Name: Jessica Clasby-Monk

Organisation: Mrs

Award Category: Awareness Advocate

Sponsored By:

Voting Is Now Closed

My Plea:

My nomination for this award was mostly for my work in facilitating Baby Loss Hour – a weekly twitter conversation for all those affected by or invested in all forms of baby or child loss. Since January 2018, the community has met every Tuesday at 8pm to offer differing perspectives, advise and support on a range of topics, such as relationships after loss, competitive grief or GP support, for example. Often joined by charities or organisations to lead conversations, including Sands, Tommys, Bliss, Will Quince MP or ARC, to name but a few, I also aim to signpost those working in the field of baby loss and their initiatives to encourage parent voices or share support opportunities.

The Hours have been wonderfully embraced by a wide ranging community and are regularly signposted to newly bereaved parents or health care professionals. It has grown throughout the almost two years that it’s been running, and since last December, has also included Live events. I have now organised and hosted – with the support of partnering charities – four Baby Loss Hour Live events in London, Manchester and Leeds inviting approximately 50 attendees. The Live events aim to bring the love and support of our weekly twitter chats offline and provide face to face support and conversation to local communities. We invite a panel of guests and audience participation and have an evening of organic, inspiring conversation. Through the events we have raised awareness and money for Tommys, Beyond Bea, Teddys Wish and Martin House Hospice. We aim to continue hosting an event every quarter, taking it to different locations across the U.K, supporting a new charity each time.

Through my blog, The Legacy of Leo, I also champion diversity in the Loss conversation – be that in experience or people – in order to help ensure that no one feels alone in their unique experiences. Predominantly, this is in the blog series and online support provided through #LGBTbabyloss, as we have experienced a gap in understanding and support for families like ours since the Stillbirth of our son, Leo Phoenix, in 2016.

Whether it is at speaking at events, conferences or online – I champion inclusivity in the Baby Loss and wider community and aim to help raise conversations around loss, grief and trauma with the goal of just helping one family going through similar experiences to what we have.

Thank you for taking the time to read my submission – should you wish to venture over to Twitter on a Tuesday evening from 8pm, please do say hi during #BabyLossHour.

What Others Have Said

Jess is the creator or #BabyLossHour which is a huge advocate for baby loss awareness. What she has managed to achieve with her story and her hard work is inspirational and he manages to get a variety of people involved each week for successful discussion.