Cwtsh Clos enjoys angelic partnership

There can be few more apt sponsors for Swansea Bay’s Cwtsh Clos campaign than Advocates and Angels.

Bethan and David Germon (pictured) set up Advocates and Angels during lockdown and continued to develop the charity after they lost their beautiful little girl, Lydia, aged just four, in 2020.

Lydia had been born with an extremely rare genetic condition and needed specialised care, in Singelton and Morriston Hospitals.

Unselfishly, following Lydia’s passing Bethan channelled her grief into something productive, positive and inspiring to help others, through providing support for those whose children have been diagnosed with disabilities or life-limiting conditions.

The charity also provides self-care packages for parents whose children are in hospital, helping them keep clean and calm during those stressful times.
Now, Advocates and Angels has become the latest organisation supporting Swansea Bay Health Charity’s Cwtsh Clos fundraising campaign. Cwtsh Clos is a terrace of five houses on the Singleton Hospital site where families can stay to be close to their babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The idea for the self-care packages came to Bethan in 2017 after finding herself in hospital with Lydia, and needing to buy a few essentials herself.

She explained: “I tried to buy a deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste so I could clean myself up a bit while we were there and it came to £7! And, when you’re on Carers Allowance, which was about £64 per week at the time, that £7 is huge!”

Bethan and her friends soon started making care-packages for parents who have young ones in hospital and, following support from the public, the idea blossomed.

The care packages can now be found in every children’s ward at every hospital in Wales and are available for any family who needs them in an emergency. And now, as part of Advocates and Angels’ support for the Cwtsh Clos campaign – which aims to raise £160,000 towards refurbishing the houses – self-care packages will be placed in each property.

She said: “It may sound silly, but it’s surprising how much our self-care packages can help parents. 

“They’ve got the basic toiletries people need to wash and freshen up in hospital, so they can reset their mind-set a bit and really focus on being there with their child, rather than if they need to wash their face or brush their teeth or something.”

Bethan said: “Choosing Cwtsh Clos is significant for us, being a local charity that understands the unique needs of the community. We recognise the crucial role such accommodations play in providing solace to families, particularly for those living outside of Swansea.

“Our enthusiasm for supporting Cwtsh Clos is rooted in transforming it into a true home from home for families experiencing birth trauma, recovering from a C-section, or dealing with the anxiety of having a child on a ventilator. Creating a warm, nurturing environment is crucial for the healing process, contributing significantly to the emotional well-being of parents during challenging circumstances.

“Advocates and Angels is dedicated to supplementing the fantastic work done by Cwtsh Clos, aiming to go beyond a clinical space to truly embody a home from home atmosphere. 

“By providing additional resources and care packages, we aim to contribute to the creation of a nurturing environment where families find strength, support, and a sense of community facing the challenges of having a child in critical care.”

Lewis Bradley, support manager for Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “‘We would like to thank Advocates and Angels for their wonderful ongoing support for Cwtsh Clos, as well as NICU. 

“The self-care packs they provide will certainly help families who are experiencing a time of unknown in an environment they may not be used to. 

“The self-care packs will be given at the start of each families stay at Cwtsh Clos and provide essential items that will help feel refreshed and clean. 

“In addition, Advocates and angels are helping us with identifying areas where they can further they’re support for Cwtsh Clos. Through fundraising, they are looking to provide baby chairs and stair gates to help families feel comfortable in the accommodation. 

“Their support is absolutely fantastic.”

If you would like to give an online donation to Cwtsh Clos, you can do that by clicking here.

To make a donation using your phone, please text 'Donate Swanseabayhealth homes' to 88802.

If you would like to fundraise for us yourself, or hold a fundraising event, please visit our JustGiving page for Cwtsh Clos here, where you will find more information.

You can also visit our Cwtsh Clos webpage for more information about the NICU centre and the fundraising appeal.

Thank you for your support!