Love from Jasmine: A Journey of Support for Bereaved Families

In 2016, Rob and his wife founded Love, Jasmine after the tragic loss of their daughter Jasmine two years prior. With a mission born out of their own heartbreak, the charity has grown into a beacon of support for families who have experienced the loss of a child. Through peer support, emotional guidance, and practical resources, Love, Jasmine has touched the lives of many, providing hope, healing, and a lasting tribute to Jasmine’s memory.

• Can you share the story behind the founding of your charity and what inspired you to create it?

My husband, Rob, and I set the charity up in 2016 after we lost our daughter Jasmine two years previously. We initially set the charity up to provide peer support as there wasn’t any available (locally) at that time for parents or bereaved siblings. The charity is named after Jasmine and the support that we provide is from her. It’s love from Jasmine.

• What are the core missions and goals of your organisation in supporting bereaved families?

We believe that bereaved families should get the support that they need, when they need it, for as long as they need it, and we provide emotional and practical support as well promoting self-care to improve the emotional wellbeing of the whole family.

• Could you highlight some of the most impactful programs and services you offer to families experiencing baby loss?

In 2021, we introduced a Pregnancy After Loss coffee morning for families after receiving feedback from parents who were now expecting another child. They felt uneasy attending other groups that were available, but they really needed the connection with others that could truly understand. This group is still running and is one of our core offers in terms of group support. From next month, we will also be introducing a monthly Baby Loss support group.  Again, this has come from feedback from families that we support.  As well as peer support, bereaved parents and families have been able to access wellbeing activities such as yoga, meditation, and complimentary therapies. 

Many families who have experienced baby loss require one to one support and those families that access this service do so knowing that their support is tailored around their individual need, and they’re not time limited with the sessions offered. If needed, we can also provide EMDR therapy for those who need more in-depth trauma support.

• What specific support do you provide for siblings, grandparents, dads, and the extended family who are also affected by the loss?

Every part of the service that we provide to bereaved mums is also available to dads and grandparents. We also provide one to one support for siblings in our children’s therapy room as well as providing opportunities to meet other bereaved siblings.  Our monthly coffee morning allows extended family (adults only) to access support with us, but we do not generally offer individual support otherwise to the extended family, but we recognise that each family dynamic is different, and we would of course consider such support.

• What have been some of your most significant achievements or milestones since the charity’s inception?

We lobbied Liverpool and Knowsley councils in 2017 to scrap child burial charges and it was because of this that the charges were abolished that year. Liverpool City Council also agreed to scrap fees for death certificates at the same time. Something that we are proud of is that 5 bereaved parents who initially came to us for support are now qualified counsellors after we funded their training, and they are now working for the organisation to help support other bereaved parents and families.

In 2021, we moved to our new premises, which allowed us to increase the counselling provision for bereaved families as well as giving us the space to have our children’s therapy room for the first time.

• How do you ensure that your support services are accessible and effective for all bereaved parents?

We carefully monitor all the support that we provide to families. We believe in breaking down barriers to accessing support and if families are unable to get to our office for support, we will arrange for transport to and from the appointment. We have also provided counselling to bereaved parents who don’t speak English as a first language and this has meant sourcing counsellors who speak, Urdu, Tamil, and French. We have also managed to provide counselling to a bereaved parent who is deaf and needs to communicate in BSL by finding a counsellor who can communicate this way.

We provide a number of different peer groups for bereaved families, and these will evolve and grow, with our latest being a monthly Baby Loss Group which begins next month (October 2024).

• Can you discuss any recent projects or initiatives your charity is working on to further support families?

We provide a number of different peer groups for bereaved families, and these will evolve and grow, with our latest being a monthly Baby Loss Group which begins next month (October 2024).

• What are your future plans and visions for the charity over the next five years?

Currently to meet the ever-growing demand and to make sure families get the support that they need when they need it.

• How can individuals and communities get involved in supporting your charity and its mission?

We’re like other small charities in as much that we rely heavily on the support of the community. If people are able, please come along to our fundraising events, consider fundraising for us or choosing us as your workplace charity of the year or by simply following our social media channels, helping us spread the word, by liking and sharing our posts.

• Can you share a particular story or testimonial from a family who has been positively impacted by your charity’s work

“Thank you for creating something so amazing!  I was completely lost before finding out about you incredible people at Love, Jasmine – I would not have survived if it wasn’t for the love, support and help I received.  I’m in awe of the work you all do on a daily basis and will be forever grateful.”

As Love, Jasmine continues to evolve and expand its services, the charity remains steadfast in its mission to provide ongoing, accessible support to bereaved families. Through peer groups, one-on-one support, and practical assistance, their impact is undeniable. The future holds great promise as they aim to reach even more families in need, ensuring that no one walks this difficult path alone. Through community involvement and continued advocacy, Love, Jasmine will continue to make a profound difference in the lives of countless families.

For more information visit: www.lovejasmine.org.uk