A helpline offering bereavement support to parents who have lost their babies to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), provided by the Lullaby Trust, is being supported by a major grant of £50,000 from London Freemasons.

Each year over 500 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly and the parents of more than half of those babies will never know the cause. SIDS, previously known as cot death, is the unexpected death of a seemingly healthy baby, which cannot be explained even after the post-mortem.

Losing a baby to SIDS can be one of the most devastating experiences a parent will ever face. The Lullaby Trust’s helpline offers bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden unexpected death of a baby. They are the only charity to offer this dedicated service.
The calls they receive range from parents who have lost a baby very recently to those who lost a child many years before. It is not only parents but also grandparents, siblings, other family members and friends who turn to The Lullaby Trust for support. All are able to talk to a compassionate listener in complete confidence for as long as they need.

Many people who contact the helpline go on to use the befriending service where they are put in touch with a trained volunteer, who has also experienced the loss of a baby to SIDS. The befrienders are parents, grandparents and siblings, the majority of whom have been supported at some point by The Lullaby Trust.

The grant from London Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends throughout England and Wales. Following the grant, the Lullaby Trust are able to secure this service for the next three years and continue to support parents and families through the devastation and grief of a baby dying without explanation.

Bereaved mum, Lavinia Postlethwaite said:
“I’m very grateful to London Freemasons for helping the Lullaby Trust to continue to provide their vital helpline service for bereaved families. The Trust also raises funds for further research on cot deaths, so that today’s children, my own in particular, will not have to go through the sadness and trauma that I suffered. “

Adrian Fox from London Freemasons, said:
“We’re very pleased to be able to help the Lullaby Trust in their hugely important work supporting hundreds of parents who lose their child to cot death every year. I’m sure everyone with children would want to help this excellent charity.”