Fort Regent and Elizabeth Castle have been lit up in pink and blue as part of a national campaign honouring babies who have died and reminding bereaved families that they are not alone.
Baby Loss Awareness Week, which runs until Wednesday, is being co-ordinated locally by Jersey chairty Philip’s Footprints, which supports families through pregnancy loss and stillbirth.
Alongside the illuminations, the organisation – which was founded in 2008 by Jo and Paul Nash after the loss of their second-born, Philip – will host a remembrance walk and bereavement training for professionals.
Speaking to Express this week, Philip’s Footprints chair Kenan Osborne said: “During this week we’re doing various activities to raise awareness – firstly about who we are, so that people who have lost a child during pregnancy or early years or up to 18 know we’re here to support them.”
Mr Osborne said the charity’s annual Starlight Walk will return for its 10th year tomorrow, offering families the opportunity to walk in memory of a loved one along a 10km route between the Waterfront and St Aubin.
“It’s a chance for people to walk in memory of a loved one,” he said.
“Sometimes people don’t know when to talk about a loss. We’re trying to provide a mechanism, a chance and, hopefully, a night of conversation.”
As part of the awareness week, UK stillbirth charity SANDS will also visit the island to deliver two days of pregnancy and baby boss bereavement care training to 44 health professionals.
“That’s to help them understand how to deal with bereavement, especially with couples who’ve just lost a child,” Mr Osborne said.
The week will conclude on Wednesday at 19:00 with the Global Wave of Light, when families across time zones light candles for one hour to create a rolling tribute to babies who have died.
“When the next time zone hits seven o’clock globally, they light their candles,” Mr Osborne said.
And when asked what advice he might have for bereaved parents, he said: “If you feel it’s the right time to talk, choose the people you know you can talk to.”
Mr Osborne added: “If you need something independent, or you want to be pointed in the direction of someone who doesn’t know you, come and talk to us, or look on our website, and we can point you to other people who can help you as well.
“But don’t bottle it up. Don’t keep it in.”
