Other helpful organisations

Abortion Recovery Care and Helpline (ARCH)

Area served: National

Telephone: 0345 603 8501

Website: www.archtrust.org.uk

Dedicated to promoting the emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being, by the provision of real understanding, counselling and supportive help to women, men and families after abortion. Services are confidential and free of charge. They offer a helpline staffed by volunteer Befrienders and free one to one counselling.

info@archtrust.org.uk

Hours: Helpline, 7pm - 10pm daily

Action on Pre-eclampsia (APEC)

Area served: National

Telephone: 01386 761848

Website: www.action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk

Action on Pre-eclampsia (also known as APEC) aims to raise public and professional awareness of pre-eclampsia, improve care, and ease or prevent physical and emotional suffering caused by the disease. They do do this by providing information and support to people throughout the UK who are affected by pre-eclampsia.

info@apec.org.uk

Hours: Helpline, Monday to Friday 9am - 9pm

Aidan's Elephants

Area served: National

Website: www.aidanselephants.co.uk

A charity which donates memory boxes, receipt of life certificates and other memory keepsakes to Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Yorkshire. Also offers national online support via its website and social media to anyone affected by the loss of a baby or young child of any gestation or age. Will signpost bereaved parents to other organisations where necessary.

aidanselephants@gmail.com

Alternatives Counselling & Listening Rooms

Area served: Dundee & Tayside

Telephone: 01382 221 112

Website: www.alternativesdundee.org

They offer support to parents who must make a pregnancy decision, pregnancy loss, abortion care, infertility, and children in care. Sometimes these can be long held secrets or people might just need to someone not involved with them.

info@alternativesdundee.co.uk

Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC)

Area served: National

Telephone: 0207 713 7486

Website: www.arc-uk.org

ARC offers non-directive information and support to parents before, during and after antenatal screening; when they are told their baby has an anomaly; when they are making difficult decisions about continuing with or ending a pregnancy, and when they are coping with complex and painful issues after making a decision, including bereavement.

info@arc-uk.org

Hours: Helpline, Monday to Friday 9 - 5pm and 7 - 10pm

Baby Loss Retreat

Area served: Scotland

Telephone: 07868 557 343

Website: www.babylossretreat.org.uk

They offer residential retreat to couples who have suffered the loss of a child. 3 locations in Scotland, with counselling available to help couples speak in a quiet environment about their experience together. They also offer a support group every 3 weeks, a live lunch every 6 months, newsletter, and online social media.

babylossretreat@hotmail.com

Black Country Maternal Mental Health Service

Area served: Black Country area of Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley & Sandwell

Telephone: 0121 803 1345

Services: The MMHS provide services for women and birthing people who have experienced a perinatal loss, including miscarriage (any gestation), termination of pregnancy (medical or social), stillbirth and neonatal death (neonatal death would include up to 28 days after birth however they have considered accepting those who may fall slightly outside of this, decided case by case) and are suffering with moderate to severe mental health problems. They cover the Black Country area, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley & Sandwell. It is an NHS service, and support is free. Currently they do not accept self-referrals, and the best way to get referred is via the GP, or even midwives. They have a team of clinical psychologists, specialist bereavement midwives, as well as peer support workers. For more information copy and paste this link into your browser https://www.walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Black-Country-Maternal-Mental-Health-Leaflet.pdf

Hours: Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 17:00 (excluding bank holidays)

Bliss

Area served: National

Telephone: 020 7378 1122

Website: www.bliss.org.uk

BLISS exists to give every baby born premature or sick in the UK the best chance of survival and quality of life. They champion their right to receive the best care by supporting families, campaigning for change and supporting professionals and enabling life-changing research.

hello@bliss.org.uk

Brief Lives - Remembered

Area served: National

Telephone: 07807 531084

Website: www.brieflives-remembered.co.uk

Brief lives remembered support families whose baby was stillborn or born and died in decades gone by, whether they live locally or around the world. They provide a remembrance book for babies and children and assist families with tracing their baby's grave.

