Donate Milk in Wales
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Hearts Milk Bank Wales
A milk bank service supporting families in Wales
The Hearts Milk Bank hub - Swansea
In partnership with Swansea University and Swansea Bay University Health Board, our first donor milk hub in Wales opened in January 2022. The hub, located in Swansea’s Singleton hospital, has enabled hundreds more families in Wales to receive and donate human milk, and the research evaluation of its impact is the start of an exciting innovation in perinatal health for women across Wales and beyond. The hub is facilitated by Professor Amy Brown, director for the centre of Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translation (LIFT) at Swansea University who has been instrumental in its successful growth to date. Since the hub was opened over 1000 litres of milk has been donated, helping thousands of tiny babies in neonatal intensive care. The hub has also supported families in the community, some of whom feature in our Connecting Hearts exhibition – more on this below!
Hearts Wales in the news
ITV Wales feature
We have had fantastic support across Wales – from parents wanting to donate milk, families and healthcare teams helping to raise awareness, and individuals offering to volunteer, helping contribute to the growth of our service. The programme of research led by Professor Amy Brown at Swansea University continues to demonstrate the profoundly positive impact of both donating and receiving donor milk for families. Through raising awareness of milk banking and vital funding in Wales, our aim is to expand our service so we may help support more families. Watch the piece on ITV News featuring our Swansea donor milk hub, including interviews with Professor Amy Brown from Swansea University, mum Sarah and baby Jacob who received donor milk in NICU when he was born 2 months premature, and Gayatri who donated milk to the Hearts Milk Bank which held a lot of meaning for her.
Connecting Hearts: Stories behind the gift of donor milk
Immersive art exhibition commissioned by Swansea University
The Connecting Hearts exhibition was launched as a collaboration between the HMF, Swansea University and artist Leanne Pearce. Through a series of beautiful paintings with accompanying audio narration from those featured in the imagery, the incredible stories behind those involved in receiving, donating and supporting human milk banking are told, bringing to life the profound impact that milk donation can have for families, as a beacon of hope for those affected by infant prematurity, baby loss, maternal cancer and more. Each painting sheds light on a new perspective, connecting us with the kindness and shared humanity that underpins milk banking services. The exhibition first launched at the Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea in 2024, and has gained media attention from BBC Wales and BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour. It is now travelling to venues across the country! We are so grateful to Professor Amy Brown, Swansea University, HEFCW Research Wales Innovation Funding and UKRI for supporting this event and painting series.
