AWE staff vote to support BIBS

A £5,000 donation has been made to a local charity that supports babies and their families after being chosen by AWE staff. BIBS (Babies in Buscot Support) offers support and equipment for families in the special care baby unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.

BIBS raises funds to support families and babies that are either premature or full-term but ill, staying in the hospital’s Buscot Ward. The charity provides emotional support via counselling, specialist equipment and family facilities, in addition to raising awareness of issues faced by those in the unit.

AWE staff could nominate local charities or good causes close to their heart and Dr Jenny Boxwell, senior project manager, put forward BIBS due to the support the charity provided after she gave birth. A shortlist of the nominations was drawn up with AWE staff voting for BIBS to receive a £5,000 donation from AWE’s Charity Fund.

Sarah Critchley, BIBS Chief Executive, commented: “We were absolutely thrilled to have been nominated by Jenny and then selected by AWE staff for this donation, which will help our small charity continue to save tiny lives on the Buscot Ward.”

“We are currently fundraising for a new transport incubator to safely transfer sick and premature babies between maternity and neonatal care, and donations such as this will help us on the way to our current fundraising goals. Thank you for choosing to help BIBS.

Michele Maidment, from AWE’s community engagement team, said: “We’re pleased to help BIBS knowing it supports families during what can be an incredibly stressful time for them, and that the donation will aid the future care and development of babies on the Buscot Ward.”

Photo shows: (l-r) Jo Hilton, Lead Sister (Paediatrics and Neonatal); Liz Josif, BIBS Fundraising Manager; Dr Jenny Boxwell, AWE, who nominated the charity.