During Baby Loss Awareness Week 2024, pink, blue and white ribbons can be placed outside South Lanarkshire Council’s HQ in Almada Street, Hamilton. The week runs from 9-15 October.

Led by the council’s chair of Education, Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, whose daughter Carys was born asleep, the ribbons are to raise awareness of the event led across the UK by charity Sands.

Cllr Hamilton said: “I hope that our plans for this week, and the very welcome support of the council, will spark conversations about baby loss and give local bereaved parents and families an opportunity to talk about their precious babies.

"I know from experience that losing a baby, at any stage of pregnancy, is devastating and I have felt it’s important to find ways of marking the fact that your baby existed. So, I know that this public display of ribbons will be appreciated greatly, not only by the parents of the babies but also by their wider families.

“My message to them is to please feel free to come along to our display at the council offices, if and when they feel comfortable, to pay tribute to their precious child, no matter how much time has passed. I hope it brings comfort to many and goes some way towards breaking the stigma around baby loss.

“I was amazed at the amount of people who took part last year, and I hope that in some small way it gave them some comfort.”

Baby Loss Awareness Week is now in its 22nd year and was established to create a way for those in the baby loss community to collectively remember much-loved and missed babies. 

The Town House, Hamilton will also be lit up in blue and pink colours as another way to raise awareness.

Blue, pink and white ribbons will be left in a bag at the railings outside council HQ, along with a pen to enable a short message to be written on the ribbon.

For those unable to hang a ribbon in person, virtual ribbons can be placed online.