'I owe my life' to funding-hit neonatal charity

Millie Hope's son Albie was born at 25 weeks in 2020

Parents have been recounting how a funding-hit neonatal charity was a "lifeline" during their darkest times.

Leo's, based in the north-east of England said it had seen fewer donations and fewer grants to go around, resulting in the closure of some of its services.

One parent said: "There is no exaggeration when I say I owe my life to Leo's."

Lottie King, who founded the charity after one of her twin boys died, said it was "devastating" and "horrific" to have to turn people away.

The charity, which provides a variety of services to support the mental health and well-being of families, will have to close its neonatal counselling and trauma service in December.

This was the only dedicated service of its kind in the region.

Without it, people needing counselling will have to go through their GP with no guarantee they would see a specialist.

Amy said the charity had been "vital" to her and her daughter's recovery

Amy, a mother from Durham, said the charity's support had been vital to her and her daughter Murphy's recovery after their stay in the neonatal unit in Sunderland.

"It wasn't until a month after we got home that I realised I’d been in fight or flight mode since she was born and that I did actually need help," Amy said.

"The counselling sessions have been revolutionary for me."

Meanwhile, Millie Hope said peer support from the charity had been her "lifeline".

Her son Albie was born at 25 weeks in 2020 and she used the charity's services to help with her mental health.

"There is no exaggeration when I say I owe my life to Leo's," Ms Hope said.

• The story of how Lottie King set up Leo's charity

Ms King, who is from Yarm in Stockton, said she hoped to eventually get the counselling service back up and running "because it has literally saved so many people's lives".

"We would just love anyone's support right now in keeping the doors open."

The charity is running a fundraiser on 19 January, on what would have been her son Leo's 10th birthday.