Shine a light for Baby Loss Awareness Week

Erskine Community Garden will host memorial event

Volunteers at Erskine Community Garden are inviting people who have been through pregnancy or infant loss to a special event as part of a national awareness week.

The peaceful gardens will be used for a memorial event on Thursday night to coincide with the Wave of Light across the UK, which will see places light up to show support to Baby Loss Awareness Week.

This week, to highlight the national campaign, the Express is speaking with Renfrewshire families who have been affected by baby loss, as well as highlighting the valuable work done by midwives, charities and groups to support families who have experienced miscarriage or the loss of a baby.

Kindhearted volunteers at the garden have been hosting an event for bereaved parents since opening the space in 2018.

Almost 50 people attend each year to use the community space to gather with other parents who are grieving the loss of their babies.

Every year, volunteers organise a small memorial for parents, such as tying ribbons with their children’s names on a tree, or placing wooden hearts in a memorial frame.

This year, thoughtful volunteers will be making small pink and blue charms to give out to those who attend.

One of the volunteers at Erskine Community Garden, Heather Clissett, says they are happy they are able to provide parents with a space to reflect and remember their children.

She said: “When we first opened the garden in 2018 we were asking people what they would like to see the space used for, and one of the things that came up regularly was Baby Loss Awareness Week.

“We decided to organise something on the first year in 2018 and we weren’t sure what kind of response we would get.

“We were really surprised when about 40 people turned up and the response was great.

“Some people were gathering and speaking with others that came along and there were some people who were using it as a quiet place to come and think about their babies.

“We are just glad that we are able to provide that space for them.”

The event for Baby Loss Awareness Week will take place between 7pm and 8pm on Thursday night.

Volunteers will also stream it live on Facebook for anyone who would like to take part but is unable to attend.

Heather added: “We know that with the current Covid-19 pandemic, some people may not want to or will be unable to come along.

“So we will stream it for anyone who would still like to be involved.”

Erskine Community Garden’s event will coincide with the lighting up of Abbey Bridge in Paisley, which is set to be lit up in blue and pink as part of the national wave of light event.

On the final day of the week- long campaign, hundreds of landmarks across the UK light up from 7pm to 8pm to show support for bereaved parents.

The campaign, which works with more than 60 charities to support bereaved parents, has been running for 18 years.

We know that with the current Covid-19 pandemic some people may not want to or will be unable to come along. So we will stream it .

Heather Clissett