Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity calls for fundraising

£1 million needed to start work on bereavement centre.

Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity is on a mission to raise the next £1 million for its Woodland House Appeal, which will allow it to break ground on its standalone bereavement centre for families experiencing pregnancy and baby loss.

The Woodland House Appeal launched in 2019 and has captured the support of the general public, local businesses, as well as other national organisations. The latest fundraising total stands at £1.6 million following a recent gift of £500,000 from The Connie and Albert Taylor Charitable Trust.

The focus is now on raising a further £1m to get the charity to its next milestone, of £2.6 million, which will enable the hospital to begin building the much-needed centre.

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve receive to date but now urgently need the public’s help to raise the next £1 million, to allow us to put a spade in the ground and make Woodland House a reality for the thousands of families who experience pregnancy or neonatal loss at our hospital every year.

“As a centre for excellence in women’s health, we believe bereavement aftercare must be better for our devastated families. Woodland House will be the first of its kind in a hospital setting and act as a blueprint for other hospitals up and down the country.

“That’s why, together with our families, we are urging the public to help us get to our next milestone so we can create a space that truly recognises and honours pregnancy and baby loss.”

Approximately 2,000 women experience loss at Birmingham Women’s Hospital every year. Currently, space within the hospital is limited and as such difficult conversations take place in rooms and locations that don’t reflect the significance of a family’s bereavement. Patients often speak of feeling rushed and of having ‘nowhere to go’ after receiving devastating news.

When complete, Woodland House will be a safe-haven, away from the hustle and bustle of the maternity wards, where families can grieve in private and get the support they need.

The new centre will feature separate and private access and will boast bespoke counselling rooms, a private garden, a large communal lounge area for support groups, and a family room with its own private access and garden. It will also have a private and sensitive mortuary, offering families the opportunity to spend time with their loved ones in comfort and serenity.

Woodland House is a £3.5m appeal, but reaching the £2.6 million milestone will allow work to start on site. The remaining funds will be raised once building has started.

Planning approval for Woodland House was granted last month by Birmingham City Council.

Find out more about the Woodland House Appeal or make a donation online at here. Or to donate £5, text WOODLAND to 70970 (standard terms apply).