Baby Loss Awareness Week 2020
Healthcare partners and local charities across Coventry and Warwickshire are supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week 2020 by releasing a short film aimed at anyone who has been affected in any way by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.
The film, which was partly set in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, will be launched next week as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week (October 9 to 15) to encourage people to talk openly and raise awareness of baby loss.
The George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, with the support of local partner organisations, have commissioned the film which features local families affected by baby loss.
The film is based around a beautiful song, I can love you from here, performed and written by Liberty's Mother, (the recording artist name of parent Sophie Alagna). The film was produced by Luke Collins from Coventry University. Both Sophie and Luke have volunteered their time and expertise to create the film.
Families featured in the film were invited to draw a heart and send a personal message to others about their experiences. During Baby Loss Awareness Week local people are also invited to visit Coventry Cathedral ruins to create their own heartfelt message.
Singer, Liberty’s Mother said: “I wanted to support Baby Loss Awareness Week through song and my own personal message of support to families who have experienced pregnancy loss. Love is stronger than grief.”
George Eliot Hospital chaplain Ricarda Witcombe, said: “We hope our beautiful and uplifting film will help those who have been affected feel more connected and less alone.
“We want to support families to help to break the silence and talk openly about baby loss.
“During these unprecedented times we are using new ways to reach out and hope that our key messages help those that need it. This will be shared on our partner websites and via social media.
This year Baby Loss Awareness Week is highlighting the isolation many people experience after pregnancy and baby loss - women, partners, other family members and friends. Covid-19 has had a major impact on access to care and support and has complicated grief and responses to pregnancy and baby loss.
The national Baby Loss Awareness Week is led by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, in collaboration with more than 40 charities across the UK. Locally, NHS Trusts, groups and charities across Coventry and Warwickshire have shared information and organised events each year to support local families during this valuable campaign week.
For more information please visit www.babyloss-awareness.org. From the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week and throughout SANDS are also encouraging communities across the UK to turn Pink and Blue as possible to show their individual support.
Local partners will be sharing the film and their support via social media using the hashtags #breakthesilence and #BLAW2020. Accompanying the film will be a series of portraits, taken by photographer Kris Askey, who has also given his time and skills.
The Liberty’s Mother EP ‘I Can Love You From Here’ is available from all mainstream online sales and streaming platforms or go to www.libertysmother.com (all profits to charity).
Editor information
For further information about the film please email Ricarda.witcombe@geh.nhs.uk or call her on 07771 343958 after 4th October.
To contact singer Liberty’s Mother:
or 07802 690655
To contact film producer Luke Collins:
luke@ljcollins.co.uk or 07703347998
To contact photographer Kris Askey
info@krisaskey.com 07572856965
Partner organisations
SANDS:
Supports anyone affected by the death of a baby. Coventry SANDS meets first Wednesday at Walsgrave Baptist Church, Hinckley Rd, Coventry 8.00-10pm.
Contact: 07896 500237
Contact: Sarah Finnegan and Julie Furey
Sophia Pregnancy Loss Support
SPLS aims to support anybody who has experienced the tragic loss of a baby through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, TFMR, stillbirth and neonatal death.
Registered Charity Number: 1171082. The group meet every first Tuesday at George Eliot Hospital 6.00-8.00pm.Contact: Nicky Rygielski07792023020 Sophiagroup16@gmail.com
www.sophiapregnancylosssupport.com
Laura Centre:
Offers specialist bereavement counselling to parents whose child has died and to children or young people who have been bereaved of a parent or significant person.
Contact Susie Martin or Lisa Patel
Contact: 0116 2544341
Freddie’s Wish
Provides bereavement support and signposting to bereaved families affected by the loss of a pregnancy, infant or child. Funds paediatric first aid awareness courses.
Contact Charlotte Joliffe
Contact: info@freddieswish.org
Lily Mae Foundation:
Supports families affected by stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage or medical termination.
Support meeting every first Tuesday. Offers 1:1 Bereavement Support Service.
Contact Amy Jackson, 01676 535716 or 07985657378info@lilymaefoundation.org; www.lilymaefoundation.org
The Luca Foundation;
Provides and repairs cuddle cots for every maternity unit & baby hospice in the UK that needs one. Contact Sharon Luca01926 754076info@thelucafoundation.org.uk
(Sharon has just had a book published: “Why did Grandad die?”It is a guide to help explain bereavement to children, it includes a sibling, pet and Grandad. All the proceeds go to The Luca Foundation, www.thelucafoundation.org.uk store.Sharon has also launched her own book that also supports her charity work, ‘Angel Warrior’, available from 12th October 2020 on www.lkecostyle.com explaining her journey of how she learnt to live again after the loss of Luca, with a hope it will help bereaved parents in their own journey’s too. Sharon’s thoughts were that ‘Angel Warrior’ should become the new name for bereaved parents, to eventually break the silence in this topic.)
Zoe’s Place:
Provides palliative, respite and end-of-life care to babies and infants.
Contact: Tracey Armstrong
The Acorn Centre
The Acorn Centre offers a specialist counselling service for anyone affected by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, TFMR, stillbirth or neonatal death, postnatal depression and offers post abortion support. During the pandemic the Centre is offering remote online counselling sessions, with plans to re-open the Centre for face-to-face counselling again once restrictions have eased.
Contact Jane Brown by email info@acorncentrewarks.org.uk or call 07884 966464.
Website: www.acorncentrewarks.org.uk
Registered charity number: 1163154
Chaplaincy Departments:
Rev Frances Tyler (SWFT) frances.tyler@swft.nhs.uk
Rev Kerrie Marsden (UHCW) Kerrie.marsden@uhcw.nhs.uk
Rev Ricarda Witcombe (GEH) Ricarda.witcombe@geh.nhs.uk
Midwives:
Mandy Price: Amanda.price@swft.nhs.uk
Stef Carter: Stephanie.Carter@uhcw.nhs.uk
Jackie Davies: Jacqueline.Davies@geh.nhs.uk
Coventry Cathedral:
Rev Canon Kathryn Fleming
Kathryn.Fleming@CoventryCathedral.org.uk
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