brieflivesremembered@hotmail.co.uk

By Your Side (Maternal Mental Health Service)

Area served: Essex - SW, SE, W and Mid

Telephone: 01621 866 900

Website: https://eput.nhs.uk/our-services/by-your-side-maternal-mental-health-service/

The loss of a baby is a devastating experience and one that can bring a range of thoughts, feelings and responses which can feel confusing, bewildering and isolating. By Your Side is a maternal mental health service provided by Essex Partnership University NHS Trust, in collaboration with midwifery colleagues, which offers therapeutic care and grief therapy for people who were pregnant and have experienced a perinatal loss. Our team aims to help people with their loss, being by your side during a devastating time.

By Your Side is enhanced by midwifery expertise, further integrating joint working between mental health and maternity services, while also working alongside pre-existing mental health services, third sector organisations and specialist midwives across Essex.

Email: epunft.byyourside-maternalmentalhealth@nhs.net

Child Bereavement UK (CBUK)

Area served: National

Telephone: 0800 02 888 40

Website: www.childbereavementuk.org

Supporting children, young people, parents, and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. They also educates professionals when a baby or child dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

helpline@childbereavementuk.org

FirstLight

Area served: Ireland

Telephone: 1800 391 391

Website: www.firstlight.ie

A bereavement support service for parents and families anywhere in Ireland who experience the sudden loss of a child up to the age of 18 years. They offer a national 24 hour helpline, home visits, therapy and peer support groups.

info@firstlight.ie

Hours: Helpline 24 hour

Footsteps Counselling and Care

Area served: Gloucestershire

Telephone: 01452 308 618

Website: www.footstepscandc.org.uk

A charity supporting anyone who has experienced fertility or pregnancy issues, traumatic birth or baby loss at any time and any age in the Gloucestershire area.

office@footstepscandc.org.uk

Forever Stars

Area served: East Midlands

Telephone: 0787 246 3856

Website: www.foreverstars.org

An East Midlands charity dedicated to supporting families who have suffered a stillbirth or infant loss. The charity funds bereavement suites, training for midwives, counselling services for siblings affected by baby loss as well as providing support materials for families and a remembrance garden.

jo.sharp@foreverstars.org

Glasgow Children’s Hospital Service

Area served: Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Telephone: 0141 370 4747

Website: www.childbereavementuk.org/glasgow-childrens-hospital-service

Child Bereavement UK is commissioned by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with funding from Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity to provide bereavement support for families bereaved of a baby or child, and to support NHS GG&C staff affected by the death of a child or with working in this field.

GHsupport@childbereavementuk.org

Graceful Angels

Area served: Essex

Telephone: 07962 265 110

A support group set up by bereaved mum, Catherine Patel in memory of her daughter, Grace who passed away at 10 months of age in 2014. Grace was a twin. Graceful Angels will support families through the loss of a multiple baby/child by offering a monthly meeting giving the opportunity for parents to meet with others.

gracefulangels29@gmail.com

Held in our Hearts

Area served: Edinburgh and Lothians

Telephone: 0131 622 6263

Website: www.heldinourhearts.org.uk

A charity which supports families in Edinburgh and the Lothians (originally was Edinburgh SANDS) with baby loss. They have online group support, one to one, group, befriending and counselling to offer.

info@heldinourhearts.org.uk

Lullaby Trust

Area served: National

Telephone: 0808 802 6868

Website: www.lullabytrust.org.uk

Confidential support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young toddler. Support offered for families, friends, carers and professionals. Helpline, Befrienders, Online discussion forum, Family Days, In Memory Site.

support@lullabytrust.org.uk

Hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00 - 17.00 and Weekends 18.00 - 22.00

Making Miracles

Area served: England

Telephone: 01622 735230

Website: www.makingmiracles.org.uk

Provides baby trauma support and bereavement care. This is achieved through professional counselling, support groups, a baby memorial garden, memorial bears and 'The Baby' book. They offer support to the whole family including grandparents and siblings.

kelly@makingmiracles.org.uk

Maternity & Neonatal Advocacy Service in Mid & South Essex

Area served: Mid and South Essex

Website: https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/work/maternity/maternity-and-neonatal-independent-senior-advocate/

Support and advocacy for women and families who have experienced baby loss in the Mid & South Essex area.

