As Baby Loss Awareness Week approaches, Skelton will join communities across the UK in coming together to remember and honour babies lost during pregnancy or shortly after birth. From 9th to 15th October, a special Ribbon Display will be set up at The Longacre in Skelton, providing bereaved families with a space to reflect, share, and raise awareness about the impact of baby loss.

This heartfelt initiative, led by local Sands supporter Vicki Pearson, invites individuals and families to contribute blue, pink, and white ribbons bearing the names of their lost babies to the display. These ribbons symbolise love, remembrance, and solidarity within the baby loss community. The display, visible to the public throughout the week, will offer comfort to those affected, reminding them that they are not alone in their grief.

Vicki Pearson, who has been fundraising for Sands since experiencing her own loss in 2018, explains, “I wanted to create a space where families can come together and feel supported. It’s important to break the silence that often surrounds pregnancy and baby loss. This display aims to raise awareness while also providing a way to remember our much-loved babies.”

In the UK, 13 families a day face the devastating loss of their baby, and 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Baby Loss Awareness Week shines a spotlight on these heartbreaking statistics, while also raising funds for Sands, the UK’s leading charity working to support bereaved families and reduce baby deaths through research and improved maternity care.

In his previous role as Cabinet Member for Children’s Services in Redcar and Cleveland, Luke contracted Leo’s, a charity dedicated to supporting families affected by pregnancy and baby loss, recognising the vital role it plays in providing specialised care for families affected by pregnancy and baby loss.  This collaboration, integrated within the Family Hubs, addresses both the emotional and mental health needs of grieving families, offering trauma counselling, peer support, and innovative therapies like EMDR.

For those wishing to participate, ribbons can be obtained by contacting Vicki Pearson directly. Pins representing baby loss awareness will also be available for a £1 donation inside The Longacre, with all proceeds going towards Sands’ vital work.

This year’s display is a reminder of the strength found in community and the importance of shared remembrance. By coming together, we honour the memory of the babies we have lost, and offer support to the families who have suffered these unimaginable losses.

To donate to Sands and support their work, visit JustGiving. For more information on Baby Loss Awareness Week, visit the Sands website.

Let’s break the silence, raise awareness, and remember the little ones who touched our hearts forever.