Bereavement charity set up after mother’s heart-breaking loss expanding to Dorset
Bereavement charity 2wish launches in Dorset to support families after sudden loss
A bereavement charity set up by a mother who lost her baby son and husband within days of each other has launched in Dorset, offering vital support to families facing sudden or unexpected loss.
2wish was founded in 2012 by Rhian Mannings, after her one-year-old son George died suddenly. Just five days later, her husband Paul took his own life, consumed by grief.
With no support available, Rhian was left to navigate the devastation alone while caring for her two young children - an experience that became the driving force behind 2wish.
The charity provides emotional and practical support for families affected by the sudden death of a child or young person.
It has now expanded into Dorset as part of its second phase of growth across England. Support teams will also cover Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, and Merseyside.
Rhian said she hopes the move will ensure no other family faces the pain of loss alone.
“Losing a child is the most difficult thing anyone will ever have to face,” she said. “I’ve been in that position where you don’t want to put your problems on anyone else, but most people just want to help.
“It’s okay not to be okay and to ask for support.”
She added that 2wish is about hope as much as healing: “There are always going to be families who need us.
“This is about having those important conversations, being there for each other and helping people move forward in their grief - not on, but forward.”
Since its founding, 2wish has supported thousands of families across Wales and England, working closely with hospitals, police, and coroners to provide immediate and ongoing care for those affected by sudden loss.