The Mariposa Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded by Zoë Clark-Coates, to support people who have suffered baby loss, in pregnancy, at birth or in infancy. It holds public Services of Remembrance, of any or no religious faith, across the UK to acknowledge the loss of a baby by their families, and by arranging specialist support divisions to help people with their associated grief and trauma. It is one of the organizations that supports baby loss awareness week.[1]
 | |
| Founder | Zoë Clark-Coates |
|---|---|
| Registration no. | 1151108 |
| Purpose | To support people who have suffered baby loss, in pregnancy, at birth or in infancy. |
| Website | mariposatrust.org |
Clark-Coates and her husband Andy set up the trust after remortgaging their home. The charity soon generated more than 600,000 online hits per month. There are now 250 volunteers – doctors, midwives, counsellors, fundraisers, and ambassadors including Nigella Lawson and Gabby Logan.[2]
It is a British charity that supports people through miscarriages, infant death, stillbirth and other problems with pregnancy and early parenthood.[3] The charity has organised numerous "Saying Goodbye" services at cathedrals and minsters around Britain [4] as well as fundraising events.[5]
Background edit
The organisation was founded by Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates, who lost five babies through miscarriage[6][7] and wanted to use their experiences to help others.[8] It launched in August 2012 and became a charity in March 2013. The primary aim of the charity is to support people who have lost a baby during any stage of pregnancy, at birth or during infancy.[9]
Around one in four pregnancies in the UK (around 250,000 per year) end in a miscarriage, with a further 4,000 through stillbirth and infant deaths.[8][10] The couple set up the charity because they believe that miscarriages and infant death are a taboo subject in Britain and that people can find it difficult to talk about.[11]
Events edit
The charity holds various "Saying Goodbye" services at cathedrals and minsters around Britain, with around 20 taking place in 2014. Locations have included cathedrals at Bradford,[4] Lichfield,[9] Derby,[12] Exeter,[13] York, Portsmouth[14] and Glasgow.[11] The services are provided for free and to all people of any or no faith.[8]
The charity's work is supported by volunteers who organise various fundraising events around the country. Sky diving events, called 'Jump for Love', have taken place in eight locations across Britain in association with the charity. The charity aims to have 254 'jumpers', one for every 1000 babies lost each year.[15] One event in Bristol was undertaken by a mother who had lost a baby two years prior in a miscarriage.[5][16][17]
Ambassadors and advocates edit
The charity has a range of ambassadors and advocates.[2]
References edit
- ^ "Organisations supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week – Baby Loss Awareness Week". babyloss-awareness.org. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ a b Tyzack, Anna (9 August 2018). "I coped with the grief of multiple miscarriages - and you can too". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ "Hotel to host Snow Ball in aid of Baby Loss". Eastbourne Herald. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ a b Lowson, Rob (18 October 2014). "Bereaved families invited to join special service at Bradford Cathedral". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Wirral mum hopes to raise vital funds in memory of stillborn daughter". Wirral Globe. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Couple start 'Saying Goodbye' services for lost babies". BBC News. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ Barry Nelson. "One last goodbye". The Northern Echo.
- ^ a b c Rees, Kate (18 November 2014). "Saying Goodbye child remembrance service to be held at Llandaff Cathedral". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Charity set up by Sutton woman to stage baby loss service". Sutton Coldfield Observer. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Miscarriage". Inside Out. BBC. February 21, 2005. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ a b "The saddest goodbye ... day of grief in Glasgow". The Herald. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Derby Cathedral hosts service to help bereaved parents cope with loss". Derby Telegraph. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Service for bereaved parents will be held at Exeter Cathedral". ITV News. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Saying Goodbye memorial service at York Minster". York Press. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Jump for Love". Jump for Love.
- ^ "Brave Bristol mum jumped in memory of little Danny". Bristol Post. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Crewe Lady Is Fundraising In Aid Of Saying Goodbye UK". The Crewe News. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2015.