As Philip’s Footprints celebrates its 15th anniversary, the charity has announced their new patron Dr Karen Kyd, the Lieutenant Governor’s wife.
Dr Kyd (pictured) will visit Rayner Clinic, the Women and Child Services Counselling Room and the Maternity Unit to see first-hand how the charity supports Jersey families.
Following the full-term stillbirth of their second son Philip in 2008, Jo and Paul Nash launched the charity a few months later providing memory boxes to families who had suffered the heartbreaking loss of a baby.
Today, around 850 babies are born in Jersey each year. For most, it is a joyous occasion bringing new life into the world. But some families do not get to take their much wanted and already much-loved babies home and instead they are left with a devastating and profound heartbreak. In the UK it is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss.
Philip’s Footprints provide support to those affected by the loss of a baby or child, offering comfort by donating memory boxes for the earliest of losses through to child loss up to 18 years of age, remembrance services, funding professional bereavement counselling and offering one to one support as well as regular support meetings.
In 2015 the charity trustees felt strongly about improving outcomes for babies born here and started their ‘Safer Pregnancy Projects’. These projects promote safer pregnancies, funding antenatal training, equipment and information for pregnant women to reduce the stillbirth and premature birth rate and complications at birth.
The charity has also funded one-off purchases such as fully equipped community midwife home birth bags, CuddleCots, and bereavement care training.
The charity continues to grow, also hosting bereavement support groups, 1 to 1 support for bereavement support and pregnancy after loss, and funding professional bereavement counselling.
Dr Kyd said: “I am delighted to become Patron of Philip’s Footprints. This is a very special charity that I feel passionate about.
“It is vital to make pregnancy as safe as possible and the education, technology and support that Philip’s Footprint’s provides for Jersey is making a real difference. The loss of a baby is devastating and the support the charity offers is so important for families at all stages of their journey. I look forward to being part of the charity over the coming years.”
Philip’s Footprints Chair, Kenan Osborne, said: “Philip’s Footprints are delighted to announce Dr Karen Kyd as our new patron, especially given her experience as a GP. We welcome her to the General Hospital for her first official engagement where she will see the range of support provided by the charity and to meet with staff we work with. We very much look forward to working with her to further raise the profile of the charity.”
