Ickle Pickles Children's Charity

It's #ChristmasJumperDay this week 🎄 90,000 babies each year are born prematurely or sick. Let's give every newborn a chance. Please put on your most Christmassy Jumper on Thursday and donate at https://lnkd.in/eChzCf7x / via our link in bio.

We’ve been doing some great things this year at the Ickle Pickles Children's Charity - mainly down to the amazing team we have Michelle Benjama Lorraine Blackburn Rachael Marsh Kat Khalife Julie Voong Great events for a tangible benefit for NHS Trusts we work with #hohoho

Following an Emergency Delivery and a traumatic birth, Honey’s daughter suffered a neonatal stroke and spent weeks in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). Honey remembers, “Once we were home, I was having flashbacks of the birth, of her in hospital, and of all the horrifying things that I had experienced in the NICU. I wish I’d had known how common mental health problems were in pregnancy and in new mums; especially after being a NICU parent! I know how lucky I was to get the help I needed and want to encourage any women out there to ask for help. You are not alone. Let’s talk. If I can help one single person find the courage to speak up, then sharing my story of being diagnosed with PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is worth it.” Honey’s gorgeous girl is now five years old and doing brilliantly! Read her story: link in bio/ https://lnkd.in/eFSSTaXh Honey is now working with the Perinatal mental health sector @hillingdonmnvp and Ickle Pickles, using her experience to help spread the word that there is help available 💙 @miraclemoonuk @blisscharity @mindcharity

As part of Mama Bamboo’s partnership with Ickle Pickles, they completed the Santa In the City run yesterday. Their wonderful team jogged around London dressed as Santas to spread some festive cheer and raise money for sick and premature babies. With all the gifting we do at Christmas how about thinking of gifting to another Mother and making someone’s festive season that little bit easier, just pop a donation in your basket when checking out at www.mamabamboo.com and they will ensure your donation gets turned into useful nappies for those most in need. Plus, they will match each donation pound for pound! Support Mama Bamboo's #Christmas Challenge and donate to their Santa in the City Fundraising page now: https://lnkd.in/eypD7caq Together, we can give every newborn a chance 💙 Special thanks to Laura Crawford!

Chris shares the story of his daughter’s early birth for #MensMentalHealthAwarenessMonth: “The night Harley was born we sat on the sofa at home at 10 pm - about to go to bed - when Gem screamed from the toilet, losing a lot of blood. The ambulance was there instantly. I called Gem’s midwife and told her this was the worst bleed and that Harley was probably going to need to come tonight.” After a traumatic birth and surgery, both Gem and Harley required resuscitation. Chris then spent the next week between Gem’s bedside and Harley's Incubator. “The hardest week of my life and the cause of my symptoms later to be diagnosed as PTSD. Needless to say, the three months of NICU took its toll. I now have more grey hairs. I sought counselling as my emotions became difficult to control. A combination of Paternal postnatal depression and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as it turns out. As time goes on, we are now in a good place. My advice for other NICU Dads is to get through each day, it won't be forever. You can only be a good rock if you look after yourself. That means eating, drinking, sleeping and getting some fresh air when possible to decompress. Only then can you think straight and stop it becoming overwhelming. Talk to people and take any help you can. Your mental health will take a hit, so seek help and try to talk through things with professionals.” At Ickle Pickles, we want to bring awareness to many men's health issues, especially to men who have been through or are going through the neonatal journey. Whether you are a NICU dad, uncle, brother, grandfather or male relative/friend of NICU parents, it is important to acknowledge the vital role you play in these tiny babies’ lives. We hope that our stories will help current NICU families navigate their neonatal journey and give some hope that they are not alone and there is support available. #MentalHealthMatters

If you’re shopping in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, make sure you use #easyfundraising. Over 8,000 retailers will donate, so you can raise a FREE donation for Ickle Pickles every time you grab a bargain, whether that's gadgets, electricals, game consoles, toys, clothes, gifts or anything else! Please sign up and help us raise more at: https://lnkd.in/eGF4njDJ #BlackFriday #CyberMonday #GiveBack #GivingBack #Fundraising #PrematureBaby #Neonate #NICUBaby

As November comes to a close, we thank everyone who celebrated World Prematurity Month with us but we also invite all our followers to raise awareness of #MensMentalHealth. November is also #MensMentalHealthAwarenessMonth and it’s time to recognize that mental health affects everyone. Men often face unique challenges and stigma when it comes to discussing their mental well-being. Let’s foster a more understanding and supportive environment for men to express their emotions, seek help, and prioritize their mental health. Let's work together to break down barriers and ensure that everyone feels empowered to take care of their mental health, regardless of gender. Join us in sharing resources, stories, and support because #MentalHealthMatters.

Entries are now open for 2025's iconic 55-mile cycle ride from London to Brighton. Taking place on Sunday 14th September 2025 you will be one of the amazing 7,000 cyclists all putting their pedal power to the test to raise money for a good cause. It’s easy to have fun, raise money, and give every newborn a chance! Register now: https://lnkd.in/eQCpHyWq Email events@icklepickles.org to receive top fundraising tips and your specialist Ickle Pickles cycling top. #LondonToBrighton #CycleRide #Cycling #CyclingForAGoodCause #BikeRide #London

We're so excited to be working with the wonderful Neonatal team at Homerton Hospital and are delighted to welcome them to the Ickle Pickles Pledge 🎉 The Ickle Pickles pledge is a joint commitment to proactively fundraise for this unit's intensive care equipment. Together, we help neonatal units access the necessary equipment and improve the health and well-being of the hundreds of babies treated there each year. Are you ready to jump in and raise funds for Homerton Hospital’s neonatal unit? Please get in touch with rachael@icklepickles.org. Trust us, there’s no feeling quite like knowing you’ve made a real difference — it’s the ultimate reward! #Fundraising #Homerton #HomertonHospital #GiveBack #NeontalCare #Neonate #NewBaby

#WorldPrematurityDay gifts aim to positively impact parents and their neonatal babies. For many parents, the experience of having a premature baby can be overwhelming, filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Gifts like these Cuski comforters, help encourage bonding in these stressful times. Ickle Pickles' well-being gifts are not just presents; they're beacons of hope and solidarity. They serve as a reminder that, even in the toughest times, there’s a whole squad of support cheering you on! #NICUSupport #NICUFamily #PeerSupport #Bonding