A heartwarming gift to baby unit

A craft group has donated hundreds of fabric hearts to a neo-natal unit to help build bonds between mums and premature babies.
GIFT:  Ackworth Needles & Pins craft group has donated fabric hearts to the Neonatal Unit at Pinderfields.GIFT:  Ackworth Needles & Pins craft group has donated fabric hearts to the Neonatal Unit at Pinderfields.
GIFT: Ackworth Needles & Pins craft group has donated fabric hearts to the Neonatal Unit at Pinderfields.

The Ackworth Needles & Pins craft group created the bonding hearts at one of their sewing workshops for the Neonatal Unit on Gate 19 at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

Mums are given two bonding hearts when they are admitted to the neo-natal unit. Mum wears one heart next to her skin and the other one is placed next to the baby to transfer their smell on them. The fabric hearts are swapped over regularly.

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Pinderfields Hospital provides specialist care for very premature or very ill new-born babies from across North Kirklees and the Wakefield district within its Gate 19 facilities.

Staff on the Neo-natal Unit at Pinderfields Hospital were thrilled when two of the group members of the craft group delivered the fabric hearts in person.

Julia Thomas, senior sister on the Neonatal Unit, said: “The hearts are absolutely beautiful. The group have done a fantastic job making the hearts and I have to extend our thanks to every person involved.”

The fabric for the hearts was supplied by Walton’s Fabrics in Goldthorpe at a greatly reduced rate and was paid for with a £50 donation from Ackworth Co op.

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The Ackworth Needles & Pins craft group was set up in January 2014 by group leader Helen Penty in her dining room.

It has now grown into a large talented group of friends.

The group meets every Wednesday evening from 7pm to 9pm in the parish room above Bell Lane Library in Ackworth.

Pictured, left to right, are senior sister Julia Thomas, Ackworth Co-Op’s Louise Copson, craft group leader Helen Penty, senior sisters Louise Smith and Sue Wise.