Tiny Lives Trust

19/08/2026

Our Ward 35 Coffee Mornings ☕

Days on the neonatal unit can be overwhelming. Between spending time with your baby, speaking with medical teams and navigating the ups and downs of the neonatal journey, it can be difficult to find a moment for yourself.

That's why Tiny Lives hosts a weekly Coffee Morning on Ward 35 - a relaxed and informal opportunity for parents and families to take a break, enjoy a hot drink and connect with others who understand what they're going through.

These sessions offer a welcoming space to chat, ask questions, learn more about the support available through Tiny Lives, or simply enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake.

Whether you'd like to learn more about the support available, ask a question, share updates about your little one, or simply sit down for a chat with others who understand the neonatal journey, we're here for you.

There's no agenda, no pressure and no need to book. Just a friendly face, a cuppa and a welcoming space whenever you need it.

📅 Every Tuesday
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Ward 35 Family Room, RVI

Sometimes a conversation, a listening ear, and a cup of tea can make all the difference. 💙

18/08/2026

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Nigel, former Chair of North Tyneside Council (2025-2026), for his outstanding support of Tiny Lives over the past year.

Since July 2025, Nigel has hosted a series of fundraising events to both raise vital funds and increase awareness of the support we provide to babies and families going through the neonatal journey. These have included a race evening, a band night and a wonderful Chair’s Charity Dinner.

In addition, Nigel and his wife made the generous gesture of requesting donations to Tiny Lives in lieu of anniversary gifts - a truly thoughtful way to support our work.

Together with his family, friends and fellow councilors, Nigel has raised an incredible £11,672.

We are hugely grateful for this commitment. Every contribution helps us continue to provide essential support to families during some of their most challenging times.

Thank you for helping us make a lasting difference 💛

17/08/2026

💙 Going Home from the Neonatal Unit: Support Beyond Discharge

For many families, discharge day is the moment they've been waiting for.

After days, weeks, or even months on the neonatal unit, finally taking your baby home is a huge milestone. It's often a day filled with excitement and relief, but it can also bring feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, and overwhelm.

For some families, going home means continuing medical care, managing oxygen or feeding support, attending follow-up appointments, and adjusting to life without the reassurance of having the neonatal team close by.

That's why Tiny Lives' support doesn't stop when a family leaves the unit.

We fund and provide a range of support for families after discharge, including:

🏡 Our Home Tips guide, created with parents and neonatal staff to help families navigate life at home.

👶 Meet, Chat, Learn classes, bringing neonatal families together through baby massage, yoga, sensory sessions, swimming, and more.

💬 The Bubbles Group, supporting families whose babies have been discharged from the neonatal unit.

🧠 Mental health and counselling support, because the emotional impact of a neonatal journey can continue long after discharge.

📱 vCreate Neuro, helping families access developmental follow-up support from home.

Every family's discharge journey is unique, but whatever your circumstances, it's important to remember that support is available and you don't have to navigate this stage alone. 💙

📸 We'd love to hear from our Tiny Lives families! Do you have a photo from your baby's discharge day? What was going through your mind as you left the unit? What advice would you give to another parent preparing to take their baby home?

Share your photos and experiences in the comments below. Your story could help another family feel supported during this important milestone. 💙👇

13/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ One Month to Go Until the Great North Run! 🏃‍♀️

In just one month, our incredible runners will be taking on the Great North Run in support of Tiny Lives, raising vital funds for babies, families and staff on the Neonatal Unit.

Today, we're shining the spotlight on Lauren, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, who is taking on the challenge for a cause that means so much to her.

💜 For almost 10 years, Lauren has cared for some of the tiniest and most vulnerable babies on the Neonatal Unit, witnessing first-hand the incredible difference Tiny Lives makes during some of the most difficult moments families can face. But this year's challenge is also deeply personal.

Lauren is running in honour of Theo, the son of two of her closest friends, who was born at just 22 weeks and 5 days gestation, weighing only 585 grams. Theo spent 123 days on the Neonatal Unit, showing remarkable strength and determination every single day.

“If you know me, you'll know that running has never been my thing—in fact, I'd probably go as far as saying I hate it! Despite that, I've committed to the training and I'm determined to see it through. Whenever a run gets tough, I remind myself that every mile has a purpose. That purpose is Theo.”

Having spent years supporting families professionally, watching close friends experience the rollercoaster of having a premature baby gave Lauren an even deeper appreciation of how important Tiny Lives' support is.

“Theo's courage reminds me that even when things feel tough, we are capable of so much more than we think. Whenever a training run gets difficult, I think of him and suddenly those miles don't seem quite so hard.”

We're incredibly proud of Lauren and all of our runners as they enter the final month of training. 🏅

🥋 Fun fact: When she's not working or training, Lauren can usually be found on the mats training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

👏 Please join us in wishing Lauren the very best of luck and help us cheer her on all the way to the finish line!

12/08/2026

From Neonatal Baby to Fantastic Fundraiser! 💛

In 2011, Minnie and her twin sister were born 11 weeks early, spending months on Newcastle's RVI neonatal unit as they fought to grow stronger each day.

