Pregnancy and baby loss is often a taboo subject. Help us break the silence around baby loss by talking to your friends, family and colleagues about Baby Loss Awareness Week, wearing a ribbon pin, finding landmarks to turn pink and blue and joining the global #WaveOfLight on 15 October. You can also show your support by changing your social media covers or adding a Twibbon to your profile. Remember to use #BLAW2021 in all your posts about the Week! Let's make 2021 the best year yet! 

Learn more at www.babyloss-awareness.org

Other things you can do:

• Turn your social media Pink & Blue - to make this super easy we have created a suite of images for you to use to help turn social media Pink and Blue. Choose from a range of profile images and banners for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, whether you are supporting as an individual or an organisation.
   
• Turn the UK Pink & Blue - approach buildings and landmarks in your region to light up in pink and blue. See these useful resources to get you started. 
   
• Contact your local media using template press releases for a Ribbon Remembrance Event or a local building that you have helped turn pink and blue! 
   
• Put up the Baby Loss Awareness Week posters and leaflets in your local community, shop windows or at any events you are organising or attending. 
   
• Take our BLAW e- action - we've made it quick and easy to email your MP
   
• Sign up for e-updates: join our mailing list to get the latest updates about Baby Loss Awareness Week.

This year we are delighted that NatWest Group are proudly supporting #BLAW2021 in partnership with Sands.

We are working with NatWest Group to bring you free virtual panel discussions throughout the week which will be streamed live on the BLAW Facebook page.

Topics for daily panel discussions:

• Monday 11 October – Looking after those who provide care and support and those on the frontline
• Tuesday 12 October  – Looking after siblings (children and adults)
• Wednesday 13 October – Looking after partners
• Thursday 14 October  – Looking after each other as a community (including the workplace)
• Friday 15 October – Remembering your baby and Wave of Light

Do make sure you click 'Follow' on the BLAW Facebook page so that you don't miss updates about the discussions and everything else that is happening during the Week.

Baby Loss Awareness Week culminates with the global Wave of Light on 15 October, which is also recognised as International Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Join the global Wave Of Light at 7pm local time on 15 October. Simply light a candle and leave it burning for at least 1 hour to remember all babies who have died too soon.

Post a photo of your candle to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #WaveOfLight

Wear your ribbon pin during Baby Loss Awareness Week 9-15 October to show your support for bereaved families and help raise awareness one ribbon at a time. Snap a selfie or a photo wearing your pin badge and share it on social media – remember to add #BLAW2021

Pins are available to purchase here

Complete 5km at home, at the gym, at your local park or on the roads. No matter how or where, run 5k during Baby Loss Awareness Week. We're asking you to take part on Friday 15 October but if you can't make that date, complete it another day during Baby Loss Awareness Week. 

By taking part in Ribbon Run you will help us to continue breaking the silence around baby loss. Your support means we can continue to raise awareness of baby loss, provide support to anyone affected by the death of a baby and prevent more babies from dying. No parent, family member, friend or colleague should face baby loss alone and with your help, we will always be there for them.

Run your 5k in memory of your own baby or babies, a friend’s or colleague's, or dedicate your run to all the babies that have gone too soon. 

Get involved in Baby Loss Awareness Week as an organisation and become a member. 

Join Baby Loss Awareness Week as a member and make a difference today.

In 2019 we had some amazing ambassadors and influencers supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week, including Will and Caro Greenwood, Malin Andersson, Nigel Martyn and many other celebrities, sports stars, bloggers and vloggers.

Watch this special video where they express their support and speak about the importance of breaking the taboo on pregnancy and baby loss.

We're delighted that the actor David Haig has recorded this exclusive video, talking about why Sands and Baby Loss Awareness Week are so important to him and his family.

Thank you for making Baby Loss Awareness Week so impactful. Take a look at the difference we made in 2019. 

Together with you, our amazing alliance charities and partners, we were able to raise more awareness than ever before, helping to instigate real change through Government with our Out Of Sight, Out of Mind report. Our incredible ambassadors shared their experiences encouraging our dedicated supporters to speak out and break the silence around baby loss. 

Take a look at the Baby Loss Awareness Week impact infographic or watch the animation below.

Last week, MPs held a debate to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week 2021. There were very powerful speeches from many MPs sharing their own and their constituents' experiences. They raised the need for more staff and resources in maternity services, better bereavement and mental health care after pregnancy and baby loss and more action to reduce avoidable deaths.

The Government response to the debate was made by new minister, Maria Caulfield MP. We were very pleased that she committed to further action on funding for bereavement suites, specialist staff and training.

You can watch the debate here and read a transcript here.

1. https://www.fertilityhelphub.com/

• It is an inclusive and free platform, offering a supportive community, fertility specialist guidance, shared stories and offers, collected together in one beautiful, optimistic space.

2. Bereaved Parent Online Support Events - Care for the Family

• Our special online support event offers understanding, encouragement and support to any parent who has suffered the death of their child, in any circumstance and at any age.
• Next events taking place on October 16^th and December 4^th 2021
• The event costs £15, to help cover admin feed but there is a ‘free ticket rate’ option when booking for those who are unable to afford this.

3. Welcome - A Child of Mine

• Uttoxeter Help Point – regular coffee mornings for anyone affected by the death of a baby or child at any age.
• Meetings at 9.30am, Uttoxeter Cares, 2 Hermitage Gardens, Holly road, Uttoxeter, ST14 7DT
• For more information contact Gayle on 01785 282343 or 07803 751229
• Next meetings for 2021: Monday 18^th October and Monday 29^th November

4. Home - Adam Blue Official (adamblueofficial.com)

• Bereaved Parents Support Network. 
• Adam Blue is committed to providing ongoing assistance and support to all bereaved parents. We aim to provide a judgement-free, safe and gentle space for everyone to land.

5. https://littlewhitefeathers.com/

• Website selling handmade cards and gifts to treasure in the hope of bringing a little comfort to anyone affected by the loss of a baby, child or a loved one. 
• Personalised candles currently on sale for Baby Loss Awareness Week 2021

6. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunday-tea-the-launch-tickets-166970875383

• Virtual afternoon tea for women who have experienced miscarriage, late miscarriage, still birth or neonatal loss.
• Taking place on Sunday October 10th at 11am
• Link to book: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunday-tea-the-launch-tickets-166970875383

7. https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/upcomingexhibitions/stillparents/