Baby Loss Awareness Week

Home Park Stadium will temporarily wear a different set of colours over the coming days in support of Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The Theatre of Greens will be awash with pink and blue lighting from Friday evening onwards to mark the Pilgrims’ support of the campaign, which runs from 9-15 October.

An alliance of more than 90 charities is joining together to highlight the increased isolation many people have experienced after pregnancy and baby loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baby bereavement charity Little Things & Co asked the city of Plymouth’s local landmark buildings to light up pink and blue to mark the campaign. Home Park Stadium, along with Derriford Hospital, Smeaton’s Tower, and Plymouth Guildhall, will be lit as part of the national campaign.

Founder of Little Things & Co, LeighAnne Wright, said: “Having the support of local businesses to help raise awareness is fantastic and really warming to see.”

Initially making specialist bespoke clothing for ‘angel babies’ in 2013, the charity has grown to run two support groups in Plymouth (Safe Haven and Little Rainbows), as well as creating and maintaining the Little Haven Memorial Garden at Derriford Hospital. Most recently, the charity began its newest project, the Little Things Football Club.

LeighAnne continued: “The club will be a further support division of the charity, providing a friendly game and support for male family members, following the loss of a baby.

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to increase our services within the city with our new football team. Our support groups have been running in Plymouth for more than 5 years now with mainly women in attendance.  However, we know that men need their own unique way of dealing with their grief, after the loss of a precious child.”

Little Things & Co have teamed up with Ed Smith, a bereaved father, who recognised football’s powerful ability to bring people together.

Ed said: “Having training sessions and a game gives the male family members the chance to be part of a group, to bond, and from that they naturally talk. Everybody grieves differently and we feel this is a wonderful next step to bring people together and to be inclusive."

Argyle’s Supporter Relations Manager and Inclusion Lead, Siobhan Robbie-James, added: “By lighting the stadium in support of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we hope that we are able to start a conversation.

As a football club for the community, we have a platform and opportunity to raise awareness of important subjects, like this one. The club has employees and supporters who will have been affected by this issue, and we hope our support can help play a part, however small, in addressing the challenges they face.”

To find out more about Little Things FC, visit their Facebook page.

For more information on Little Things & Co, or to access their resources and baby loss support, visit their website.