Tommys In Yorkshire

Jayne and Sharon have attended this years Parent Friendly Awards in March 2008 at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London.

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CELEB MUMS’ SUPPORT PARENT POWER
Tommy’s Parent Friendly Awards reveal the companies offering the best products and services for mums and dads
Celebrities including Carrie and David Grant, Nancy Sorrell, Tamara Beckwith and Dr. Linda Papadopoulos gathered at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Friday 14th March, to announce the winners of the 2008 Parent Friendly Awards, hosted by Tommy’s, the baby charity and sponsored by Sunsail.
The star-studded awards ceremony announced which companies parents have voted best at providing an excellent product or service for them. The aim of the Awards is to improve the overall standard of facilities on offer, to ensure that parents’ lives are less stressful.
Just over half a million votes were cast by parents up and down the country during January and February 2008, in 18 categories including Best Supermarket, Best Family Restaurant and Best High Street Retailer. The ceremony also included the Tommy’s Angel and Hero Award (sponsored by Tesco and ASDA respectively) – which doesn’t go to a company – but to two individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help someone with a pregnancy related problem.
Carrie Grant, presented Tommy’s Angel Award to winner Louise Thorp, who was nominated by her best friend Lisa Hayes for her support during her difficult time conceiving with IVF – Lisa and husband Jonathan sadly lost their twins – a baby girl and boy before going on to have a baby girl, Charlotte who is now nearly one. Louise was an ‘angel’ throughout.
Dr. Linda Papadopoulos presented Tommy’s Hero Award to midwife Sally Bostock, who was nominated by patient and now friend Louise Kerkhof. Louise and husband Dirk suffered an agonising time when they lost a baby boy who was born prematurely at 27 weeks, they then went onto to have a healthy baby boy, Harrison James at 32 weeks – Harrison is now nearly three years old. Sadly, due to further pregnancy complications, Louise and Dirk went on to lose two more baby boys also born prematurely at 22 and 24 weeks. Throughout it all Louise’s midwife Sally remained a constant support and she went above and beyond the call of duty – she truly is their ‘hero’.
Tommy’s Innovation Award 2008 was presented to Debra Clare Ltd for their Baby and All Bag – a baby carrier and useful holdall all in one.
Carrie Grant hosted the ceremony and she was joined by husband David Grant and fellow celeb mums: Tamara Beckwith, Dr Linda Papadopoulos, Floella Benjamin, Nancy Sorrell, Ingrid Tarrant, Haydn Gwynne, Catherine Gee and Dr. Miriam Stoppard
The Awards, which have been running for thirteen years, credit companies that are taking parents’ needs into consideration, and helping to make their lives a little easier whilst out and about.
Jane Brewin, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, says: “We are proud to be able to reward the most parent friendly organisations that are giving parents and parents-to-be a helping hand. There’s still a lot more that can be done to make Britain more parent
friendly - so far Tommy’s have rewarded over 150 companies in the UK with a Parent Friendly Award and we would like to think we’re driving best practice - encouraging more companies to follow suit”.

WINNERS OF TOMMY’S PARENT FRIENDLY AWARDS 2008

1. Best Bath Time Brand: Johnson’s Baby
2. Best Baby Food Brand: Heinz
3. Best Nursery Brand: Avent
4. Best Feeding and Changing Area: Mothercare
5. Best Family Restaurant: Pizza Hut
6. Best UK Holiday Provider: Center Parcs
7. Best Overseas Holiday Provider: First Choice
8. Best Family Travel Facilities: Premier Travel Inn
9. Most Parent Friendly Bank: Halifax
10. Best High Street Retailer Boots
11. Best Toy Store Early Learning Centre
12. Best Online/Home Delivery Service: Tesco
13. Best Children's Wear: Next
14. Best Maternity Wear: Next
15. Best Supermarket ASDA
16. Tommy’s Angel 2008 Louise Thorp
17. Tommy’s Hero 2008 Sally Bostock (Midwife)
18. Tommy’s Innovation 2008 The Baby and all Bag


NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information, please contact Atia at Tommy’s Press Office:
Atia Islam Talukder on 0207 398 3440 or email: atalukder@tommys.org
Tommy’s, the baby charity
Tommy’s exists to save babies’ lives because right now in the UK, 1 in 4 women loses a baby during pregnancy or birth. We fund research into and provide information on the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. By 2030, we want to halve the number of babies who die during pregnancy. For further information please call 08707 707070 or log onto www.tommys.org