We started our petition on Change.org a couple of years ago and for the first 18 months we saw the signatures rise slowly but steadily.


We knew that it would take time and it would build and get more signatures as the charity got bigger and our social media audience grew.


At times it could be quite disheartening, the cause behind the petition is so important to us and we wanted to see the numbers rise quickly. However we all spoke about it and realised that it would take patience and perseverance, just like it has been for the charity.


Over the last 3 months the signatures have started to rise at a much quicker rate and it is exciting every time we click on to see what the current total is.


To us it makes total sense that the current bereavement support available to families after the death of a baby or child needs changing.
We are getting families contacting us or visiting our website on a daily basis looking for help and support.
If the current bereavement services were working effectively then our charity would not be developing at the rate it currently is.


In an ideal world there would never have been a need for us to start our charity as Carrie would have been given the correct help and support when she needed it. But that didn't happen and here we are over 5 years later and families are still not receiving the correct support.


It makes us really angry to see that very little has changed since 2012. Initially we thought maybe Leeds was just a one off but now we have families from all across the UK saying that they have been through or are going through loss without professional support.


There is always talk about local authorities carrying out service reviews but then nothing else seems to happen. Often we think that they make the right noises when it is coming up to election time or when there has been a high profile incident in the press. Once the press has died down and the elections have passed then suddenly the review seems to strangely get put on hold for a more 'important issue'.


There are so many bereaved parents and families out there that are crying out for help and support and thankfully now many are receiving that through us, but there are hundreds more sitting at home not knowing where to turn or who to talk to. No one should ever have to go through the death of their baby or child alone.


We are happy to be able to provide for these families but the professionals need to take some ownership of the service they provide, or should I say don't provide at the minute.
Co-operation and collaboration is a big part of making improvements work and we have always been willing to meet with and work with any service if it means that the families benefit.


We do not want to cause a fuss but if we think that things are not improving then we are more than happy to stand up and speak for the families that are struggling.


They need a voice, they are going through one of the hardest losses any family will have to and many need an advocate that will put forward their opinions and feelings.  


When our petition reaches a certain amount of signatures it will become an agenda item in parliament, this is so important as only then will the MP's that seem to have all the power to initiate changes know what the reality is. Our petition is linked to the Department of Health and when someone signs it sends an email to the relevant department saying another signature has been completed. It would be great if we could get so many signing that they become fed up of having emails about us. It would be great to keep them busy and make them look at the thousands of families that this is affecting.


If you haven't signed our petition please do it now whilst you are reading, and don't forget to share it with every single person you know and even those you don't know.


https://www.change.org/p/department-of-health-to-ensure-a-coordinated-package-of-aftercare-for-all-families-following-the-loss-of-a-baby-child-which-will-involve-midwives-gps-and-full-support-networks


Lets work together to make the UK the best country in the world for bereavement support following the death of a baby or child.
Our initial goal was to make Leeds the flagship city in the provision of bereavement support but over the months this has changed. Now that we are helping families all across the country we know that it needs to be a UK wide goal.