Anyone who has experienced any of the following adverse outcomes during their care in mid and south Essex can seek support from the MNISA, whether this is something that happened recently or some time ago:

your baby died after 24 weeks of pregnancy up to 28 days after birth,
your baby was diagnosed with (or suspected to have) a brain injury,
you had a hysterectomy (removal of the womb) during childbirth or within six weeks,
you were admitted to critical/intensive care,
the baby’s mother/birthing parent died

Referrals are made online via the website

Maternity Trauma and Loss Care (M-TLC)

Area served: London areas

Website: www.westlondon.nhs.uk/maternitytrauma/referral

The Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service - also known as M-TLC - provides specialist support and treatment to woman and pregnant people, those who have experiences pregnancy or birth, their families and supported network - who are affected by birth trauma or baby loss. Working in partnership with Central North and West London mental health and maternity trusts.

Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith or Fulham
wlm-tr.maternitytlc@nhs.net or 0800 328 4444

Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington, Chelsea or Westminster
cnwl.maternitytlc@nhs.net or 0800 0234 650

Miscarriage Association

Area served: National

Telephone: 01924 200 799

Website: www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Information and support for anyone affected by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.

info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk
magroupni@gmail.com (for Northern Ireland)

Hours: Helpline, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm

Miscarriage Support (MISS)

Area served: Scotland

Telephone: 07808 638 428

Website: www.miss-support.org.uk

A miscarriage support service covering all of Scotland for anyone who has experienced baby loss. They offer immediate support by phone, text, WhatsApp. Support groups are currently held online.

info@miss-support.org.uk

Peas in a Pod - Loss in a Multiple Pregnancy

Area served: Ireland

Telephone: 353 85 1920602

Website: www.inha.ie

Peas in a Pod: loss in a multiple pregnancy works in partnership with the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance. It was set up by a group of bereaved parents who lost a baby (babies) in a multiple pregnancy. It acts as an awareness and advocacy group. This is for people based in Ireland.

peasinapodireland@gmail.com

Petals Charity

Area served: Cambridge, London, Oxford and Ipswich

Telephone: 0300 688 0068

Website: www.petalscharity.org

Charity providing specialist counselling to parents suffering trauma and loss during pregnancy and birth. Counselling is offered at Addenbrooks Hospital, Cambridge, Queen Charlotte's Hospital and St Mary's Hospital, London, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford and Ipswich Hospital.

counselling@petalscharity.org

Philip's Footprints

Area served: Jersey

Telephone: 01534 631173

Website: www.philipsfootprints.org

Philip's Footprints offer memory boxes to local families in Jersey who have sadly lost a baby or child from 12-14 weeks gestation to full term or neonatal loss and older children. They offer peer support and an annual remembrance service for families affected by the loss of a baby (any gestation) or child.

support@philipsfootprints.org

Pregnancy Sickness Support

Telephone: 024 7638 2020

Website: www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk

The PSS Community Space is a safe, online space for anyone affected by pregnancy sickness or HG where you can receive help and support. Loss after HG can feel like a double dose of cruelty; to suffer so much and not have a baby to bring home at the end of it and the Community Space is there for you to share your experience and find others who have been through HG and Loss too.

office@pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk

SANDS

Area served: National

Telephone: 0808 164 3332

Website: www.sands.org.uk

Support for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. They provide bereavement support services both nationally through the helpline, mobile app, online community and resources, and locally through a UK-wide network of around 100 regional support groups.

helpline@sands.org.uk
northernireland@sands.org.uk (for Northern Ireland)

Scottish Cot Death Trust

Area served: Scotland

Telephone: 0141 357 3946

Website: www.scottishcotdeathtrust.org

Offers support and information for families who have suffered the sudden and unexpected death of babies and young children. They also educate the public and professionals about sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI).

