Today marks the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week 9-15th October. BLAW is marked across the world.
This week, the Review team will once again honour the lives of all the babies who have died.
We are showing our support to all bereaved parents, and their families. To show our support, this year we have asked our local council Chichester, the city where our office is based, and Nottingham council, the city where the Review is based, to light their council building blue and pink in honour of baby loss awareness week.
Any Review families that may be finding this week particularly difficult – we would like to remind you that psychological support is available to you. Please either contact our team: nottsreview@donnaockenden.com or the Family Psychological Support Service: enquiries@fpssnottingham.co.uk
Dear Mrs Ockenden
Thank you for awarding me this award and letting me chose a charity,
Kinds regards
Prebendal School student (who chose WWF as her charity)
Thank you for the Ockenden Award for Endeavour…for your kindness and generosity in giving Portsmouth High School this award. I am very grateful to be able to receive your award and will strive to follow in the footsteps in those who have received this award before me.
Student, 2024
Supporting the Local Community
St Ives holds a special place in my heart. It is somewhere that I have visited with my daughters since they were very young and a place that I feel relaxed, and at home. Over the many years that I have spent staying in St Ives, I have made some dear friends and got to know so many people in the local community along the way – they have become one of the reasons I choose to spend my time there.
St Ives is a town in South West England that relies heavily on tourism throughout the summer. In 2010, St Ives food bank served four families a week in summer and twelve in the winter. In 2024, the food bank’s founder shared that this number had jumped to an average of thirty families a week in the summer and sixty in the winter. With poverty rising across the country and in particular a third of children now living in deprivation, I have continued to do what I can to help those in need. I have supported a safe space in St Ives for families to enjoy a warm cup of coffee, and activity days for families to enjoy throughout the year.
The Hakes
Rugby is an important part of St Ives’ community. The RFC supports the community by hosting community activities and engaging with the local families of St Ives. In September 2022, my donation to The Hakes gave them the opportunity to buy new rugby posts so that they could continue to play their much loved game.
St Ia Church
I receive regular updates on activities that I help St Ia’s Church to support year-round; they too play an important part of St Ives’ community. This year, my donation has helped to provide summer and Christmas parties for the children living in local St Ive’s community.
St Ives RFC Youth Section
This year I sponsored a Halloween Party for St Ives RFC Youth Section on the 2nd of November. I was delighted to receive a kind letter from the Vice-Chairman, with pictures of lots of happy little faces that enjoyed the party.
My support to the Salvation Army community in St Ives will help to bring some Christmas joy to local families.
Aberdare
I was born in Aberdare, a town located in the country borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The town prides itself on its community spirit and beautiful scenery. I try to visit Aberdare a few times a year, with my beloved sister. Despite not having lived in Wales since I was a child, I still recognise familiar faces whenever I return. Since the 1980’s and the loss of so much of the Cynon Valley’s heavy industry, many families have struggled to get by. Some families are now regularly struggling to afford necessities like food and a warm space to call home.
St Elvans
St Elvans is a Church of Wales church at the heart of Aberdare. My father was a chorister for eleven years at St Elvans, and my grandmother worshipped there every Sunday, for more than forty years without fail. One of the ways that I pay tribute to them both, and to care for others in the way that they did, is by donating to the Church they worshipped at to help fund regular activities such as the Community Cuppa afternoon for local residents, and helping to fund Santa’s Grotto. The first Community Cuppa event is due to take place on Saturday 1st March 2025, giving a warm and safe space to those who need it in the colder months. Next year, I am committed to supporting the church in opening a Summer Club for families who are missing the support of free meals throughout the summer.
Latest Updates
Blaengwawr Primary School
I grew up and spent some of my childhood in Aberdare, Wales, attending Blaengwawr Primary School situated in Aberaman. I have very happy memories of Blaengwawr School.
My childhood was uprooted many times, and I have lived in Wales, England, Ireland, Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria, so I recognise and value the importance of a safe space for children to learn and thrive. This is why, I have chosen to support Blaengwawr Primary School this year in providing the school with financial aid so that they can purchase outdoor games for the children.
It is my sincere hope that this will bring the children joy, and make school a fun place to learn. Aberdare faces significant poverty, with rates of child poverty exceeding the Welsh average. It’s important to me, to make school a space for children to thrive, learn, play and enjoy the friendships they make.
I have been invited to attend the school in November, to meet the children and to speak at a short assembly. I am looking forward to this opportunity, and hope that I can inspire the younger generation especially any children who may be facing the same difficulties that I did at their age.
