‘I wanted to find a way somehow to pay back those nights’

Breathing new life into the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation, one of its most dedicated and passionate ambassadors, Sara Edmonds, has joined the small team of staff as its first head of fundraising.

PPBF has been supporting families from the Channel Islands with premature babies and sick children for more than 22 years – with its birthday coinciding with World Prematurity Day.

Its work includes purchasing equipment for the local neonatal unit and putting together baby boxes full of premature baby items for those in need. It also offers emergency assistance and compassionate housing located a stone’s throw from Southampton Hospital.

The charity was founded by Jo Priaulx and her husband Andy, following the premature births of both their children.

Since becoming a PPBF ambassador last year, Mrs Edmonds has led several successful fundraising initiatives for the foundation, including last summer’s bike raffle which raised over £10,000. She has grown the charity’s volunteering network and brought unique events to the island such as a pre-loved boutique and ladies’ night.

‘Sara clicked with us from day one,’ said Mrs Priaulx.

‘She brought a real fresh vibe to the place, which is just what we needed.

‘With her eye for detail, new ideas, strong networking skills and creativity, she’s going to help us go to another level.’

But Mrs Edmonds’ fundraising efforts for the charity began long before she met Mrs Priaulx and before she became an official ambassador.

It is a cause close to her heart. In 2018, Mrs Edmonds’ niece, Lochie Fallaize, was diagnosed with leukaemia at just 18 months old.

While undergoing intensive treatment at Southampton Hospital, she spent 300 nights at Aggie’s Burrow – one of three apartments that PPBF manages.

‘My brother and sister-in-law were so young – only 21 at the time,’ said Mrs Edmonds.

‘Thank goodness for the flat. We would never have been able to put them up like that, I honestly don’t know what we would’ve done. It has two rooms, which meant I was able to visit and be there to support them and they really made it feel like home.

‘Sadly, Lochie was there over Christmas, and I remember Jo sent them a Christmas tree. I know it’s a silly little thing, but it meant so much. Aggie’s Burrow is just across the road from the hospital, so it gave peace of mind that if anything went wrong they were there. It also offered a much-needed homely spot to take a break – away from the hospital – for anyone who needed a breather.’

Now eight years old, Lochie is happy and healthy. She was a special guest speaker at the charity’s recent 'blingo' event led by her ambassador Aunt Sara, which raised £30,000. The popular, glamorous two-night fundraiser is bingo ‘blinged-up’, where guests are invited to dress to impress, enjoy some bubbly and play to win Catherine Best jewellery.

Mrs Edmonds started fundraising soon after seeing the difference Aggie’s Burrow made to her family.

‘I knew I wanted to find a way somehow to pay back those nights, so another family in need could have the same experience,’ she said.

‘Starting out small, I turned one of my son’s drawings of a Robin into Christmas cards to sell, and then it became second nature.

‘I found myself growing more and more attached to the charity.’

For her 40th birthday, she chose to host a night – an initiative set up by the charity – where she asked her guests to donate instead of gifting her with presents.

Mrs Edmonds said she was privileged to be working full time for the charity now. She felt an instant connection to Mrs Priaulx.

‘I feel like Jo and I are very similar,’ she said.

‘We feel empathy in the same way, have similar morals and bounce ideas off each other freely.

‘I just knew this job was right for me. It feels quite natural.’

Having grown up in foster care on the island with her younger brother, Mrs Edmonds has an instinctive sense of care towards children and families in need. She said she always knew she wanted to become a foster carer herself.

‘My childhood was very turbulent,’ she said.

‘I was in and out of the care system and had some really amazing families. I lived with two families and lived in what was then a children’s home. I loved all of those experiences, but my brother hated the children’s home – we had very different experiences. I feel very lucky to have had those good, guided moments with my foster carers. I remember really clearly driving along with one of the workers from the children’s home – a lady named Sadie. I was about 11 and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up – I didn’t know. She told me she thought I should be a foster carer and I’ve never forgotten it – it was the first time I felt that someone believed in me.’

Mrs Edmonds and her husband have a 16-year-old son named Marley, and have been fostering children of all ages for nearly a decade.

‘I felt very privileged to have that job and I feel very privileged to have this job. I think that’s how you should feel – if you don’t, you’re in the wrong job’

Prior to her new role, Mrs Edmonds spent the past 13 years working at Hautes Capelles School, most recently as an emotional literacy support assistant.

‘I was doing a very unique role where I was heavily involved with looking after very vulnerable families,’ she said.

‘So I feel like I wouldn’t have been able to leave that job for just anything. It needed to be something where I still felt like I was making a difference. I was doing the ELSA role for about seven years. It was very emotional and I found it hard to break away from the families that I had grown such a bond with over that time.

‘It would’ve been even harder to leave, though, if it wasn’t for another role that also contributed so much to the community.

‘I felt very privileged to have that job and I feel very privileged to have this job. I think that’s how you should feel – if you don’t, you’re in the wrong job.’

Looking to the charity’s future, Mrs Edmonds intends to create staple events, expand on its already popular fundraisers and build on the ones that she initiated herself, such as the fun run and raffle-a-day-off. There are also plans to create a men’s event.

The PPBF recently relocated to a new office in Fountain Street. Mrs Edmonds said its door was always open to more volunteers.