Bereaved Crawley mum to host remembrance service as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week

The Wave of Light service, hosted by Shelby Beeden, will take place on Thursday, October 15, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at St Barnabas’ Church, Pound Hill, Crawley.

The evening will offer a gentle and welcoming space for anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss to come together in remembrance. The service will include readings, moments of reflection and the opportunity to take part in the global Wave of Light by lighting a candle at 7pm.

A raffle will also take place during the evening, with proceeds going to Oscar’s Wish Foundation, a Sussex-based registered charity supporting parents, families and siblings following the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss.

The charity provides compassionate bereavement support, resources and support networks for bereaved families, as well as supporting families during pregnancy after loss.

It also works with local hospitals and educational settings to help ensure families receive understanding and support during an incredibly difficult time.

As part of Baby Loss Awareness week, residents of Crawley and surrounding areas are also invited to write the names of babies who are loved and remembered on ribbons, which will be tied to special remembrance trees within the church.

The ribbons will create a lasting and visual tribute to the babies who are no longer here, while giving families a meaningful way to honour their memories.

Shelby said: “I hope that putting on this Wave of Light service will spark conversations about pregnancy loss and baby loss, and give local bereaved parents and families an opportunity to come together to remember and talk about their precious babies.

“As someone who has experienced multiple losses, I have found it really difficult to find a space where I felt able to grieve. I have often felt that remembrance events were difficult to access locally, or that I was left lighting a candle alone at home.

“That is why I wanted to create something here in Crawley. I really hope this service helps other families to feel less alone and gives them a safe, compassionate space to remember their babies.

“I’m also incredibly proud that the event is being held in support of Oscar’s Wish Foundation. The charity supported me following my own miscarriages, and I know first-hand how important it is to have someone there who understands the impact of loss.

“I hope the raffle will help raise valuable funds so that they can continue supporting other bereaved families across Sussex.”

Clea Harmer, chief executive of Sands and chair of the Baby Loss Awareness Alliance, said: “Baby Loss Awareness Week is a vital moment in the year to raise awareness of the scale and impact of pregnancy and baby loss. This heartbreak leaves a deep and lasting impact on the lives of so many parents and families, yet we know that it is still not known or spoken about enough.

“It’s also an important time to let anyone touched by pregnancy or baby loss know that there is a community that understands and is here for you, whatever you need – be it guidance, shared real stories or simply a listening ear to help and offer comfort.

“Everyone can help break the silence, by asking a family member, friend, or work colleague if they would like to talk about their babies and build a world where everyone knows how to find the support they need.

“I hope that the Wave of Light in Crawley will help reassure anyone who finds themselves navigating this journey, whether recently bereaved or longer ago. You are not alone. We’re here for you, always.

“On behalf of the Alliance, a huge thank you to everyone helping us to have those important conversations about pregnancy and baby loss in compassionate ways.”

Every day in the UK, 13 babies die shortly before, during or soon after birth – and there's still much uncertainty around the numbers and rates of pregnancy loss, with evidence suggesting at least one in six pregnancies end in miscarriage.

There are also many other types of loss not included in these numbers, such as ectopic pregnancies, terminations for medical reasons and babies who die due to sudden infant death syndrome.

Half of UK adults have said that they, or someone they know, had experienced at least one form of pregnancy or baby loss.

Baby Loss Awareness Week, which is held between October 9 and 15, is an opportunity for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together to remember and commemorate our much-loved and missed babies.

The week also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of pregnancy and baby loss; the importance that bereavement support plays in the ongoing bereavement journey; and the vital work that is needed to improve pregnancy outcomes and save babies’ lives.

Baby Loss Awareness Week ends with the global ‘Wave of Light’ on October 15. Everyone is invited, wherever they are in the world, to light a candle at 7pm local time as a special mark of support and remembrance.

To purchase raffle tickets for this event please visit https://www.oscarswishfoundation.co.uk/events-1/raffle-for-oscars-wish-foundation-wol-blaw.