Growing Alliance of charities unite with bereaved families for Baby Loss Awareness Week 2025
Charities call on everyone to ‘Wear, Share, Care’ this October
More than 130 charities and organisations across the UK and beyond are joining together for Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October) to raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss, as part of a growing community of parents and families, supported by workplaces and businesses, places of worship, and national, regional and local landmarks and cultural centres.
The week is anchored around the theme ‘Together we care’, focusing on ways to look after yourself and people you know touched by baby loss. The Alliance is supporting everyone getting involved with the week to ‘Wear, Share, Care’ so they can be thoughtful allies during Baby Loss Awareness Week and ensure everyone affected knows they are not alone and can get the support they need.
From an initiative started by a group of parents 23 years ago, Baby Loss Awareness Week has grown into today’s Alliance of over 130 dedicated pregnancy and baby loss organisations led by Sands, Tommy’s, Bliss, The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, The Lullaby Trust, and The Miscarriage Association.
The Baby Loss Awareness Week Alliance of charities is encouraging everyone to wear a BLAW pin badge, charm, or to turn Pink and Blue their own way and to share why they are doing this during #BLAW – on social media or with family, friends and colleagues. The charities also want everyone to know there are many organisations here to care for and support anyone who needs this in the run up, during, and after the campaign.
Half of UK adults have said that they, or someone they know, had experienced at least one form of pregnancy or baby loss.1 So it’s vital that everyone knows that they are not alone and that there is a community that understands and is here for them, whatever they need – be it guidance, shared stories or simply a listening ear to help and offer comfort.
Chief Executive of Sands, and Chair of the Baby Loss Awareness Alliance, Clea Harmer said: “Sometimes, the simplest ways to get involved can help you feel part of something much bigger. We want more people than ever before to wear a BLAW pin badge, charm, or to turn Pink and Blue their own way. And we need as many people as possible to share why they are doing so to help raise awareness during this special week.
“Baby Loss Awareness Week helps to unite the pregnancy and baby loss community; we come together and speak out across the week to increase understanding of the impact of loss and remember all our much-missed babies gone too soon. It also plays a crucial role in raising awareness of the importance of ongoing bereavement support and the essential work required to improve pregnancy outcomes and save babies’ lives.
“Few experiences can compare to the trauma and pain of pregnancy and baby loss and it can feel like you are alone in your grief. That’s why we want as many people as possible to wear a Baby Loss Awareness Week pin badge to help start more conversations, and to raise awareness of the support that is available to anyone who needs this.”
Baby Loss community unites this October
Parents and families affected by pregnancy and baby loss will be joining together in communities across the UK, in person and online, to take part in a range of activities to remember and talk about their babies and experiences this Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Throughout the week people will be putting up ribbon displays, knitting post box toppers, painting pebbles with their babies’ names, lighting up their homes, businesses and high streets, painting their nails, dyeing their hair, or dressing up in Pink and Blue – the colours of Baby Loss Awareness Week. All the activities are designed to open up conversations about pregnancy and baby loss in local neighbourhoods, workplaces and community spaces.
With the support of the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) on Baby Loss and Maternity and Patient Safety, the Alliance has secured a three-hour debate on 13 October in the main chamber of the House of Commons focusing on baby loss and maternity safety.
Baby Loss Awareness Week will draw to a close at 7pm on 15 October when candles for all our babies gone too soon are left burning for one hour during the global Wave of Light, with many joining together online, creating a trending moment of connection and collective remembrance across the UK.
Clea Harmer said: “The growth of Baby Loss Awareness Week is incredible. Every year we see more friends, family, colleagues and businesses join in with activities in allyship with those directly impacted by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.
“We want more people than ever to ‘Wear and Share with Care’ this year – not only those who have been touched by baby loss but also anyone who wants to show that they stand alongside their family members, friends and colleagues, to help break the silence.
“We’re encouraging those brilliant businesses, organisations, landmarks and buildings that light up or turn pink and blue, during Baby Loss Awareness Week, to join us in explaining why they are doing so and signpost to help and advice. On behalf of the Alliance, a huge thank you to everyone helping us to have those important conversations about loss in compassionate ways.”
Advice on looking after yourself or others after pregnancy or baby loss
Whether you’re someone who has experienced loss, a family member, friend or healthcare professional, we want you to know this Alliance stands together with you. Here are our tops tips for managing the week:
- Pick and choose how you want to support. Don’t feel you have to do everything
- Plan some activities that are special to you that week
- Make space for self-care during the week. We will be talking a lot about this during the week
- Turn off notifications and online check social media when you feel up for it
- Reach out for support if you need it. We are here.
- Let friends and family know your boundaries, so they understand it’s okay if you don’t engage
- Engage with content that brings you comfort or joy. Remember, choosing not to participate does not take away from your experience. Your healing and well-being come first.
Stories of pregnancy and baby loss
There are many stories of pregnancy and baby loss on the Baby Loss Awareness Week website. Many of the charities that support Baby Loss Awareness Week will be sharing stories of people who have experienced bereavement and found ways to cope with their loss and build a life around their grief. Follow #BLAW to find these stories on social media.
Baby Loss Awareness Week activities across the UK
Throughout the week, landmarks and buildings across the UK will be lit up pink and blue – the colours of Baby Loss Awareness Week – and people will be holding remembrance events and creating ribbon displays in their local communities to help raise awareness of the impact of pregnancy and baby loss, remember much-loved babies and open up conversations around this issue.
Many major buildings and landmarks across the UK are supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Those lighting up Pink and Blue include:
- Tower 42, CIty of London.
- Alexandra Palace, London.
- Kings College Hospital, London.
- John Lewis, Oxford Street, London.
- Faraday Tower, Swansea.
- The Kelpies, Falkirk.
- 02 Guildhall, Southampton.
- St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
- Whitehaven Harbour, Cumbria.
- Conisbrough Castle, Doncaster.
- Durham Cathedral.
Locations hosting Ribbon displays and Remembrance Events include:
- Stormont, Northern Ireland Assembly (hosting a Ribbon Display).
- Alnwick Garden, Northumberland.
- York Minster.
The Baby Loss Awareness Week website lists a wide range of organisations that provide a whole range of support, from booklets and leaflets to online groups and help lines, as well as resources and training for health professionals working with and supporting bereaved families.
Baby Loss Awareness Week will culminate in a global Wave of Light at 7pm on 15 October. This is a special time when 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 for all babies that have died, and pregnancies lost. Anyone can join a digital Wave of Light from 7pm on 15 October by posting a photo of their candle to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #WaveOfLight.
For more information visit: babyloss-awareness.org and follow #BLAW on social media.
