Parents and families who have suffered baby loss will come together this week to remember their children who have died in pregnancy or birth.

Yesterday (October 9) marked the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week in the UK, a week giving grieving families the chance to pay tribute and hold vigil to their lost children.

The event, now in its 10th year, is the only official remembrance for baby loss, something that affects countless people from all walks of life.

The campaign started with Baby Loss Awareness Day in 2002, by parents who took inspiration from Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the US. Then by 2003 it expanded into a week long event of remembrance including events all over the UK.

Throughout the week, families across Salford and further afield will join together at various events organised to give them a place to mourn in solidarity with others.

Salford’s Emmanuel Centre Langworthy is holding a vigil in light of Baby Loss Awareness Week 2022.

In the run up to Saturday’s Wave of Light ceremony at Emmanuel Centre Langworthy, Visit From The Stork CIC are running a week long programme of events to support families in Salford.

On Tuesday (11th October) from 4-5.30 pm, a session of family mindfulness in partnership with The Sea Within Mindfulness, tying in with World Mental Health Day.

On Wednesday (12th October) from 10.30am-midday, a memorial keepsake session is taking place where you can keep your keepsake or add it to a remembrance tree which will be on display at the ceremony on Saturday.

On Thursday (13th October) The Stork’s ‘Mother’s Together’ session is to take place from 11am- midday.

The week of awareness concludes with the official ‘Wave of Light’ Ceremony on Saturday October 15 from 6.45pm.

The official event of remembrance “Wave of Light” is globally renowned and takes place on October 15 at 7pm. It involves lighting a candle and leaving it to shine for at least one hour in honor of all the babies who have lost their lives.

These ceremonies take place all over the UK and provide a close knit community that parents and loved ones of babies who are no longer with us.

For those unable to attend the event in person, there is also a virtual Wave of Light.

To join this you need to take a picture of your candle and post it to either Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the #WaveOfLight at 7pm.  More than 100 buildings across the UK will be lit up in pink and blue, Manchester Cathedral being the most local to Salford.

The week-long event also aims to increase awareness around baby loss and improve the information and support during pregnancy and after birth.

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