contact@scottishcotdeathtrust.org

SiMBA Charity

Area served: Scotland

Telephone: 0131 353 0055

Website: www.simbacharity.org.uk

SiMBA provide memory boxes to bereaved parents, offer support groups online for anyone affected by the loss of a baby. They provide tree of tranquillity locations throughout Scotland and are working to providing specialist family rooms within maternity units.

enquiries@simbacharity.org.uk

The Alder Centre

Area served: Liverpool and surrounding area

Telephone: 0151 252 5391

Website: www.aldercentre.org.uk

The Alder Centre is a place like no other, providing bereavement care and education for anyone affected by the death of a child of any age. They provide a variety of free, confidential services to people bereaved through child loss. Counselling, befriending, therapeutic breaks and holistic therapies are available.

alder.centre@alderhey.nhs.uk

Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

The Foundation for Infant Loss Training

Area served: National

Website: www.foundationforinfantloss.co.uk

The Foundation for Infant Loss Training is committed to providing first class education in Pregnancy and Infant Loss and how to best support bereaved families. They also offer a baby loss directory, supporting families by signposting them to financial assistance, information or counselling provision.

info@foundationforinfantloss.co.uk

The Lily Foundation

Area served: National

Telephone: 0300 400 1234

Website: www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk

The Lily Foundation is a charity fighting mitochondrial disease, fighting for hope. They raise money to fund research, raise awareness and support affected families and adults living with mitochondrial disease. Talking to someone who understands can bring a sense of relief and clarity for patients and families.

liz@thelilyfoundation.org.uk

The Lily Mae Foundation

Area served: West Midlands and Warwickshire

Telephone: 01676 532 679

Website: www.lilymaefoundation.org

Supports parents and families who have tragically and traumatically lost a baby to stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage and medical termination. Raising awareness of how tragically common the loss of a baby is.

info@lilymaefoundation.org

The Mariposa Trust

Area served: National

Telephone: 0300 323 1350

Website: www.mariposatrust.org

The Mariposa Trust offers support to anyone who has been affected by the loss of a child at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy. This is provided through remembrance services at Cathedrals, Minsters, Abbeys, and via a support service, which is accessed by over 50,000 people each week globally.

info@mariposatrust.org

Tiny Life

Area served: Northern Ireland

Telephone: 028 9081 5050

Website: www.tinylife.org.uk

They support parents who experience the birth of a premature, ill, or disabled baby. Family support services, specialist programmes and events.

info@tinylife.org.uk

Tommy's

Area served: National

Telephone: 0800 014 7800

Website: https://www.tommys.org/

Sadly, some babies are lost during pregnancy, birth, or shortly afterwards. Tommy’s have information and support for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or termination for medical reasons.

midwife@tommys.org.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Twins Trust Bereavement Service

Website: https://twinstrust.org/bereavement.html

A national organisation providing bereavement support to all parents who have lost a baby or babies from a multiple pregnancy, either during pregnancy or after birth.

Copy and paste the link below to view their Navigating Grief Booklet, written by Emma Fogden, a counsellor with first-hand experience of baby loss.

https://twinstrust.org/bereavement/support/navigating-grief-booklet.html

Twins Trust Bereavement Support Service

Area served: National

Telephone: 0800 138 0509

Website: www.twinstrust.org/bereavement

The Twins Trust Bereavement Support Service exists to support all parents and carers of twins, triplets or more who have died whether it was during or after pregnancy.

bereavementsupport@twinstrust.org

Zephyr's

Area served: Nottingham and surrounding areas

Telephone: 07915 995532

Website: www.zephyrsnottingham.org.uk

Zephyr's - support for bereaved families touched by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby or child of any age. Their creative, and holistic approach is softly nurturing, inclusive, non judgemental and open to anyone in Nottingham county, and beyond. Their events and activities have included counselling, yoga, photography, crafts, social Saturdays, seasonal walks, weekly drop ins, creative writing, celebrations, and much more.

contact@zephyrsnottingham.org.uk