Bliss

About the charity

Bliss, the special care baby charity, supports babies born premature and sick and their families. Here is how you can make a world of difference to thousands of babies and families across the UK:

Bliss supports families

Parents of premature babies and those born with serious medical conditions can feel shocked and overwhelmed. They need reassurance and reliable information from people who understand what they are going through. That’s what Bliss provides. Our printed materials and website give meaningful answers whilst our helpline staff and volunteer support groups are there to offer emotional support, understanding and advice to families as they negotiate their way through the immediate crisis and the months that follow.

 "I felt a bit abandoned and lost at the time, but Bliss was still there for me long after the birth, and they rescued me." 
Vanessa J Lett, mother of Evie, born at 25 weeks.

Bliss funds and promotes new research

220 babies are born every day needing specialist care. Our aim is to improve the life chances of all vulnerable newborns. We do this by funding essential research and sharing our findings with NHS staff via study days.

“The grant from Bliss has enabled us to learn more about the benefits of skin to skin contact for both babies and their parents. Early results suggest that regular skin to skin contact can help reduce stress experienced by mothers of babies in neonatal care. This is a really important addition to our understanding of this practice, with the potential to help families cope better with the challenges of premature birth.”
Professor Maria Tallandini, University College London

Bliss fights passionately for improvements in neonatal care

The UK has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in Western Europe. Bliss has a strong track record of influencing government policy, but many areas of neonatal care are still crying out for investment. We are fighting hard for change on behalf of all babies born premature or sick in the UK.

“Babies are our future. Yet so often their voice goes unheard. For 30 years Bliss has campaigned to better the health of the nation by helping every baby reach their full potential. One day perhaps Bliss may not be needed but that time is not now.”
Neena Modi, Vice President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

We simply could not achieve any of this vital work without the generous support of our donors. Please help us to ensure more vulnerable babies have the best possible start in life and that their families receive the support they need.