The Suffolk group of The Lullaby Trust was founded in 1977 under the original name of The West Suffolk Group of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death. Since then the group has been active raising money to fund research through the charity and provide support to bereaved parents.
For advice and information on infant care see the safer sleep page.
For information on infant sleep, see the Infant Sleep Information Source website. (Please note, we cannot be held responsible for information on external sites.)
Contact details
Please contact us if you would like information about our group.
Chair: Dr Derek Dunstone | 01473 828981 | derek@dunstoneinsight.com
Last committee meeting of Suffolk Group of Lullaby
It has been agreed by the Committee that the meeting held in January 2024 is to be the last meeting of Suffolk group of Lullaby Trust. This has been decided after much discussion at recent meetings and is reflected in the minutes available at the bottom of this page..
It was agreed that a formal local committee is no longer required, due to the fact that most supporters now fundraise via online portals. Support for parents and professionals is now readily available from the Lullaby Trust website and telephone Helpline. Befrienders are coordinated via Lullaby HQ and indeed Sally Nice and Derek Dunstone help to provide this support.
Instead, we have become an informal active friendship group, keeping in touch and meeting to continue our work. This change was agreed unanimously, including with Christopher Boothby, our longstanding President, who gave his blessing for the dissolution of the committee.
Our funds have been transferred to Lullaby HQ over recent months and all future fundraising will also go directly to Lullaby. This page will remain on the Lullaby Trust website for the foreseeable future, so local supporters of our group are aware of these changes and are able to contact us. We remain available to any organization or parent wishing to reach out for advice or support. Our work continues with The Lullaby Trust for the benefit of the residents of Suffolk and supporting local initiatives.
We are proud to have been the last remaining local Lullaby group and of the many thousands of pounds we have raised for the charity. At the last meeting, Derek thanked Sally Nice for all her work on the National Helpline, befriending locally and for being a stalwart of our committee. Derek also thanked Sally Dunstone for taking the minutes, and Andrea for being our CONI health visitor and treasurer. Thanks also to our president Christopher Boothby, who has supported us for many years. Derek also thanked all past committee members, for their hard work and fundraising. A special thanks also to the late Jill Staddon, our founding member, who worked tirelessly for the group for many years.
News
- Visit to Palace for Suffolk Lullaby Secretary – On 9th May, Sally Nice had the pleasure and privilege to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace. She was accompanied by her daughter, Elizabeth. At the event, Sally was introduced to the Duchess of Gloucester, who was much interested in the work of the charity.
Left: Sally at Buckingham Palace. Right: Sally and the Duchess of Gloucester.
The invitation was in appreciation of her dedicated and longstanding commitment to The Lullaby Trust. Since 1984, Sally has served on the Committee of Suffolk Lullaby (formerly The West Suffolk Group of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death), involving fundraising, befriending and providing infant health information. She has been Secretary since 1993. The Committee of Suffolk Lullaby are indebted to Sally for her compassionate, knowledgeable and tireless work for the charity. We are thrilled that this has been acknowledged by this special invitation. For many years she has also offered much needed advice and care on the national Lullaby Support Helpline. Sally has helped and supported many parents and grandparents over many years and has made a considerable contribution. You can read more about Sally’s visit to Buckingham Palace here.
- Ipswich Collection – Thank you to friends of Suffolk Lullaby, Sally and Libby Dunstone, for helping with a collection in Ipswich on Sunday 23 October 2022. The author and comedian, Adam Kay, kindly supports The Lullaby Trust and agreed to a collection to the charity after his performance. On the night, £765.09 was donated in cash which was counted and banked by Libby. The total amount raised on the evening, including text and card donations, was £1088.15. Many thanks to the theatre goers for their generosity.
- Andrew Dunstone completed the London Marathon on 2nd October in a time of 3 hours and 29 minutes. Andrew would like to thank all those who kindly made a donation and has been overwhelmed by the support and generosity. So far a total of £2826 has been raised for The Lullaby Trust. Any further donations and can dropped off at 3 Queen Street, Hadleigh IP7 5DZ or made via Just Giving.
Andrew pictured with his wife, Ruth, shortly after the event
- The amount of donations made by the Suffolk group of The Lullaby Trust to Lullaby Trust HQ for research and support is £15,200 since 2006. This is in addition to the many thousands of pounds raised between 1977 and 2006.
- Andrea Corser from the Suffolk group of The Lullaby Trust is available to talk to any organisation who would like to learn more about infant care and the work of The Lullaby Trust. Andrea is a Health Visitor and our treasurer.
- Have you tried The Lullaby Trust Baby Check App yet? It has been designed to help decide whether your baby needs a doctor. It is a most useful tool for any parent or carer of an infant, and is free of charge.
Organising your own quiz?
