Ivy Trust gets financial support for memory box scheme

Thursday 25 October 2018

Trust Corporation International has made a donation towards The Ivy Trust’s memory boxes, an initiative which provides much-needed support to parents who have experienced the loss of a baby during pregnancy or soon after their birth.

The memory boxes are given to parents who have suffered the loss of their baby and provide a safe place to keep precious items such as hand and footprints or a lock of hair.

The purpose of the memory boxes is to help families create lasting memories of their baby and the keep-sake items included will help to do this. The boxes also play a vital role in the grieving process. They are prepared by one of The Ivy Trust’s trustees, Shelley Samson, with all items inside provided by the Ivy Trust carefully and thoughtfully.

The Ivy Trust provides personal support for parents, maintains the Ivy Room on Loveridge Ward and offers them equipment to ensure the most vulnerable babies have the best possible chance of survival. The memory boxes are to be completed soon and it is expected that the Loveridge Ward will have them before the end of the year.

“When you have a baby, your instinct is to protect them. When you lose a baby your instinct is to protect their memory. We hope these boxes will help to bring some comfort to all bereaved parents. The Ivy Trust would like to thank Trust Corporation for its donation towards the memory boxes and we’d also like to thank Wishgem, Little Dreamers and Grace Alexander flowers for their support in providing precious items,” said Mrs Samson.

Trust Corporation has made the donation as part of 15 donations it is making to mark its 15th anniversary year, during which time it is supporting 15 different charities nominated by staff members. Other charities to benefit from support include Headway Guernsey, Caritas and Guernsey Disability Sports.

Katie Wallen, Senior Operations Manager who leads the Trust Corporation’s CSR committee said: “We wanted to support the very important work the Ivy Trust does, including the charity’s special initiative of memory boxes. We are firm believers in giving back to the local community and the Ivy Trust is such a worthwhile cause that we were very happy to help support it as part of our 15th anniversary.”

Pictured l-r: Katie Wallen, Lee Smith, Shelley Samson.