Zephyr’s Nottingham Appeal

Parents who suffer the devastating loss of a pregnancy, baby or child are now able to get personal support from a special centre within the grounds of Nottingham City Hospital. In 2013 Zephyr was the stillborn son of Carly Williams and Martin Sommerville from St Ann’s.

Their dedication to creating a place of support for bereaved families has been channelled through Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, volunteers from Carillion and Experian and a special fund managed by Nottingham Hospitals Charity. Zephyr’s fund is being used to create a peaceful haven for bereaved families.

Having only opened in Spring this year Zephyr’s is already hosting counselling, bereavement support, peer group support sessions, arts activities and complementary therapies. A warm and welcoming place for people.

Zephyr’s also offers a peaceful venue for professionals to meet with bereaved parents, providing a place away from maternity units with all the difficult memories they may hold. Not just Nottingham Hospital staff but also GPs and other community health professionals can use the centre as a meeting venue with bereaved parents.

Download our Zephyr’s Appeal Leaflet

Building a Bespoke Unit

As Carly explains, ‘the care from midwives and hospital staff when we lost Zephyr was fantastic and full of compassion to help ease our pain. But the surroundings weren’t right. How could we cope with our loss whilst other parents in the maternity ward were expressing their joy of a new child? Bereavement counselling is often provided on the wards with other expectant mothers but for us it felt wrong and we’ve since met other parents who felt the same.’

Carly and Martin began to dream of a custom-built centre where bereaved parents could come to terms with their loss, where heart-broken parents could drop-in to share experiences and comfort others, where practical support was available.

The dream of building a bespoke unit is the eventual goal but an interim solution has now become a reality. A unit in the City Hospital’s Derwent flats has been refurbished thanks to the unstinting efforts of volunteers and funding by Nottingham Hospitals Charity.

Supporting Community Projects

Staff from locally based Carillion and Experian are allowed several days each year to support community projects and the response to Zephyr’s appeal has been remarkable. Staff benefit from team-building, take a welcome opportunity to undertake practical activities and, most importantly, experience a ‘feel-good’ factor with lasting benefits.

The unit was painted and re-equipped and now has a drop-in facility, counselling services, activities for children and alternative therapies including reflexology and massage.

Over £20,000 has been raised by Carly and Martin with friends and families via innovative fundraising ideas and Zephyr’s legacy is assured. Nottingham Hospitals Charity continues to support this appeal and our Chief Executive expressed the thoughts of all involved, ‘Zephyr’s promises to be a place of compassion where families can receive much-needed support to help them recover from their loss.’

What finer legacy can there be?

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