A WOMAN says she is "heartbroken" to hear SiMBA, a charity which supports those who’ve experience baby loss, may be forced to close.

Charlie Gallagher went into early labour at 33 weeks on October 14, 2018.

Following a traumatic labour, her daughter Jessica was tragically stillborn on October 15.

Glasgow Times:

Scottish-based charity SiMBA provides support to any bereaved parents who lose a baby at any stage of their pregnancy or around the time of birth and offers a range of services.

These include providing Memory Boxes, which help parents gather memories of their child and Family Rooms in maternity units, to offer parents the opportunity to spend time with their baby.

Charlie, from Castlemilk, says the experience of Jessica’s birth was "traumatic" but the services offered by SiMBA helped her process her grief.  

READ MORE: Much-loved charity could CLOSE as soon as March due to 'soaring costs'

The 34-year-old said: "I first found out about SiMBA when I was in the ICU maternity unit at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital.

"The day after my traumatic labour, I was approached by my midwife and she explained to me that I could get a Memory Box from SiMBA.

"When she told me that, I was expecting she would take my details, they’d send it to the charity and within a few weeks I’d receive the box."

Glasgow Times:

However, Charlie was "flabbergasted" when she received the box five minutes later and says she was surprised by the effort that had gone into it.

The box contained several items including teddy bears, a key ring which had a removable heart which was buried with Jessica, a knitted blanket, and a children’s book to explain baby loss.

Charlie explained: "My Memory Box is something I can look back on, and I can look at things from my stillbirth and it’s a place to keep memories and things that are important to you.

"To this day, I still sometimes pull out my Memory Box and have a look through it and have a chance to grieve for my daughter when there are times I need to, and that’s important."

Glasgow Times:

Charlie and her partner were also able to use a Family Room at the hospital, which they stayed in for three days with Jessica.  

The rooms are decorated so they resemble a bedroom rather than a hospital room, so parents can feel more comfortable.

She said: "Because SiMBA provided me with that room and provided the Cuddle Cots to the hospital that I could use, it meant I got some vital time with my daughter to spend time with her, speak to her and grieve like I needed to grieve.

"And I think it would have been so much harder if I would have had Jessica and then had to leave her at hospital and go home because I wouldn’t have proper time to grieve and say my goodbyes."

Glasgow Times:

However, due to the combination of a shortfall in expected fundraising income, a surge in requests for Memory Boxes from hospitals across the UK in 2022, and soaring costs of producing and donating them to every family who needs one, SiMBA is running low on funds.

The charity now faces closure in as little as three months and has launched an urgent appeal to raise £220,000 by the end of March. 

A Just Giving page has been started on behalf of the SiMBA with more than £107,000 having been raised so far.

READ MORE: 'This will close us down': Glasgow charity warns it will close after 25 YEARS

Charlie says she was "heartbroken" to hear the charity faces closure.

She said: "When I heard the news the charity was facing closure, I was pretty heartbroken because they do so much vital work for people and families like myself who have suffered baby loss at any stage of pregnancy.

"If I didn’t get the opportunity [to spend time with Jessica] then I don’t know where I’d be right now in my grief process.

"I think it would have been a hell of a lot harder for me to grieve if I didn’t get the opportunity to spend time with my daughter."

Glasgow Times:

She continued: "They provide so many vital services and it’s so important we keep them because I don’t want someone to lose their baby like I lost my baby and not be able to get the help they need."

Since 2018, Charlie has raised around £6000 for SiMBA by holding fundraising events such as a quiz night, raffles, a SiMBA Ball and a Kilt Walk.

She says fundraising has helped her keep Jessica’s memory alive and allowed her to help other parents going through the same thing.

She added: "For me, it’s important, it makes me feel like I’m doing something positive.

"I know if I can raise money for SiMBA and they can use that money to help other families like mine, then that makes me feel like I’m making a difference."

READ MORE: Glasgow charity and pharmacy face closure after being turned down for funding

A spokesperson for SiMBA said: "Since 2017, SiMBA have donated 3102 Memory Boxes to Hospitals and individuals in The Greater Glasgow and Clyde Area, comforting families at their critical time of loss and helping to gather timeless and precious memories of their child.

"They contain items such as clay imprint kits; birth acknowledgement certificates; a letter from another parent who has also experienced child loss, and items knitted by volunteers such as teddies and blankets.   

"SiMBA have gifted 50,000 Memory Boxes across the UK and Ireland since 2005 and we’ve seen a huge increase in requests in the last three years, while our funding is slowly running out. 

"Sadly, we estimate that 11,000 bereaved families in the UK and Ireland will need a Memory Box in 2023. 

"But without SiMBA, grieving parents will have no memories to cherish, no priceless items within their Memory Box to touch, connect and share memories of their baby.

"To donate to #SaveSiMBA or to find out other ways you can help support the charity at this critical time, please visit simbacharity.org.uk."

Visit SiMBA's Just Giving page HERE.