Almost £25,000 raised for homeless woman who gave birth to twins outside Cambridge’s wealthiest college

Mum and babies in hospital and doing well

(Getty Images)

Almost £25,000 has been raised for a homeless woman who gave birth to twins on the street outside Cambridge University’s wealthiest college.

The unnamed woman was helped by members of the public as she had the babies close to Trinity College in the city just before Christmas.

Staff from a nearby Sainsbury’s are understood to have assisted as the babies made their appearance 11 weeks early. Both mum and children have since been doing well.

Now, an online fundraising campaign to help the mother has already surpassed its £22,000 target.

By Saturday morning, some £24,536 had been donated by 1,287 supporters. It is not clear if the university itself is among them.

Jess Agar, who set up the Just Giving page, wrote: “I'm so overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and words of kindness.”

She added: “Messages have been sent to the hospital and several contacts within StreetAid Cambridge, and the right people are being involved…

“Thanks for your patience whilst we work out how to get the donations to this woman and her babies in the most helpful way possible.”

Reports of the birth at 7am on Monday caused widespread shock. The babies were 11 weeks premature. The woman – believed to be aged around 30 – is now being looked after at the nearby Rosie Hospital.

Setting up her fundraising page soon after, Ms Agar wrote: “Whether we are religious or not, many of us will be familiar with the Christmas story of a mother who gave birth to her child in poverty, seeking refuge in a stable. This is the reality for many people living on the streets.”

A Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: "We are aware of the level of public kindness and concern for the woman reported to have been brought to the Rosie after giving birth on the streets of Cambridge.

"We would like to reassure the public that all appropriate assistance and support is being offered by health and social care to the family at this difficult time."