Saturday 19th October 2024
11am
Derby Cathedral
Here are some questions and answers we get asked a lot about Saying Goodbye services:
Who is the service for? The services are for anyone who has lost a baby during pregnancy, at birth or in early years, whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, or for those grieving the fact they have never been able to have a child for whatever reason.
Do I need a specific faith to attend? No, the services are for anyone of any faith or no faith.
Can other members of my family or friends attend a service? Yes – SG services are for the whole family and the wider community.
We are often asked whether it is ok for people to bring babies and children? The answer – Yes, of course, you can; SG services are for EVERYONE. All we ask is that if babies or children are making noise and risk disturbing others, you move to the back of the venue.
How long is a service? Around an hour.
How early should I get to a service? 30-45 mins prior is ideal.
What should I expect? A wonderful service where you honour the baby you or someone else has lost, and we publicly say all babies matter, however short their lives were in the womb or post-birth.
Do I need to be ready emotionally? NO! The service will meet you where you are at, thus why they are suitable for people who lost their baby yesterday or many years ago.
As they are called Saying Goodbye services, does that mean I need to say goodbye once and for all to my baby? NO! The name saying goodbye is about saying goodbye to the darkest grief so many people carry, so in time, each person can remember their baby with a smile. Grief is sadly a lifelong journey, but how we carry that grief can truly change how we live our lives. As a charity, we hope to help each person carry the load and believe by honouring each baby lost and connecting with people personally, we can remove feelings of isolation and desperation.
Can I attend more than one service? Of course, you are welcome to attend as many services as you wish.
Am I welcome if I had a failed IVF attempt(s)? YES, of course, you are, this was a loss, and the services are for ANYONE who has lost or is grieving.
Am I welcome to attend a service if I have never lost a child but grieve the fact I cannot have children? Yes, you are very welcome; these services are for anyone who is grieving.
Can I get involved with the charity? YES – we always need fundraisers and people to take on other roles. At present, we have around 240 team members, but we need at least 500…so if you want to join this compassionate team, email us: at office@sayinggoodbye.org
How many people do you support? The website has around 650,000 hits per month, and the support the charity offers now reaches over 50,000 people per week. Saying Goodbye is the leading division of The Mariposa Trust, a registered UK charity. In North America, Saying Goodbye is part of Mariposa International.
Can I raise money for the charity in honour of my lost baby? Yes! We need people like you to help us. Email the team at: office@sayinggoodbye.org
