Northern Ireland Perinatal Trust Annual Report, 2024- 2025
Who we are
The Northern Ireland Perinatal Trust (operating as the Perinatal Trust Fund (NI)), is a small local charity registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC101993, see http://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/charitydetails/?regid=101993&subid=0). We are recognised for tax purposes by HMRC in line with paragraph 1, Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 (HMRC number NI 00602).
We rely wholly on donations and are grateful to all our supporters who have given freely and generously. Without their help we would be unable to fulfil our stated purposes.
What we do (our purposes)
We help purchase medical and other equipment for the Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast.
We support education and training of staff in the Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast by funding attendance at conferences, courses and in tertiary/professional education.
We support research into problems of newborn babies in Northern Ireland, by providing top-up funding for consumables or short-term staff salaries.
Whom we benefit
Our primary beneficiaries are babies from all over Northern Ireland. These are often premature or very sick newborn babies.
The intended benefits to these babies are improvements in their health and welfare, and better health outcomes including improved survival.
Benefits can be measured in a variety of ways including: feedback from parents and staff; annual unit statistics; local benchmarking within the NI neonatal network and national/international benchmarking within the Vermont-Oxford Network and other national registers.
There are incidental benefits to the babies' parents and families as a result of improved survival. There are incidental benefits to staff in the Regional Unit, including professional development and training that enables them to do their jobs better.
What we did in 2024-25
A detailed financial report can be accessed on the Northern Ireland Charities commission website. We have provided funding for the following areas in keeping with our purposes:
Equipment and other items
We have purchased the following items, which have been used for the care of babies in NICU, or to support their parents:
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Repair of ALS training dolls
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Supplies for world prematurity day
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Purchase of cellular blankets to promote safer sleeping week.
Training and education
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Funding for pharmacist to do a Masters in Clinical Pharmacy
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Nursing staff (2) attendance and abstract presentation at COINN conference, Denmark May 2024.
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2 nursing staff attending GIC course (to become NLS instructor)
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Consultant virtual conference attendance (BAPM annual conference)
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Specialty doctor attending virtual Neonatal cardiology and EAPs conference
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Support for 7 nursing staff attending 7[th] International Ficare conference in Glasgow. Presenting SQB project.(flights / hotel / registration)
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Consultant undertaking MSc in Clinical research (Newcastle)
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Specialty doctor undertaking online viral hepatitis in Children course.
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Specialty doctor attending National Transport group conference.
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Band 5 nurse undertaking Neonatal surgical course
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Band 6 nurse undertaking a NBO high risk course (online)
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Consultant attending Neocard 2024 / 10[th] recent advances in Neonatal Medicine
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ST5 grid trainee attending GIC
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16 neonatal nursing staff attending NLS course.
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7 Neonatal nurses attending Baby Massage training
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2 band 7 nurses attending European Association of Breastfeeding Medicine conference.
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10 neonatal nurses attending Neonatal nurse Association Annual conference
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Specialty doctor virtual attendance 8[th] Global conference on Paediatrics and Neonatology
Local Courses:
Running of the Belfast Newborn Life Support (NLS) Course: this is a Resuscitation Council (UK) - accredited national resuscitation course run 2-4 times per year. Annual outlay includes registration with RC (UK), purchase of course manuals, upkeep of teaching equipment and reimbursement of instructor expenses. During the year 2024/25 the course ran on 28[th] May 2024, 9[th] & 12[th] September 2024 & 11[th] and 12[th] March 2025. The Out of Hospital NLS course ran on 16[th] and 17th December 2024.
Research
No studies were supported.
Charity administration
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Annual accountancy fees
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Trustee indemnity insurance
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Liability and equipment insurance for the Newborn Life Support course.
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JustGiving membership charges.
Statement of Compliance
In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year, the trustees have carefully considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purpose and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
Dr Clifford Mayes, Trustee and Chairperson