A service will be held at South Wales Police headquarters dedicated to anyone who has been affected by pregnancy loss or the loss of a baby.

 

It is to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, and South Wales Police Federation members who have experienced it or have been touched by the loss of a baby are invited to attend.

 

The event will take place on Monday (7 October) in the Police Learning Centre at Force headquarters in Bridgend.

 

It will involve the lighting of candles, words of remembrance from Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies and chaplain Ian Howells, and a moment of reflection.

 

 

Sergeant Alison (Ali) Robinson, who helped launch the Force’s Baby Loss Peer Support Group, said: “The service is for anyone in the Force who has been touched by baby loss.”

 

An LED candle will be left in place in the Police Learning Centre throughout Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 to 15 October) alongside a memory tree.

 

Ali said: “Hopefully, it will give people a moment of peace and let them reflect on their own experiences or losses or think about loved ones they know who have gone through it.

 

“It’s somewhere physical for them to visit, if they want to.

 

“It also lets people who may have gone through it know they are not on their own.

 

“Baby loss is common, but it’s not something that people talk about much, so it’s having a community feel and for people to not think they are alone.”

Ali created the Force’s Baby Loss Peer Support Group with Detective Constable Amy Evans and Customer Service Manager Katie Aubrey.

 

“We’ve got a team of 16 volunteers who have all had training from Sands, the baby loss charity, on how to support a colleague going through a loss,” explained Ali.

 

“We’re there to offer emotional support, and also advice, guidance, and to signpost to more specialist support.

 

“It’s for any member of staff, officer or colleague, who has experienced baby loss or is suffering and needs some support.

 

“Even if the loss is not recent, we are there. We have one lady who lost twins 30 years ago and talks about how the grief still affects her.

 

“We also help line managers and supervisors to support someone who is going through a loss.”

 

For more information on the group email BabyLossPeerSG@south-wales.police.uk or search ‘Baby Loss Support’ on the Force intranet.