On Monday 29th July, we officially opened the doors to Cwtsh Clos – five newly refurbished family homes just a stone’s throw from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Singleton Hospital.

We were joined by CEO Abi Harris, charity ambassadors, local MPs, NHS staff, and supporters who’ve helped make this project a reality. The event was filled with heartfelt speeches, house tours, and a chance for everyone to see how far the homes have come – thanks to the incredible generosity of our community.

A Home from Home

These houses are completely free for parents whose babies are being treated in the NICU and who live too far away to travel back and forth each day. As Health Board Chair Jan Williams said on the day:

“It’s extremely important that parents spend as much time as possible with their baby during this very stressful time – and that’s where the Cwtsh Clos homes come in.”

The homes now have brand new kitchens, carpets, cosy furniture, Smart TVs (kindly donated by Newhall), and soft furnishings to help families feel comfortable and supported during such a difficult time. Each house is also colour-themed to match the charity’s branding and reflect the brilliant partners who’ve helped over the past year.

Ty Gulliver and Ty Dylan

Two of the homes now have special names that hold extra meaning.

Ty Gulliver is named in honour of charity ambassador Mal Pope’s grandson, who sadly passed away after being born prematurely. Mal has since been a passionate supporter of Cwtsh Clos, helping raise awareness and funds to support other families going through similar experiences.

Mal spoke at the event about the importance of sharing stories like his:

“So many people came up to me and said, ‘that happened to me too’. We’re not alone – and the more we talk, the better it is.”

One of the houses, named Ty Dylan, is sponsored by Wales’ largest building society. After a year of dedicated fundraising events and generous donations towards the appeal, Swansea Bay Health Charity wanted to recognise Principality’s incredible support. Colleagues from the organisation generated over £20,000 across various activities including their Cwtsh to Coast walk along Swansea Bay, almost 60 Cardiff Half Marathon runners and branch fundraising with Member donations.

Principality Building Society, Community Strategy Manager, Julia Goddard, said:

“As a building society we work hard to make sure that everyone has a place to call home and although they are temporary, they are providing a vital place for people when they need them the most. We’re proud to have played our part.”

What’s Next?

So far, we’ve raised £144,900 of our £160,000 target, and the houses are already making a big difference to families. But there’s still one big job left – refurbishing the bathrooms.

Right now, the bathrooms aren’t suitable for mums recovering after giving birth. We want to install safe, accessible showers – but we need to raise just over £15,000 to get it done.

As Jan Williams explained:

“Our final push will be for the new bathrooms that are currently untouched. This is an area that the charity team, estates and the NICU unit want to make sure that there is little disruption but also to get the bathrooms right the first time around.”

Get Involved

Our next fundraiser, Cwtsh by the Coast, is coming up in September! It’s a sponsored walk with a choice of distances, and we’d love for you to join us. Full details coming soon.

In the meantime, if you’d like to support the appeal or help us cross the finish line, please consider donating. Every pound brings us closer to creating a safe, homely space for parents and babies who need it most.

Thank you to everyone who’s helped make Cwtsh Clos what it is today. Let’s keep going!