SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has joined forces with CuddleCot to improve bereavement care for British military families based in Cyprus, with specialist training, new resources and a donated CuddleCot forming part of the partnership.
The collaboration is being highlighted ahead of Baby Loss Awareness Week, which begins on Monday 12 October, as SSAFA’s Community Health Team in Cyprus prepares a series of activities to raise awareness and bring families together.
Experiencing pregnancy or baby loss while based overseas can bring additional challenges. Families may find themselves navigating unfamiliar healthcare arrangements and local procedures, often far from relatives, friends and their usual support networks.
Throughout the awareness week, SSAFA Community Health staff will be organising activities across Cyprus and the far commands. These include informal drop-in sessions where families, peers and healthcare professionals can come together, light a candle in remembrance and share a coffee in a supportive setting.
CuddleCot has kindly agreed to donate a specialist cot to Cyprus, giving bereaved parents precious additional time with their baby and the opportunity to create lasting memories together.
In 2027, CuddleCot will deliver specialist bereavement care training for SSAFA Community Health staff, focusing on compassionate communication, supporting families through loss and memory making.
Alongside this, the two organisations are developing a dedicated information booklet for military families in Cyprus. The resource will offer guidance on local healthcare processes, military considerations and where families can turn for support. Existing bereavement care pathways are also being reviewed to identify opportunities for improvement.
Jan Dowlen-Gilliland, Director of Community Healthcare Services at SSAFA, said:
“Losing a baby is devastating for any family, but being overseas can bring additional challenges, especially when families are far from loved ones.
“Our Community Health Team in Cyprus plays an important role in supporting military families through some of life’s most difficult experiences. This partnership gives our healthcare professionals access to specialist training and resources, while recognising how important it is for parents to have time, choice and the opportunity to create memories with their baby.
For more information about the services and support SSAFA’s Community Health Team provides to military families overseas, please visit its webpage here or the SSAFA Community Health Facebook page.
