A GROUP of Westbury Girl Guides donated handmade blankets to Bath RUH’s NICU centre to say thank you to the hospital, after one of the Guides’ cousins was born prematurely.
Members of Westbury’s Girlguiding group Iona, Katie, Rebecca, Lucy, Beth, Lizzie, Eve, Heidi and Holly, all aged between 14 and 19, wanted to do something to give back to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Bath RUH .
They contacted the Forever Friends Appeal, who raise funds to help pay for additional equipment, research and innovations at the hospital, asking what they could do to help. The girls were told of the importance of blankets for the newborns, so they started to make some blankets to donate.
Together they worked over a course of a few weeks, meeting to make the blankets, before taking a trip to the NICU to present staff with their donation.
Lizzie Curtis, leader of the senior section of GirlGuides in Westbury said, “I am so proud of the girls and the efforts they put into this project, without any prompting from me. They are a lovely group and it’s great to see young people get involved.”
Kirstie Flood, lead sister, Newborn Intensive Care Unit, the RUH said, “We were delighted and very grateful to receive the quilts from the girl guides. Each quilt has been beautifully made and our new mums and dads love them too.”
There are two Guide units in Westbury; Tuesday evenings if you are over the age of 14, or Thursday evenings for ages 10-14, from 7pm – 8.30pm at Westbury Parish Church Hall.
If you are interested in joining and are aged 10-14 contact Chris Curtis on 01373 865300. The Westbury senior section is run by Lizzie Curtis for girls aged 14+, contact 07519 609667 for more information.
Lizzie continued, “We do a huge range of activities from crafts to walks to community action. We also do camps and indoor holidays both in the UK and overseas and we are currently in the early planning stages for another international trip, which new members would have the opportunity to be a part of.”
