York Hospital Tiny Lives Appeal hits £50,000 - and needs help to reach £100,000

6 FEBRUARY 2026

York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity is marking a major milestone in its Tiny Lives Appeal, after the campaign reached £50,000 in just a few weeks - halfway to its overall target of £100,000.

Launched in November 2025, the appeal hit the £50,000 mark in January 2026, thanks to an extraordinary wave of support from local people, organisations and businesses across the region.

Funds have been boosted by a number of standout community efforts, including £3,600 donated by York Register Office, £13,479 raised through the York Ghost Merchants raffle, and £6,774 generated through an online auction supported by local businesses and individuals, alongside many generous personal donations.

Every year, around 375 babies begin their lives in the Neonatal Unit at York Hospital. These are babies born prematurely or with serious health complications - babies who need specialist care, and families who need reassurance, comfort and support during one of the most challenging times they will ever face.

The Neonatal Unit - previously known as the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) - cares for families from across York and Scarborough. A £2 million refurbishment is currently underway, with the new unit due to open in 2026, creating a modern, welcoming environment where babies can grow stronger and parents can feel supported throughout their hospital stay.

The Tiny Lives Appeal aims to raise £100,000 to fund additional equipment and furnishings that will help make the new unit a calm, comforting and family-friendly space.

Planned improvements include reclining chairs so parents can stay close day and night, and twin cots so babies can be together from the very beginning. The appeal will also fund height-adjustable cots to support mothers recovering from C-sections, alongside more comfortable family furniture to help parents rest. Therapeutic skylights will help soften the clinical feel of the unit and create a calmer, more reassuring environment.

Emma Sargent, Fundraising Manager at York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity, said: “Reaching £50,000 so quickly is an incredible achievement, and we’re really grateful to everyone who has supported the appeal so far. This milestone shows just how much our community cares about giving the smallest and most vulnerable babies the best possible start in life.

“But we’re only halfway there. The next £50,000 will make a real difference to families spending long days and nights on the unit, and there is still time for people to get involved and help us reach the finish line.”

Katie Mortimer, Matron on the Neonatal Unit at York Hospital, added: “The care we provide is highly specialised, but it’s also deeply emotional for families. Having the right environment around them - a space that feels calm, private and supportive - can make such a difference during a frightening and uncertain time.

“These improvements will help parents stay close to their babies, feel more comfortable, and focus on bonding and recovery together. We are so thankful to everyone who is supporting the Tiny Lives Appeal and helping us create the very best space for our babies and families.”

The charity is now encouraging local people and businesses to help raise the final £50,000 and bring the Tiny Lives Appeal over the line. You can support in whatever way suits you - by making a donation - every gift really does help - by giving £500 or more to have your name recognised on a dedicated wall in the new unit, or by taking on a fundraising challenge yourself, such as joining the Charity Golf Day on Friday 7 August at Sandburn Hall.

If you’re able to get involved, please do - your support will help create a calmer, more family-friendly space for babies and give parents the comfort of staying close when it matters most.

More information and ways to donate are available at:
www.yshospitalscharity.org/tinylives