Bereavement charity 2wish mark one year of providing support services in England

Bereavement charity, 2wish, is proud to mark the one-year anniversary of officially launching its services in England on February 27th (today).

Since service delivery began, 2wish has provided support to 201 families and approximately 928 individuals in the communities of Cheshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Avon and Somerset, ensuring that those dealing with child bereavement can access support when they need it most.

2wish’s support services, including counselling, complementary therapy and play therapy have been used by 311 people in England.

The charity – whose headquarters are in Llantrisant, south Wales – has also delivered awareness training to 2,717 individuals and held 47 coffee mornings and nine support events, including a canal boat trip and a glass workshop.

They have provided support for 55 professionals who have been affected by the sudden death of a child or a young person under the age of 25, and have worked closely with 18 hospitals and four police forces across the six communities they’re operating in in England.

With consent, one third of families have been referred directly from the hospitals 2wish work alongside, and one fifth have come directly from the police officers over the last 12 months in England.

Founder Rhian Mannings MBE established 2wish in 2012, after she and her husband Paul tragically lost their baby son George. They left the hospital heartbroken, confused and bewildered with no support. Five days later, consumed with grief, Paul took his own life. Rhian and her children felt completely alone, and Rhian never wanted another family to go through that heartache. Across every Emergency Unit and Critical Care Unit in Wales, there are now immediate support pathways in place.

The launch of 2wish’s expansion into England came on February 27th, 2024 – the 12th anniversary of Paul’s death.

CEO of 2wish Rhian Mannings said: “We are so proud to have been able to extend our support to local communities in England. We’ve been able to provide vital services that not only help families navigate this heartbreaking and difficult time but also raise awareness about the realities of child loss. The response we’ve received from the families and professionals we’ve worked with has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that these services are making a real difference.”

“Our work in hospitals and with emergency services has helped ensure that professionals are equipped to provide the best possible care to grieving families. Along with providing support to families directly affected, it is also essential that the professionals who interact with families during these painful moments are trained and supported themselves, and 2wish have launched a campaign You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup to raise awareness of the importance of this.”

2wish remains committed to expanding its services and continuing its vital work, helping more families and professionals through the devastating impact of child loss.

To find out more about 2wish and its work, visit https://www.2wish.org.uk.