1001 Critical Days Foundation

24/09/2026

Do you bring sound judgement, strategic thinking and the confidence to ask the right questions?

We’re looking for a Governance Trustee to help the 1001 Critical Days Foundation strengthen its governance and deliver its mission through research, grants and advocacy.

This voluntary role involves four Board meetings and up to four committee meetings a year, plus preparation and ad hoc work.

Find out more and apply: https://www.1001criticaldays.com/news/job-vacancies

Please share with someone who could help build a better world for babies.

20/09/2026

🚨 Important New Findings 🚨

Today’s Guardian reveals a staggering estimate from The For Baby's Sake Trust of around 20,000 disclosures of current or past domestic abuse to maternity services in England each year.

Domestic abuse in pregnancy doesn’t just affect the parent experiencing it. It can affect the baby too, including their development before birth and their later stress and emotional regulation. That’s why early support matters.

Through our grants programme, we fund For Baby’s Sake’s work with parents and babies affected by domestic abuse, starting in pregnancy. Every baby deserves the best start in life. That starts in pregnancy.

Read today’s Guardian report and share it with colleagues working with parents and babies.



👉 Read the full article:

Exclusive: Analysis ‘lays bare’ something midwives already know from their day-to-day work, says professional association’s leader

13/09/2026

300 leaders standing up for babies! 👶

We’ve reached 300 signatures from parliamentarians and legislators across the world on our declaration recognising the importance of the 1,001 critical days.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.

Has your local MP signed? Send this to your MP and ask them to add their name too: https://www.1001criticaldays.com/advocacy

04/09/2026

The Babies Bill has passed Second Reading!

This is a major step forward for babies, families and communities across the country.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their story, supported families, campaigned for change and kept pushing for every baby to have the best start in life.

02/09/2026

New support for babies and families is coming to Leicester City Family Hubs.

In our final charity grant spotlight, we’re grateful to be supporting Heads Up Leicester’s new four-year project.

The project will provide therapeutic playgroups for babies aged 0-2 and their parents or primary carers. Families will be able to access support through play, build confidence in responding to their baby’s needs, and connect with other local parents and carers.

The project will work alongside Leicester City Council’s Best Start in Life Family Hubs programme, helping to create a joined-up route of support as children grow.

Lindsay Woodward, CEO of Heads Up Leicester, says this investment will help families “build confidence, strengthen relationships and give children the very best start in life.”

Find out more here: https://www.1001criticaldays.com/charities -charity-partners

21/08/2026

Just two weeks to go. Have you contacted your MP yet?

On Friday 4 September, Parliament will debate the Babies Bill.

The earlier families can access the right support, the better the chance of preventing difficulties from escalating.
If you believe every baby deserves the best start in life, we'd love your support.

Please take a few minutes to email your local MP and ask them to:
✅ Attend the Second Reading.
✅ Support the Babies Bill.

We've made it as easy as possible with a ready-to-use email template on our website.

Together, we can remind MPs how important the 1,001 critical days are for babies, parents and carers.

💜 Visit our website today to send your message: https://www.1001criticaldays.com/back-the-babies-bill

20/08/2026

Helping parents build confidence through everyday moments 🏡

Before babies can talk, they're already communicating through eye contact, smiles, sounds and play. Those everyday interactions help build the foundations for language, confidence and connection.

That's why we're supporting Home-Start Cymru to deliver 'To and Fro', a three-year programme for families with babies aged 6 to 15 months across Gwent.

Working alongside Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, the programme is designed to offer practical, relationship-based support before difficulties escalate, helping families feel more confident and connected.

We're proud to support this work and the difference it could make for families across Gwent and Wales.

Find out more about our grant partners: https://www.1001criticaldays.com/charities -charity-partners

17/08/2026

Helping families feel more confident around food and feeding 🥦

We’re supporting Trelya Cornwall with Bosow, a new programme based at its community hub in Penzance.

Bosow - meaning “food” in Cornish - will support parents and carers from pregnancy to age two with practical, welcoming support around feeding, weaning, oral health, cooking and shared meals.

Families will be able to access:
🥣 Feeding and weaning guidance
👶 Stay-and-play sessions
🍎 Playful oral-health activities
🛒 Guided shopping and family cooking
💛 One-to-one support for families who need it
👨‍👩‍👧 Activities that help parents respond to their babies’ hunger, fullness and emotional cues.

The programme will run four days a week and aims to support around 120 babies and their wider families over four years.

For many families, food can become a source of worry because of cost, confidence or past experiences. Bosow is designed to offer support without judgement - helping families build confidence through practical activities, shared experiences and connection.

We’re proud to support Trelya in bringing this work to families across West Cornwall.

Find out more about Bosow and our grant partners: https://www.1001criticaldays.com/charities -charity-partners

13/08/2026

A calmer bedtime can mean more than better sleep - it can create more opportunities for babies and parents to connect.

We’re proud to be supporting The Sleep Charity with a new grant to develop its Nurturing Sleep and Language Programme for families with babies aged 0–2 across Doncaster.

Delivered through Doncaster Family Hubs, the programme will help families with practical advice around sleep, soothing and predictable bedtime routines, while encouraging simple ways to support early communication through stories, songs, nursery rhymes and gentle interaction.

Families who need additional support will also be able to access one-to-one help, as well as personalised story sacks to make shared reading part of their bedtime routine.

The programme is expected to support 912 babies over four years, helping families build confidence around sleep and strengthen the early relationships that are so important for babies’ development.

Swipe to see what this funding will help make possible, and hear from The Sleep Charity’s Founder and CEO, Vicki Beevers.

Find out more about our charity grants: https://www.1001criticaldays.com/charities -charity-partners