Here at CHUMS, our Baby Loss Bereavement Service has been running for 11 years, supporting bereaved parents and families – and some bereaved grandparents – who have experienced the devastation of losing their child.

To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week and help reassure other parents that they aren’t alone, Dibby and Paul have kindly shared their experience of the support provided by CHUMS.

Dibby and Paul’s story

We were referred to Chums when we lost Harry at 22 weeks. This was our eighth loss in total.

Karen was our case worker, who helped us through this devastating time. She recognised when we were at our lowest, giving us additional support and I’m not sure where we would be today without her.

We started off with weekly sessions with Karen to talk about our losses, which gradually over time decreased in frequency to bi-monthly sessions. Karen also referred me to counselling, which was extremely beneficial to my recovery from the mental trauma that I was suffering from. My Husband had monthly one to one meeting where he could talk openly about how he was feeling.

Chums offers so many additional support networks over the one to one sessions. My husband attends a bi-monthly Dad’s group which has helped his recovery.

The memory picnics in the summer are so special and we get to make memory keepsakes in memory of our babies. The Snowdrop Remembrance service at Christmas is also special as it has enables us and other bereaved families to come together to remember our babies and give support to each other. Both of the remembrance days are so special and let people remember without any judgement from others, as everyone is there for the same sad reason.

Without chums we would have had no support at one of the most difficult times of our lives. I will always be grateful for everything they have done for us and everything they continue to do.

About Baby Loss Awareness week

Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from 9-15 October this year. Delivered by the Baby Loss Awareness Week Alliance, the campaign aims to support bereaved parents and families and to unite them with others across the world to commemorate their babies’ lives and lost pregnancies.

It is a wonderful opportunity to bring those affected together as a community and reassure anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss that they are not alone.

If you have been affected and wish to find out more about the services being offered to bereaved families, visit the Baby Loss section of our website to find out more.

John Daly is running his first ever marathon in Milton Keynes on this years May Bank Holiday, 6 May, and he’s doing it to raise funds for CHUMS!

John first heard about the marathon on Facebook whilst looking into the London Marathon. He had started running in July 2023, taking up the couch to 5k challenge, and then moving on to a half marathon. John then decided the next natural step was to run a full marathon and upped his training.

John said, “This will be the first time I will have completed a challenge for CHUMS, who I chose to support because I wanted to give something back for the assistance and time they have given to my son. He currently attends an online group called Music in Mind, in which he and the group all take part in choosing and singing songs. Some have even been recorded and this has helped with his confidence and anxiety. CHUMS help children and young people with many different issues, and so to be able to help CHUMS to continue the work they do is very important to me and my wife Sarah, as we will always be grateful for what they continue to do for our family.”

John said his family and friends have been very supportive of his run, and his wife and children will be there to cheer him on in Milton Keynes in May.

If you would like to support John’s efforts, please visit his Just Giving page, and feel free to leave words of encouragement for his first ever marathon!

John’s Just Giving page.

2024 is looking very exciting for CHUMS, having secured a 5-year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund and starting strong with our Easter Elephants Campaign.

We’re also very pleased to announce our new Chair of CHUMS Board of Trustees – Andrew Carter, and CHUMS Charity Director – Viviane Vayssieres.

Andy is a highly experienced Commercial Leader with significant leadership experience. He is currently a Senior Manager for a London based Procurement Consultancy, working on various Public and Private sector programmes. Andy also brings with himover 20 years of Retail and Consumer industry experience, in both sales and buying roles/

Away from work, and prior to working with Chums, Andy volunteered as a youth football coach and been a School Governor for 10 years.

Viviane (Viv) is an experienced marketer, fundraiser, and agent for change. She combines proactive and tactical efforts with the resolve to challenge, initiate and drive ideas forward to help organisations reach their goals.

Viv said “To CHUMS I bring dedication, passion, vision and extensive experience within the 3rd Sector working a senior level for national Charities, a strong set of skills, and wide expertise that is both strategic and practical.”

Viv is a Freeman of the City of London, EVOLVE Chair of Trustees and Chef and Butler MD.

Here at CHUMS, our Baby Loss Bereavement Service has been running for 11 years, supporting bereaved parents and families – and some bereaved grandparents – who have experienced the devastation of losing their child.

To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week and help reassure other parents that they aren’t alone, Dibby and Paul have kindly shared their experience of the support provided by CHUMS.

Dibby and Paul’s story

We were referred to Chums when we lost Harry at 22 weeks. This was our eighth loss in total.

Karen was our case worker, who helped us through this devastating time. She recognised when we were at our lowest, giving us additional support and I’m not sure where we would be today without her.

We started off with weekly sessions with Karen to talk about our losses, which gradually over time decreased in frequency to bi-monthly sessions. Karen also referred me to counselling, which was extremely beneficial to my recovery from the mental trauma that I was suffering from. My Husband had monthly one to one meeting where he could talk openly about how he was feeling.

Chums offers so many additional support networks over the one to one sessions. My husband attends a bi-monthly Dad’s group which has helped his recovery.

