Football hero David Healy, a patron of the charity, dropped in to the store to lend his support to the new partnership which is hoped will raise in excess of £30,000 this coming year.

Scott and Jamie are just two of the hundreds of babies and their families who have been helped by TinyLife. The twins arrived 13 weeks early and were just 2 lb 5 ounces and 2 lb 9 ounces when they were born.

Paul Reid, Store Manager of Ikea Belfast, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with TinyLife this year and are already planning a series of exciting events to help raise funds for this very special charity.”

Valerie Cromie of TinyLife said, “At TinyLife, we are dedicated to be helping premature babies and their families as well as working to reduce premature births, illnesses and deaths in babies born in Northern Ireland. Being Ikea Belfast’s chosen charity for 2010 is a great boost for our charity and the money raised through the store’s fundraising will undoubtedly make a difference to the hundreds of families who rely on our services.”