CRADLE

In response to the growing need for emotional care following baby loss, CRADLE launched the CONNECTED programme in 2021. It was originally funded through a successful application to the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership as a 12-month pilot.

Due to overwhelming demand and positive feedback, CONNECTED was extended nationally — and it is now oversubscribed each week, with a waiting list.

About CONNECTED:

• A weekly online support group.

• Open to individuals referred through the NHS or seeking community support.

• Led by trained and qualified counsellors.

• Provides a safe space to share, listen, and connect with others who have experienced pregnancy loss.

• Encourages peer-to-peer support and helps form a compassionate, understanding community.

CRADLE’s goal for 2024 is to add one additional weekly session, creating an estimated 416 new support spaces. To do this, they are appealing for donations and community backing to secure the necessary funding.

Limited access to NHS-funded counselling and the growing mental health crisis have made social prescribing a crucial part of the NHS Long Term Plan. Social prescribing connects individuals to non-clinical support services that can help improve wellbeing and relieve pressure on NHS services.

CRADLE’s work fits seamlessly into this framework, offering compassionate, community-based care where clinical capacity may fall short.

Key points:

• NHS professionals increasingly refer patients to external support such as CRADLE.

• Social prescribing has been shown to improve health outcomes and reduce the demand on GPs and mental health teams.

• CRADLE’s services directly support the goal of easing strain on secondary care by offering structured emotional support outside of hospitals.

While CONNECTED is a flagship programme, CRADLE’s work extends into hospitals in a deeply practical way. They supply free, compassionate resources to patients and healthcare professionals at critical stages of care — including during clinical diagnosis, emergency treatment, or planned care related to baby loss.

These resources include:

• CRADLE Comfort Bags, which contain thoughtful items for patients receiving difficult news.

• Sonographer Tissue Packs, designed for sensitive use during scans.

• Methotrexate Packs, prepared for those undergoing medical treatment for early pregnancy loss.

To date, over 12,000 items have been donated to NHS trusts thanks to the generous support of local communities, corporate sponsors, and retail partners.

CRADLE was founded in 2019 by Louise Zeniou, following her own experience of an ectopic pregnancy. What began as a volunteer-led NHS co-design project quickly grew into a national movement.

CRADLE is now a registered charity delivering bereavement support across more than 55 hospitals in the UK. Services are implemented by individual NHS trusts and sustained through collaboration with local businesses, ambassadors, and volunteers.

The charity is governed by a diverse board of trustees — including clinical and non-clinical professionals — who help steer its growth, strategy, and commitment to quality care.

In 2023, Anne King, Director and Equity Partner at Steven Hunt & Associates, was invited to join the CRADLE board of trustees. Her journey with the charity began through grassroots efforts, raising funds for the Comfort Bag Project and attending bereavement estate reviews at NHS trusts.

She was moved by the dedication and compassion shown by founder Louise Zeniou and the CRADLE team — and felt compelled to play a larger role in the charity’s work.

Anne shares:

“Becoming a Trustee of CRADLE allows me to play a pivotal role in shaping the charity’s strategies. I hope to utilise my experience as a Business Development Manager and Equity Director to ensure CRADLE can effectively help those in need.”

“I have a passion for Marketing and PR and believe strongly in the power of keeping CRADLE in the spotlight. My professional networks, especially within the built environment sector, can open new doors for the charity.”

“I’m committed to doing more for the baby loss community — not just for the families affected, but also for the healthcare professionals supporting them. With my experience and the support of fellow trustees, I believe we can truly make a difference.”