The memory picnics in the summer are so special and we get to make memory keepsakes in memory of our babies. The Snowdrop Remembrance service at Christmas is also special as it has enables us and other bereaved families to come together to remember our babies and give support to each other. Both of the remembrance days are so special and let people remember without any judgement from others, as everyone is there for the same sad reason.

Without chums we would have had no support at one of the most difficult times of our lives. I will always be grateful for everything they have done for us and everything they continue to do.

About Baby Loss Awareness week

Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from 9-15 October this year. Delivered by the Baby Loss Awareness Week Alliance, the campaign aims to support bereaved parents and families and to unite them with others across the world to commemorate their babies’ lives and lost pregnancies.

It is a wonderful opportunity to bring those affected together as a community and reassure anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss that they are not alone.

If you have been affected and wish to find out more about the services being offered to bereaved families, visit the Baby Loss section of our website to find out more.

WANT A NEW WARDROBE THAT WON’T COST THE EARTH?

Join us for an evening of FUN, FASHION & FIZZ at our CHARITY CLOTHES SWAP!

Thursday 19th October 2023. 7.30 – 9.30pm

Krafty Shed, Unit 4 Purcell Place, Sullivan Court, Kings Reach, Biggleswade, SG18 8SX

Join us for an evening of FUN, FASHION & FIZZ at our CHARITY CLOTHES SWAP

£12 INCLUDES A COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF FIZZ

Donate your no longer used clothing, accessories or shoes to swap. For each item, you’ll receive a token to swap for another!

• A maximum number of 5 items can be swapped per person.
• Clothes donated should be clean, ironed and in a good condition.
• Items to be swapped should be dropped off at Krafty Shed the week before the event: 11^th – 18^th October during shop hours (open 11-4pm Wednesday – Sunday)
• If you can bring your items in with hangers it would be really helpful. You’ll be able to collect your hangers at the end of the event.
• Tickets are £12 and can be purchased from Krafty Shed, in the shop or by phone/email hello@kraftyshed.co.uk
• Ticket includes a free glass of Prosecco on arrival.
• Clothing must be washed, ironed and undamaged.

Tickets are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

All sizes welcome. Swap, don’t shop!

Our recent charity golf day at Bedfordshire Golf Club was a huge hit, raising nearly £4,000.

Despite the heatwave and high temperatures we had a great turnout, helping to raise vital funds to help boost CHUMS services, including providing therapeutic support for adults and children in a variety of ways.

Our congratulations go to winning team on the Main Course; Premier Solicitors Family Law, and to runners up ECL Civil Engineering and On the Par 3, Raymond James Hitchin – you all played like champions.

Raymond James branch principal Faye Silver, whose Hitchin-based wealth management firm were the main sponsors of the event, told Nub News (who covered the event) “We were delighted to be asked to support the CHUMS Charity Golf Day.

“Despite the soaring temperatures, the event was a great success and there was opportunity to participate even if you were not a golfer.

“The organisers ensured we were fed and watered all day and had an exceptionally generous range of raffle prizes on offer.

“This was my first golf day experience and I am looking forward to the next event in April 2024, hopefully with an improved swing.”

CHUMS is a social enterprise, which provides therapeutic support through a unique service delivery model to ensure that children and young people are able to access a service that supports their individual needs. Our ethos is to support the family as a whole wherever possible, and our multi-disciplinary clinical team are all qualified and experienced clinicians.

Many CHUMS staff are experienced in more than one area of the service and some have lived experience.

With the help of CHUMS Charity and the contribution of so many different supporters in the local community, the £500,000 required to fund those parts of the service that do not receive contractual funding is achieved, which is why events and activities like the golf day are so important.

CHUMS charity director Nik Demetriades said “We’re delighted with the amount raised from the golf day. These funds will go to supporting our mental health and emotional wellbeing services in Luton, Beds and Herts.

“We’d like to say big thank you to everyone who took part, including our sponsors.”

The next golf day run by CHUMS will take place at Aldwickbury Golf Club on Friday 19 April 2024

Thank you to our Headline Sponsors: Raymond James Hitchin

• Thank you to our hole sponsors:
• Q Print, DigiTally Accountants
• George Hay Headsail Coaching and Training
• Stephanie Ward – Virtual Assistant and Online Business Services
• M & O Construction
• Copart
• ECL Civil Engineering Comms Specialist
• Reevetec Membranes

Thank you to all who donated raffle prizes:

• Grapevine Bar & Kitchen
• Bedford Rugby Club
• The Millbrook Golf Club
• Ian Murton Hypnotherapy
• Pure Stoves & Fireplaces
• Bedfordshire Golf Club
• Vue cinema
• Albero Lounge
• Tanatomy Dunstable Russo Hairdressing
• Asda Dunstable
• Surface Magician Hertfordshire
• The Woburn
• The Body Shop Bedford
• Brewpoint
• The Globe Inn
• Pets at Home
• Team Sport
• The Offy Dunstable
• Waitrose & Partners Leighton Buzzard

Thank you to our superstar volunteers for your support on the day:

• Anna Fetherston
• Copart
• Paula Fensome
• Steve Andrews

Thank you to Keith Fetherston photography for the fantastic photos.

Thank you to TJC Carpentry and Construction for supplying the stakes and Philip’s Digital for supplying the banners.