Bliss is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted at this year’s Charity Awards in the campaigning and advocacy category for our work campaigning for Neonatal Care Leave and Pay - a new parental leave entitlement that will be introduced in April 2025.
The Charity Awards, which has announced its shortlist today (17 May), recognises excellence in the charity sector. All 30 shortlisted charities this year have been judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated best practice in one of ten categories, from which other organisations can learn.
Bliss has campaigned for many years to improve the support that parents of babies in neonatal care receive from their employers. During 2022-2023 we worked very closely with parliamentarians to ensure a Private Member’s Bill was brought forward to introduce a new statutory entitlement for parents, and campaigned throughout this period to support the Bill through all stages of its parliamentary journey to Royal Assent.
We have also worked throughout and since with the government to make sure that from April 2025 this new leave and pay entitlement will operate in the best way for the parents we support. From April 2025 qualifying parents of a baby who spends more than one week in neonatal care in the UK will be able to take 1 week of paid leave from work, for every week their baby is in hospital, up to 12 weeks.
Caroline Lee-Davey, Chief Executive at Bliss said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have our work campaigning for Neonatal Care Leave and Pay recognised at this year’s Charity Awards. The new entitlement will make a huge difference to families, giving both parents the time to be with their baby in hospital when they need it most.
“We’re so grateful to all our supporters and campaigners for backing this work, as well as to all the other organisations who supported the campaign to achieve real change for neonatal families. Being shortlisted for this award is the icing on the cake, and we look forward to attending the awards ceremony in July to celebrate our achievement with others across the charity sector.”
The 10 category winners, plus the recipients of the Overall Award for Excellence and the Daniel Phelan Award for Outstanding Achievement, will be announced at a black-tie dinner on Tuesday 9 July, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
Matthew Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated Bliss on making the highly-coveted shortlist. He said:
“Every year we are astounded and inspired by the breadth and depth of work going on across the UK’s wonderful charity sector. But this year in particular we have noticed a real improvement in the professionalism of the entries, signalling that charities are more cognisant than ever of the need for good governance, strong leadership and effective management.
“Everything that we do at Civil Society Media aims to help charities have greater impact, and for the last 23 years the Charity Awards has identified and celebrated the sector’s great work. Congratulations to all the charities on this year’s shortlist; in a year of record entries you ought to be very proud of getting this far."
Peter Hugh Smith, chief executive at CCLA, Overall Partner of the Charity Awards, said:
“Every year the Charity Awards serve as a moment for the sector to reflect and acknowledge the transformative power of compassion, determination and resilience. The awards amplify the voices of those making a difference, inspiring others to join in creating positive change.
“We're honoured to renew our role as the Charity Awards’ Overall Partner, championing the remarkable efforts of charities, large and small, right across the UK.”