Working in collaboration with two other charities Royal Berks Charity and New Life, the local neonatal unit at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust now have four new-generation incubators, offering advanced features designed to create a safe, controlled environment for these vulnerable newborns.

Sarah Critchley, BIBS Chief Executive said, “we are indebted to the local community who have enabled us to achieve this with their fundraising and donations – namely our Reading Half Marathon teams in 2024 and 2025 and also kind donors to our Incubator Appeal.”

“By seeing an opportunity to collaborate with other charities we have all been able to achieve more, working together. A real success story that will make a huge difference for Buscot babies and families for years to come.”

The new Atom Dual Incu-I Incubators selected by the Buscot team include several new innovations:
• A tilting mattress platform for improved positioning, ensuring optimal comfort and medical care.
• A built-in phototherapy unit providing essential treatment for jaundice, reducing the need for additional equipment.
• An external x-ray cassette tray, allowing imaging without disrupting temperature stability.
• A specialised air curtain that helps maintain warmth, even when access ports are opened, minimising temperature fluctuations.

These innovations provide optimal protection and specialised care to help tiny patients grow stronger during their critical early days, ensuring they receive the warmth, stability and medical support needed to thrive. By minimising stress and promoting healthy development, these advanced incubators give premature and critically ill newborns the best possible start in life.

Thanks to the fantastic fundraising efforts of BIBS supporters, we have been able to completely transform this previously tired and dreary space into a relaxing and modern environment, complete with everything families might need to make their stay just a little bit more comfortable. As one mum commented: “This room is amazing, I have been using this room while my little lady is a resident. It’s so relaxing and takes the stress away from being here. It’s a great place for my 4yr old to take time out and just play when visiting her sister”. Another mum said: “Such a difference, it now looks like a cosy and inviting place to sit and relax in what many call their second home, on such a important journey for all families”.

Take a look at these photos to see how the room looks now. If you have used the newly refurbished room, why not drop us a line and let us know what you thought?

What we can tell you is that the total will go a long way towards our current campaign to raise £53,000 for Buscot Ward. This will purchase 13 new pieces of life-saving equipment, including incubators, ventilators and cardiac monitors.

BIBS would like to say a MASSIVE thank you to the runners for their monumental efforts, and also to the wonderful team of BIBS marshals and cheering squads who volunteered their time to make sure this event was a huge success. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

If you still wish to contribute to this please feel free to go on the following page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mirror-Mirror

There will be a photo call at 6pm at the Bridge, to mark the occasion, with the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Sarah Hacker - and supporters of BIBS (Babies in Buscot Support ) charity, you are all invited to join her.

As you may be aware, Cllr Hacker chose BIBS to be one of her Mayoral charities as a thank you, after her youngest son who was born 9 ½ weeks early needed to be cared for on Buscot Ward.

‪#‎WorldPrematurityDay‬ ‪#‎rdguk‬

We take the chance to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the BIBS committee and from our supporters.

” I was born on the 8th October 1999, 2 months early and weighing only 2lbs 13oz. If it hadn’t have been for Buscot I wouldn’t be here today. I was on Buscot for 8 weeks, I was assisted with my breathing for 6 hours, I suffered with a weak reflux muscle and a weight gaining problem, and I was tube fed for 5 weeks due to my reflux. I’m now 15 years old and attend Redroofs school for the performing arts where I am training to be a teacher in drama and musical theatre. Now I only live with a learning difficulty called dyprixa, poor circulation and a weak reflux muscle but I’m coping fine and I don’t let it get in the way of what I achieve to do. I am one of very few babies who will never make my year groups average height as I am four years behind the growth of everyone else as the average for year 10 is 5ft 4inches and I’m only 4ft 10inches. I wouldn’t be here without Buscot and I can’t thank them enough ”

Here are some pictures of Ellie in Buscot 15 years ago, and now:

The event gave parents the chance to chat over a sandwich and a cupcake, share experiences, find out more about BIBS, and most importantly – celebrate how amazing our Buscot children are!

Here are some pictures showing what a lovely time we had  - hope to see you there next year!

This month we’d like to say a massive thank you to Fiona Stevens of Leap Frog Ceramics in Warfield who has raised an amazing £1000 for BIBS by donating £5 per bowl through her “Paint a Pot for BIBS” offer.

She raised the money after her friend Simone Saunders’ twins Rocco and Bruk were born 12 weeks early and spent nearly 3 months on Buscot.

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/health/warfield-mum-helps-raise-cash-6933436

Simone (along with friend Cathy) is also taking part in the Tough Mudder assault course this April in aid of BIBS.

http://www.justgiving.com/catherine-mason1

We’d also like to thank Russell Fry who completed the London marathon for BIBS this month. He completed the race in 4hrs, 29 mins, 37 seconds – well done Russell! To date he’s raised over £1,850 via his JustGiving page.