Our Retreats
Teddy's Wish funds annual healing retreats for parents who have
lost a baby due to SIDS, stillbirth or neonatal death.
TURNING TRAGEDY INTO PURPOSE
We set up Teddy’s Wish to give hope, help and support to other grieving families and to fund research into the causes of baby loss. As a small, volunteer-run charity, we’re driven by doing something meaningful in Edward’s honour. Our vision is that in the future, there will be no more grieving parents of tiny, perfect babies. Together with your support and generosity, we believe that vision is achievable.
Space to grieve & heal
After experiencing a major loss, grief can significantly affect both your mind and body.
Our weekend retreats, which are free of charge to parents, combine exercises to improve psychological health. These include group support, creative writing, a gardening with grief workshop, mindfulness meditation and yoga.
The retreats are a safe space that give parents the chance to feel their grief and to connect with the baby they have lost. By doing so, we help parents take steps towards healing. Steps that start at the retreat but can be continued at home.
There's also the opportunity to get to know other bereaved parents, who can empathise and share their experiences.
If you are interested in attending one of our retreats, please get in touch through the contact us page or email support@teddyswish.org
The retreats are held over a weekend in the restorative surroundings of St Katharine's Parmoor and couples or individuals can attend. Run and facilitated by our patron Jenni Thomas OBE and Nicola Whitworth, founder of the SLOW charity (Surviving the Loss of Your World), Teddy's Wish funds the entirety of the retreat, asking parents only to cover their travel costs.
What our parents have said
about our retreats
"It was so lovely to spend a weekend dedicated to parenting Anna. To be given time to be together with our grief with no judgement of ourselves and each other. To meet others where conversation about our babies was easy and comfortable because we all understand."
“I am so grateful for the opportunity for reflection, guided discussions, connecting with others ‘like me’, celebrating all of our babies and the time to slow down and to be present.”
“It's clear how much all of us loved our children. It helps so much to connect with other bereaved parents, to hear their stories and to hear about their children. It helps to know we’re not alone.”
“Meeting other parents and being able to connect with others has been so important.”