During that difficult time, Tiny Lives was there to support their family, providing those extra comforts and services that help make a neonatal journey a little easier for families facing the unexpected.

Minnie's mum still remembers the day she walked into the unit and discovered Minnie had reached an incredible milestone and been awarded her 1kg certificate.

“Honestly, it's hard to reconcile the photo's of then and now in my head. Going through the photo's again and I still can't fully comprehend just how tiny the girls were. To see how fit and well they both are today is mind blowing, truly. I can't thank Tiny Lives enough for how they supported us while we were on the ward. There wasn't much I could do as a mum in the usual ways while on the ward but other victories were there for the taking.” – mam shared with us.

The first line of Minnies medical notes read, "Audible cry, no respiratory effort." Now, 15 years later, Minnie is thriving, still being her strong self and giving back to Tiny Lives by taking on Gelt Gladiator Lake District Mud Run and raising an amazing £304🎉

Her fundraiser is a powerful reminder of the impact that neonatal support can have, not only during a baby's time on the unit but for years to come. We're so grateful for her support and determination - every pound raised helps Tiny Lives continue providing practical and emotional support to babies receiving neonatal care and their families across the North East.

Thank you, Minnie, for sharing your story, taking on this challenge and helping us make a difference for families facing a neonatal journey today. 🏅👏

10/08/2026

There is no footprint too small to leave a lasting mark on this world… 🧸💙

At Tiny Lives, we fund Heartbeat Bears for families who experience the heartbreaking loss of a baby on the neonatal unit. These special bears contain a recording of a baby's heartbeat, captured during their time in neonatal care, creating a precious keepsake that families can hold onto forever.

A Heartbeat Bear is more than a teddy bear. It is a lasting connection, a source of comfort, and a reminder that a baby's life, however short, was deeply loved and will never be forgotten.

For parents, it can provide comfort in the hardest moments. For siblings, it offers a way to feel close to their brother or sister and keep their memory alive. In 2025 alone, Tiny Lives funded more than 30 Heartbeat Bears for bereaved families, helping to create treasured memories during unimaginably difficult times.

As part of our commitment to supporting families through loss, Tiny Lives also funds a range of bereavement support services, helping families access compassionate care, memory-making opportunities and specialist support when they need it most. No family should have to face grief alone, and we are proud to stand beside families through every stage of their journey.

If you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a baby and would like support, please know that you are not alone. Our team is here to help, and you can learn more about the bereavement support available and how Tiny Lives can support your family by visiting our website.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can continue providing meaningful support and cherished keepsakes such as Heartbeat Bears to families across the North East. 💙

07/08/2026

This World Breastfeeding Week we want to hear from you💛

Share your breastfeeding journey in the comments under our post to raise awareness and support this initiative✨ Newcastle Neonates

💛 World Breastfeeding Week 2026 💛

For families with a baby in neonatal care, feeding journeys can look very different. They can involve expressing milk around the clock, learning new skills, overcoming setbacks and celebrating every tiny milestone along the way.

At Tiny Lives, we’re proud to support families through every tiny step. From helping create a dedicated expressing space on the neonatal unit, to funding practical resources, wellbeing packs and information for parents, we’re committed to ensuring families have the support they need when they need it most.

We’re also proud to fund the Lactation After Loss project, helping healthcare professionals provide compassionate, informed care to bereaved parents navigating lactation after loss.

Every family's experience is unique, but no family should face it alone. Whether it's a late-night expressing session, a first successful feed, or simply having someone to turn to, Tiny Lives is committed to supporting families through every tiny step of their neonatal journey.

This World Breastfeeding Week, we celebrate the strength of parents, the dedication of neonatal teams, and the remarkable progress made one feed, one cuddle and one tiny step at a time✨

06/08/2026

Tyne Tunnels Community Golf Day 2026! ⛳

We had a fantastic time attending the Tyne Tunnels Community Golf Day at Close House Golf Club and were delighted to be one of four local charities supported through this wonderful event for the second year running.

We're incredibly grateful to everyone involved for helping raise an amazing £12,785 for Tiny Lives, Cats Protection Tyneside, Maggie's Newcastle and St Oswald's Hospice.

Our partnership with Tyne Tunnels means so much to us. In addition to supporting fundraising events like this, they help us provide parking permits, bus passes and rail passes for families with babies receiving neonatal care. This practical support helps ease some of the financial pressure families face while travelling to and from hospital during what can be an incredibly challenging time.

A huge thank you to Tyne Tunnels, all of the sponsors, attendees, volunteers and prize donors who contributed to such a successful day, as well as Pete Graves for hosting. Special thanks to headline sponsor Cybit and award sponsor MCD Systems for their support.

It was a pleasure to meet so many people throughout the day, share more about the work of Tiny Lives, and be part of such a positive community event.
Every donation and partnership helps us continue supporting babies receiving neonatal care and their families across the North East through practical assistance, emotional support and projects that improve the neonatal experience for families when they need it most.

On behalf of all the families we support, thank you for helping us continue to provide practical and emotional support to babies receiving neonatal care and their families across the North East. 💙