Struggling neonatal charity offers private service
Leo'sA neonatal charity is charging fees for a new trauma support service to help it get through a "funding crisis".
Leo's, in Middlesbrough, provides mental health support and trauma therapies for families who have suffered the loss of a baby or difficult births.
The charity said a drop in funding and donations had led to the launch of Birth Trauma North East CIC to support families across the wider region.
Director Lottie King said the charity had identified a gap in regional provision of birth trauma therapies and wanted to make sure more people got help quickly.
Leo's neonatal counselling service closed in November due to a lack of funding.
The shortfall also meant the charity had to change its focus and provide community groups and early intervention for babies.
"The funding crisis affecting charities is sector-wide, and we knew we needed to be looking at how we could generate our own income to help keep the doors open," Ms King said.
"Alongside that, we knew that we could help more people with the skills and knowledge we have and wanted an opportunity to do that."
Leo'sBirth Trauma North East offers online and in-person therapies which are led by perinatal therapists.
The charity said 20% of session fees would be donated back to Leo's.
The new service has also received a £10,000 start-up grant from local funder LARCH.