A charity which dedicates funds to the care of newborn babies at Darent Valley Hospital has received £1,000 from a Kent housebuilder as part of their new community campaign.

The Little Buds Fund, part of Valley Hospital Charity, that provides care for babies born at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, has received the generous donation from Barratt Homes Kent, who is building its Phoenix Quarter development in Dartford.

The donation was made as part of the launch of Barratt Homes' regional Community Fund, which will see the division donate £1000 per month to a local charity or organisation working to improve the quality of life for those living in the division’s local area.

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Senior Sister Annette Pope, Natalie Perry (Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt Kent), and Rachel Whyman (Sales Secretary for Barratt Kent)

The donation will go towards the special care of babies from conception to cot, helping with antenatal facilities for expectant mums and providing neonatal care to support the lives of premature or poorly full term babies.

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The Little Buds Fund is currently raising funds to pay the annual licence for a new video messaging service they can provide parents via a secure account to their phone or computer.

Through this service, staff can record and send video messages of babies to their parents which helps keep loved ones reassured how their baby is doing when they cannot be at the cot-side around the clock.

Speaking on the generous contribution, Head of Fundraising and Voluntary Services at Darent Valley Hospital, Sally George said: "We are extremely grateful to Barratt Homes for their kind donation in support of our Little Buds Fund which helps us provide the best special care for babies. "Charitable funds help us to provide the latest life supporting equipment, to ensure we are giving our precious little lives the best chances to survive and thrive.

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"The Little Buds Fund also allows us to enhance patient experience, by providing the little things such as a library of new books for parents to read their babies in the nurseries, and a sibling room for children to play in whilst mum and dad spend precious time with their brother or sister.

"The Charity has also funded our vCreate system which allows nursing staff to send parents secure video messages of their babies when they can’t be with their precious baby around the clock.”