The Launch of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2017, at The Houses of Parliament, London.

As one of over 40 charities which work together for Baby Loss Awareness Week, Aidan's Elephants was invited to attend two very special events which will take place today in the Houses of Parliament, London.

The Parliamentary launch of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2017
Wednesday 11th Oct, 13:00 – 15:00, Jubilee Room, off Westminster Hall
Both the Minister of Health Philip Dunne MP and the Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders MP will speak at the event, along with parents giving their personal accounts of baby loss. Dr Clea Harmer, CEO of the charity Sands, will present the draft National Bereavement Care Pathway, a comprehensive resource for professionals to enable them to provide excellent support for bereaved parents at whatever point their baby dies.  The Pathway will be launched across a eleven pilot sites for testing this October, and has been developed in partnership with parents, professionals, charities, commissioners and other stakeholders.  The Pathway has been made possible thanks to funding from the Department of Health and support from the APPG on Baby Loss. Invitations to the event have been given to MPs and Peers interested in baby loss and related issues, along with two members of each Baby Loss Awareness Alliance charity/non-profit.

Remembrance Event
Wednesday 11th Oct, 15:15 – St Mary’s Undercroft, off Westminster Hall
This event is a non-denominational remembrance service open to all invitees of the Parliamentary launch, as well as all MPs, Peers and Houses of Parliament staff.  The service will include a reading, hymns and a prayer.

As we are unable to travel up to London ourselves this year, we have asked two representatives to attend in our place. We are honoured to have Bev Beaumont (Bereavent Midwife, ANHSFT) and Gemma Sayer (Midwife, member of the Bereavement Team, ANHSFT) representing us in celebration of the bereavement care partnership between Aidan's Elephants and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust's Bereavement Team. They will be keeping us informed as events unfold today, and we look forward to sharing updates with you on Twitter, Facebook and here on this page.