We’d like to share with you some of the successes you helped the charity achieve during July 2021’s Group B Strep Awareness Month:
3000 Squats in July Challenge
You made our 3000 Squats in July Challenge a phenomenal success – 270 amazing fundraisers took part and raised an incredible £24,469.18. We cannot thank you all enough for taking part and for sharing your progress with us.
So many of you shared deeply moving stories explaining why you were taking part, and very entertaining squats videos! Some super-fit participants even carried out their squats cradling their children! We’re so proud of you and all you’ve achieved. You’ve raised a brilliant amount of money, helped raise awareness of group B Strep, and clearly had fun in the process. This certainly won’t be our last fitness challenge!
Social Media & Video Content
We had a very busy time on social media during July:
Around half a million people saw information about group B Strep across social media thanks to your sharing and engagement.
Our awareness videos received thousands of views and we now have hundreds of new followers on our social media channels. You can watch our awareness videos on our YouTube channel here.
Thanks to everyone who liked, shared or commented on any of our posts or channels. Do join us, using the links at the bottom of this page.
Our 14 additional language leaflets
We were pleased to launch 14 new translations from English of the leaflet Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy and newborn babies. The most read leaflets are currently in Romanian, Arabic and Bengali.
Clinical Governance Midwife, Selina Dubison from Homerton University Hospital, told us news of the new language leaflet translations was fantastic news:
“Homerton Hospital serves such a diverse community. We see many women who speak Hebrew, Polish, Bengali, Romanian to name a few. Having the GBS leaflets in all these languages is brilliant. They will be able to read all the information in their own languages and we can make sure they are fully educated and can make an informed decision surrounding GBS. Having the leaflets in different languages will hugely benefit a large group of our clients. Thank you so much, GBSS.”
Group B Strep Webinar
A key part of the charity’s work is educating and training doctors and midwives about group B Strep. We hosted a webinar during Group B Strep Awareness Month where experts presented key information about group B Strep, the GBS3 trial, and the challenges that GBS presents for midwives caring for families today. The webinar was aimed at midwives and those working in maternity care, and we had over 160 registrations.
Our expert panel included:
- Professor Philip Steer MD FRCOG (Chair of GBSS’ Medical Advisory Panel & Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics, London)
- Dr Kate Walker (Clinical Associate Professor in Obstetrics, Nottingham)
- Philippa Cox (Member of GBSS’ Medical Advisory Panel & Consultant Midwife, London, London).
Group B Strep Support orders
The number of orders for our leaflets, stickers and posters from doctors and midwives, GP practices, and hospitals almost doubled in July – up from 88 orders in June to 145 in July. It’s wonderful to know that these important information materials are being used to ensure families are fully informed about group B Strep.
Our thanks to everyone involved in making these things happen – together, we’re making a real difference.