St Ives Church
I was shocked to read these figures relating to child poverty in England (2023-2024 data):
4.5 million children were living in poverty
49% of children from Black and Asian communities are in poverty, compared to 24 per cent of white children
65% of Bangladeshi children and 59% of Pakistani children live below the poverty line
9 children in an average classroom of 30 (31%) are living in poverty
44% of children in poverty live in a family where someone is disabled
900,000 children in poverty in England alone miss out on free school meals
As someone who grew up in poverty, was homeless and lived in horrible B&Bs and temporary accommodation for a proportion of my life, I know how difficult this can be. I am fortunate enough now, to be in a position where I can help others who are facing similar difficulties.
As you know, St Ives is very special to me and is somewhere that brings me a lot of peace and joy and a place I am very happy to escape to. I have many friends in St Ives that work with the local community and I am able to support their work and the community through donations. I read about the poverty in Cornwall, and the struggles that residents face and knew that this is something I could help with in some way. This quote from the linked article about a food bank in Cornwall, really struck me:
“When the foodbank was first set up, four families (or 16 clients) came through the door that year. Now it’s 180 people that the foodbank helps every week. Around Christmas time that figure goes up to 240 people a week because of the additional referrals from social services from struggling families during the festive season.”
Throughout the year I work with St Ives Church, the Salvation Army and St Ives RFC by providing funds so that children can take part in activities that all children should have the privilege of enjoying. This included:
Table Tennis Table – enjoyed by the young people
Community Easter Egg Hunt – a free event, children receive an easter egg and book, refreshments, crafts and activities for around 70 children
Summer Celebration – bouncy castles, surf simulator, temporary tattoos, hot dogs, refreshments, games and crafts for over 150 people
Play Café – a hot healthy meal for attendees and free refreshments during the summer holidays for around 60 children per session
Halloween party at St Ives RFC
I hope that my support has made a difference to the lives of the children in St Ives, even if it makes the children’s day a little happier and their parents’ day a little easier then I am happy that I have helped.
Muslim Women’s Network UK
Living in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iran in the Middle East during my childhood and later in adult life, has been one of the most enriching experiences. I have learnt so much about their culture, and the Islamic faith. I try to do all that I can to tackle inequalities in my work life, and personal life and one way that I do that is through supporting minority ethnic families, charities, and organisations.
In September 2025, I donated to the Muslim Women’s Network to help fund their Muslim Women’s Helpline which is a lifeline for Muslim women experiencing domestic abuse. Their helpline offers confidential, culturally sensitive advice and support.
“Domestic abuse disproportionately affects minority ethnic women, many of whom cannot access mainstream services due to language barriers or cultural pressures. With minoritised women accounting for 24% of domestic homicide victims despite representing only 18% of the population”.
As part of the Nottingham Review work, we work closely with Nottingham Muslim Women’s Network which supports Muslim women across Nottinghamshire. Their ongoing support has so positively impacted the Review, and has helped the Review to support women from minority ethnic groups who may feel unsure about sharing their experience.
As Chair of the Independent Maternity Review into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), I am committed to engaging with the many communities across Nottinghamshire to ensure that all voices are heard and amplified by the Review.
In September, I was so pleased to meet with women at the Nottingham Women’s Centre in Chaucer Street, the heart of Nottingham, to hear of their experiences maternity services in Nottinghamshire. It was a valuable meeting, and we will continue to meet with community groups throughout the entirety of the Review to help build trust and show our commitment to supporting family voices. The engagement meeting was also attended by Ola from the Motherhood Group and provided an opportunity to connect with an organisation that bridges gaps between communities and advocates for black mothers and families.
I was also invited to attend two services across the Majority Black Led Churches, to meet with the congregations and show our support in amplifying black voices. The service at God’s Vineyard Ministries was very special, as it marked forty years of marriage between Pastor Ezekiel and his wife Olufunmilayo. I was joined by the Chief Executive of NUH, Anthony May, and we were welcomed by the church choir, and gifted a special book written by Pastor Ezekiel and Funmi. It was a privilege to be invited to attend, and so important in nurturing relationships with the community to ensure that improvements are made to maternity services as a result of what they tell us.
Ambassador Announcement – MAMA Academy
I am delighted to announce that I have become an Ambassador for @mamaacademy – a charity that is dedicated and committed to improving perinatal safety and ensuring every baby has the opportunity to be delivered safely.
Their work focusses on providing parents to be and medical professionals with factual pregnancy information, in a clear and accessible way.
