds received during the year had been spent in line with their intended purpose.

The trustees consider that the charity’s funds were used appropriately to further Babygro’s charitable purposes, with the majority of e penditure supporting direct delivery, staffing, and the infrastructure required to provide free services to parents and babies.

Reserves Policy

The trustees aim to maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds equivalent to approximately three months of core running costs. This is intended to provide stability and allow the charity to manage periods between grant funding, while continuing to meet essential commitments.

At the end of this reporting period, Babygro did not meet this reserves target. The yearend cash balance was £346. This reflects Babygro’s reliance on grant funding and the fact that available funds were used to maintain free delivery for families during the year.

The trustees recognise that increasing reserves is an important priority for future sustainability. Babygro will continue to seek a mixed income model, including grant funding, professional training income, book sales, donations, and carefully designed lowcost or pay-what-you-can digital provision, while maintaining the charity’s commitment to accessibility for families.

Future Aims and Objectives

Babygro’s future aims build directly on the learning from this reporting period.

A key priority is to increase access for families who may not currently be able to reach Babygro’s in-person sessions. Postcode data showed that families travelled an average of approximately 16 miles to attend. While this reflects strong demand and the perceived value of Babygro’s support, it also highlights a barrier for families without access to

private transport, families facing financial pressure, parents recovering from birth, and those managing more complex caring responsibilities.

After the end of this reporting period, Babygro began strengthening its evaluation and inclusion work. In September 2025, Babygro started a Health Determinants Research Collaboration Cornwall Community Small Grants project: “Beginning Well: Evaluating Babygro’s mpact on Early arenting and Mental Health.” This project was designed to evaluate Babygro’s impact on parental confidence, wellbeing, and early relational health, while also exploring who current services reach and where access barriers remain.

This evaluation work has helped Babygro move towards a more systematic understanding of impact, reach, and inclusion. It has also informed future plans to adapt delivery so that support is available in more accessible community locations.

Babygro has also secured National Lottery Awards for All funding for a new phase of work: Babygro Local: Bringing Early Support to Communities. This project will support the delivery of free parent-infant support sessions and the Babygro Brain Development Course in communities where families may face greater barriers to early years support, including areas of higher deprivation, rural isolation, and reduced access to maternity, mental health, and early years services.

Through this next stage, Babygro aims to:

Babygro also intends to continue developing its professional training offer. Training for practitioners creates an important route to wider impact, enabling evidence-informed messages about parent-infant relationships, brain development, and responsive care to reach more families through the professionals who support them.

n the longer term, Babygro’s ambition remains to become a recognised hub for parents and professionals to learn about parent-infant relationships, brain development, and lifelong mental health. The trustees aim to achieve this through a combination of local community delivery, digital resources, professional training, research-informed evaluation, and strategic partnerships.

Structure, Governance and Management

Babygro was incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 18 November 2021 and has adopted a constitution as its governing document.

The charity is managed by its trustees, who bring expertise in behavioural science, attachment, family services, partnership development, and translating research into real-world impact.

The trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity. Day-to-day delivery is led by Dr Amanda Lucas, Founding Director, supported by staff, volunteers and collaborators who contribute to administration, course facilitation, evaluation, and delivery.

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity name: Babygro Registered charity number: 1196651 Charity’s principal address: 27 Trevonnen Road, Ponsanooth, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 7AZ

Names of the Charity Trustees Who Manage the Charity

Dr Charlotte Brand - Chair Dr Devi Newcombe (Formally Dr Devi Whittle) Mrs Jenny Martin

The trustees approved this trustees’ report on June 30[th] 2026

CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGLAND AND WALE labygro 96 Receipts and pa ments accounts CC16a For the perlod from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year to the nearest to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ A1 Recelpts Grant Funding Book salestrrainingrralks 20,000 20,000 3,264 15,000 301 3,264 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 3,264 20,000 23,264 15,301 sset an (see table). Investment sa es, Sub total Total receipts 3,264 20,000 23,264 15,301 A3Pa ments FueirrransporVRefreshments Workshop Equipment WebistelEmail/E-platforms Marketing 743 60 669 338 743 60 669 338 671 917 1,322 564

Freelance Services PrintinglBook DesignlStationary/Post Venue Hire Salaries Payrol & Pensions (XerolNest) Accountancy l Other Admin/ Training 42 1,026 2,517 17,544 888 148 2,250 15,000 792 148 2,250 17,759 1,145 147 2,759 353 147 Sub total 3,259 20,000 23,259 26,331 A4 Asset and investment Sub total Total payments 3259 20 000 23,259 26 331 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last vear end Cash funds this year end 11,030 341 346 341 346 11371 341 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ B1 Cash funds Cash in Bank 346 Total cash funds 346 (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds

to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest Fund to whlch asset belon Current val Cost (optiona B3 Investment assets Fund to which asset belon Cost (o on B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use

Fund to whlch Ilablli relates Amount due tional When due tional Detalls B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of roval CVlThff L07£ OQFWt)