The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Dorset County Hospital is a very special place, where compassionate and skilled staff care for babies who are either premature (from approximately 32 weeks onwards) or unwell.

There are approximately 250 babies admitted each year. The department has a Family Integrated Care ethos where it is recognised that being a family and bonding with your baby is very important. Families and parents are encouraged to spend as much time on the unit as they like, to be fully involved with the care of their baby.

General fundraising for SCBU is ongoing - many families who have experienced the unit first-hand may have their own idea of what they'd like to fundraise for, or leave the SCBU team to decide what is needed the most. The department is also delighted to receive physical donations such as nappies and Babygro’s – if you would like to make a donation like this, please contact the DCH Charity Team.

Currently there is a focus on providing more suitable accommodation on the SCBU for two ensuites to the existing rooms so parents can be close to their baby 24 hours a day but also have space to rest when possible. Fundraising has already started for ensuite facilities to create a more supportive space for families to have a better level of comfort, but this is on-going and we need to raise £70,000.

There are lots of ways to fundraise for SCBU – below are some links to fundraiser stories for ideas and inspiration. Using Just Giving to donate is a quick and easy way to share your fundraising event or challenge for your friends and family to support, safe in the knowledge that all of your donations will go straight to benefitting the babies, families and staff at SCBU.

SCBU fundraising from the Maiden Castle Sunflowers events on BBC One Show:

Find out more about James and Zara’s Oakfest events which are on-going. They have already raised £10,000 for SCBU! Community fundraisers raise £10,700 for SCBU at Dorset County Hospital - dchcharity.org.uk