Celebrating 40 years of York's Special Care Baby Unit Support Group

The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) are holding a fundraising day to help continue offering their services to families of premature babies in York.

The fundraising day is set to take place at Osbaldwick Sports Club on 1st September from 11am - 4pm, hosted by SCBU volunteers. There will be a bouncy castle, an assault course, BBQ and much more. The group financially supports services during hospital stays and once mothers and their babies return home, including helping with the cost of living and overnight stays. 

The money raised will go towards specialist equipment such as incubators and heated mattresses for the babies. 

Organiser Vikki Smith who works at York Hospital as a neonatal outreach sister said: 

“We are hoping that we get as much support as possible from all the families who have used the unit over the past 40 years.

"We still have staff who remember the unit when it opened and the huge difference it has made to families needing support.

"The group was formed by the late Sister Ellen Willey, who worked on the unit and decided to form the support group. It has been run by staff and parents ever since.”

Christina Harris is one of the longest serving members of staff on the unit and said: 

 “I would say SCBU is like no other area of nursing. You have a relationship with the parents and are privileged to be part of a special part in their lives. On many occasions I have been approached in shops or while out socialising by parents who remember you.”