Memorial service at St James’s Hospital for Baby Loss Awareness Week

Baby Loss Awareness Week is an opportunity for everyone in the baby loss community and beyond to come together to remember and commemorate much-loved and missed babies. This year, the theme for Baby Loss Awareness Week is ‘Together, We Care’.

The week ends with the “Wave of Light” on Wednesday 15 October. This is a special time when people across the world light a candle at 7pm and leave it burning to remember all babies that have died too soon.

How can I get involved in Baby Loss Awareness Week in Leeds? 

We are inviting families to join us for ‘A Time for Remembering’ service which will be held in the Chapel at St James’s Hospital on Wednesday 15th October. This non-religious service will be led by Jo Jones, Deputy Head of Chaplaincy and will commence at 6:15pm in memory of much loved and longed for babies.

Please complete our registration form if you wish to attend.

There are limited places available within the church and we hope to accommodate as many families as possible however this will be done on a first come, first served basis for safety reasons. A gazebo will also be available outside the church.

Families, friends and staff are also invited to mark the Wave of Light outside the St James’s Hospital Chapel. Battery operated tealights or lanterns can be brought along to switch on at 7pm and come together in remembrance. Refreshments will be available and there will be access to the chapel to hang remembrance tokens on the tree until 7.30pm.

The Chapel is located to the right of the roundabout at the entrance to St James’s Hospital (off Beckett Street). See AccessAble for directions. The nearest car parking is across the road on Beckett Street or in the St James’s Hospital multistorey. You can find other car parks in the area using the Parkopedia website.

If you are unable to attend these remembrance events but wish for a message to be placed on the tree in the chapel in memory of a baby, please complete our form:

This message will be written on a tag and placed on the tree for Baby Loss Awareness Week by our Specialist Bereavement Midwives, Cathy and Nicole and Caroline and Trish from the Neonatal Bereavement Team.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will also be lighting up buildings in pink and blue at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital for Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Other ways to mark the week

Staff and members of the public can visit the chapels at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital to light candles between 12 noon and 2pm, on Thursday 9th October, Friday 10th October, Monday 13th October, Tuesday 14th October and Wednesday 15th October.

Join the Global Wave of Light at 7pm on 15^th October – light a candle at home and share your message on social media. You can also download a ribbon template to display your message: BLAW Ribbon Template

Explore Baby Loss Awareness Week to discover self-care advice and ways you can get involved during the week.

Other events taking place across Leeds

Miscarriage Association – Wave of Light – Boar Lane, 15 Oct at 6:30pm

Sands Starlight Walk – Roundhay Park Leeds on Saturday 22 November