A Child of Mine: Commemorative Ribbons and a Cake Sale
On October 17th, the Community Craft Hub in Cheadle organised a bake sale to celebrate their second anniversary and to support the Child of Mine Charity. We spoke with Vicky & Kirsty to find out more.
Kirsty's Story
Kirsty from A Child of Mine Charity told our reporter about their special relationship. It started nearly a year ago when the hub started selling some of the charity's crochet items and then got involved in some of the charity's community projects, such as the Butterfly Installation where each handcrafted butterfly represented a Staffordshire child who had died this year.
"I can't just pop in here," said Kirsty. "I spend quite a bit of time talking with them, running over ideas for the charity, which is lovely, and it's so nice to see they are still here two years on. It's so lovely to have their support at A Child of Mine so that we can reach out to parents and families, anyone really who has been affected by the devastating loss of a child, including adult children. It doesn't matter how long ago; our support is available to everyone. It's never too late to get support or find a community you feel safe in."
"There's no waiting time for the service. We'll fit in a one-to-one as soon as we can, as and when you need it. There's no sign-up; it's just as and when, and if you haven't seen us for a couple of years and something reignites that grief, the door is always open for you to return."
Anyone can make a self-referral using our contact details. Healthcare professionals can also make referrals, and we have good relationships with some of the children's hospitals including Birmingham, and the maternity unit at Royal Stoke. We want to reach out to all healthcare professionals in Staffordshire and the Midlands to make sure they know about us. GPs have our details on record to hand out to anyone who needs bereavement care.
If you know of anyone who is struggling with the loss of a child, Kirsty recommends introducing them to their services. It's not something anyone likes talking about, but talking about our grief and having that support really helps.
Employers and HR departments can also signpost staff into the service. If someone in the workplace is struggling and they want to support them, they can contact us and ask, "How best can I do this?" It's all about becoming a more compassionate society, everyone working together, and we're here to have those awkward conversations people don't feel comfortable having. We're there for everyone.
You can contact Kirsty and the team at:
Tel: 01785 785819
Email: hello@achildofmine.org.uk
A Child of Mine: Commemorative Ribbons and a Cake Sale
