Candles Across Somerset Mark Wave of Light to End Baby Loss Awareness Week

Mel Scott, occupational therapist, knows the heartbreak of losing a child first-hand. In 2009, she was 41 weeks and four days pregnant when her son, Finley, went into distress during labour. “We had an emergency caesarean, and he didn’t survive. We spent three days in hospital making memories together — handprints, footprints, photographs, videos — but I quickly realised that the care we received wasn’t the care that every family was getting across the country” she recalls.

Determined to help other families, Mel and her husband set up Towards Tomorrow Together, a charity supporting parents through baby loss. The charity provides counselling, memory-making resources, keepsakes, and peer support, helping families both in hospital and after they return home. Mel says the services are designed to support both mothers and fathers, inspired by her husband’s experience. “After Finley passed, my husband didn’t receive the same level of support. We wanted to make sure that both parents have access to care and guidance, so nobody has to go through this alone” she explains.

Tonight, across Somerset, candles will be lit for the Wave of Light, marking the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week. Mel says the event has become a significant part of the grieving process. “The Wave of Light gives parents a safe place to grieve together. You can shed tears, share a glance over a sad piece of music, and know that others are feeling exactly what you’re feeling” she explains.

The charity also works to raise awareness in the wider community, highlighting the lifelong impact of pregnancy and baby loss. “Probably five or six people in a team of twenty have experienced this type of loss, particularly in education or healthcare,” Mel says. “It’s so much more common than people realise.”

Families can self-refer to Towards Tomorrow Together for counselling, memory-making activities, and peer support. Local events in Taunton, Yeovil and Minehead also allow parents and families to take part in the Wave of Light, offering a space for reflection and remembrance.