Quiz questions, answers and PowerPoint presentation available for a donation to Suffolk Lullaby. These were used on January 15th 2022 but could be enjoyed by another group.
Please contact Andrea to find out more; Andrea.Corser@suffolk.gov.uk
Previous events
Muddy Walk for Suffolk Lullaby
A team from Suffolk Constabulary took part in a fundraising event for Suffolk Lullaby on 28 February 2022. This involved a 4 mile walk through the muddy fields and lanes from Bury St Edmunds to the Rushbrooke Arms at Sicklesmere. A good time was had by all and £162.50 was raised.
Online Winter Quiz
Our latest online quiz took place on Saturday 15 January 2022 at 7pm. This was kindly arranged and expertly hosted by our treasurer, Andrea Corser, and her husband Gareth. The evening was most enjoyable, with a thought provoking and fun selection of questions. The event was successful with £290 donated to Lullaby Trust via the Go Fund Me website.
West Safeguarding Investigation Unit Fundraising
Our thanks to Claire Baldwin, Rebecca Molisso, Steve Duncan and the police team from West Safeguarding Investigation Unit, Suffolk Constabulary, for fundraising on behalf of Suffolk Lullaby during 2021. Money was raised with a charity walk and BBQ in July, Quiz in a Thurston café in November and a Christmas raffle. A total of nearly £1000 was raised which will make a significant contribution to the work of The Lullaby Trust in Suffolk and nationwide.
Ipswich Collection
Thank you to friends of Suffolk Lullaby, Libby Dunstone and Elliot Smith, for helping with a collection in Ipswich on Friday 15th October 2021. The author and comedian, Adam Kay, kindly supports The Lullaby Trust and agreed to a collection to the charity after his performance. On the night, £1069.60 was donated in cash which was counted and banked by Libby and Elliot. A further £363.26 in text donations was received. Many thanks to the theatre goers for their generosity.
Suffolk Lullaby Zoom Quiz
This event was kindly been arranged by our treasurer, Andrea Corser, and her husband Gareth. The evening was most enjoyable and successful with in excess of £500 donated to Lullaby Trust via the Just Giving website.
Lockdown Marathon
Andrew Dunstone ran a solo marathon on Sunday 7 June 2020 on behalf of The Lullaby Trust. The route took on 26 miles of footpaths surrounding his home village of Bildeston in Suffolk. If you would like to contribute, please click here.
Car Boot Sale on behalf of the Suffolk group of The Lullaby Trust
Two members of the Committee, Sally and Derek Dunstone, took a pitch at Stonham Barns car boot sale on the morning of Sunday 27 October 2019. Lullaby Trust posters were displayed and the sale of donated goods was successful with £168.30 raised for the cause.
Barn Dance, Saturday 30th September 2017
Moreton Hall Community Centre, Bury St Edmunds
The barn dance was much enjoyed by all and raised £686 for Suffolk Lullaby Trust. Approximately 55 people attended (including several youths new to barn dancing) and the dancing was enthusiastic and carried on all evening!
The ‘Invisible Navvies of Utopia’ band were super and Brendon a most helpful caller. The Hog Roast by the ‘Hog and Ale experience’ was delicious. The bar staff lead by Neil were most friendly, and it was so appreciated that they were able to source the requested barrel of Mauldons real ale.
Thank you to all those who attended and helped make the evening so enjoyable.
Family Day at Jimmy’s Farm, Saturday 3rd June 2017
Reflections from Sally Nice of Suffolk Lullaby Trust
I was invited by Marcia to attend the Family Day at Jimmy’s Farm near Wherstead in Suffolk on Saturday 3rd June. I arrived on a lovely sunny morning in my banana coloured tee shirt at 9.45am and made my way to the marquee which I had been told was to be set aside for The Lullaby Trust. It was excellently arranged with sofas made of straw, other straw bales scattered and covered with hessian throws.
After a few minutes I was joined by our Regional Co-ordinator Sarah Wilson, who had organised the day. I had not met Sarah before but she greeted me warmly and was very friendly. We set up a table with biscuits, free coffee and tea tickets and colouring sheets and crayons for the children. We also had a table for pins, donation boxes, candles, wrist bands and balloons.
Sally Dunstone, another member of the Suffolk Lullaby Trust Group, joined us and we were all ready to meet parents, siblings and grandparents. Whether they wanted to chat, eat their sandwiches or just chill, the farm had supplied at excellent venue. Over time quite a few families joined us, all ages were represented. I had a long chat with a dad and also a granny who had lost her baby 38 years ago, similar to myself.
My overall feeling was that the day was most successful and Sarah’s choice of Jimmy’s Farm provided an excellent venue.
Our previous fundraising events have included:
- Jazz concerts at Priory Hall in Hadleigh – 2011 & 2015
- Choir concert in Stowmarket – 2009