I had the honour of meeting Heidi Eldridge, founder of @mamaacademy, many years ago and we have remained in contact over time. Heidi’s lived experience has motivated her to become a catalyst for change and an advocate for families – whilst also understanding the importance of supporting staff by equipping them with tools that help them to provide safer care.
There is such a long way to go but it is my hope, that we can work together to continue to improve perinatal safety and to empower both families and staff across the country and ensure that their voices are heard and amplified.
Ambassador Announcement – Footprints Baby Loss
Last week I met with Sharon Darke and Suzie Scofield to discuss their charity Footprints Baby Loss. I met Suzie and Sharon earlier this year at my dear friend Jenni Thomas’ book launch of ‘After a child dies’. Since then, Sharon and Suzie have attended the family meetings that the Review hosts in Nottingham to provide bereavement support to families affected by twin, triplet and multiple loss.
At our meeting last week, Sharon and Suzie shared their personal experience of loss. It was truly touching and inspiring to hear that their experiences have motivated them to help and support others. It was shocking to hear that mothers of twins and triplets who have suffered a loss of one or more of their baby/babies are sometimes excluded from bereavement support groups because they have a surviving baby. In addition to this, they told me how some mothers and their partners were asked ‘where the other twin is’ at appointments following the loss of their baby/babies. The ongoing distress and compounded harm is unimaginable and so easily avoided.
There is so much to do to make perinatal care more inclusive, and I am proud to be a voice for change for families across the country. I am pleased to announce that I have the huge honour of being an ambassador for Footprints, and will continue to do my best to advocate for all mothers, partners, and families of multiples.
Supporting Chichester College
After many years of living across the UK and abroad in the Emirates, I have been settled in West Sussex for the last 15 years. My two daughters, now in their twenties, grew up here and attended schools in the local area and since they were little I have always tried my very best to support the community and the local education system so that children thrive.
This year, I have supported the students with additional learning needs at Chichester College by inviting them to our offices to learn about how a business runs as part of their enterprise module. The students visited Donna Ockenden Limited to learn about the practical side of running a business including the day-to-day responsibilities that our team do to make sure that our work runs smoothly. We then took a coffee, tea and biscuit break at Purchases Restaurant and Bar to learn about how different businesses run depending on their needs. After answering lots of questions about my career, we finished our tour at Strutt & Parker Estate Agents where the students learned the art of selling a house.
I supported the organisation of a trip to the House of Commons which the students thoroughly enjoyed. This gave them the opportunity to learn about how Parliament works, how their voice and opinion matters and how it all feeds into the bigger picture of how our country is governed. The students were guided through the Houses of Parliament and taught about its rich history including Guy Fawkes, and the suffragette movement. Jess Brown-Fuller MP for Chichester then took the time to visit the students and talk to them about Parliament.
It is so important that we equip all young people with this knowledge, and these experiences in the hope that it inspires them to be the best they can and to actively contribute to the democracy of our country.
Aberdare – Oasis Pantry
I was born and grew up in Aberdare along with my four siblings. We grew up in poverty, later in life after we moved around a lot we had to live in temporary accommodation, horrible B&Bs and emergency accommodation when my siblings were just children. In 2024, it was reported that more than one in three children and a quarter of adults are living in poverty.
As an adult, I try my very best to help families that may find themselves in a similar situation. One way I do this, is through supporting local initiatives for vulnerable people. The Oasis Community Church have a pantry which serves around 40 families currently. I have supported this facility which allows people to purchase £20 worth of food for £4.
It is deeply saddening that this is the reality for many families across the UK, but I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I can support facilities like this so that together we can make a difference to the communities of Aberdare.
Epilepsy Society
Our team took part in the Epilepsy Society ‘Challenge 100’. We walked/ran/cycled/danced over 920 miles in 100 days and donated £1,500 to raise awareness and to support research for people living with epilepsy. 1 in 100 people in the UK are living with epilepsy, a third of people do not have access to effective treatments. This cause is very close to our hearts as we know and love a very special young person, my youngest daughter Phoebe Ockenden, who lives with epilepsy every day. Jayne in our team ran a marathon, and Andrew cycled to work every day (the British weather wasn’t always on his side). I walked and danced over 270 miles between January and April!
Community Cuppa at St Elvans
After months of planning and through my ongoing support, St Elvans church held their first Community Cuppa for local residents on St David’s Day, March 1st 2025. The local residents enjoyed a free hot drink and the warmth of St Elvans, and this provided members of the public with the opportunity to connect and discuss the community’s needs.
Baby Loss Awareness Week – the Wave of Light 15th October 2024
Yesterday marked the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, and families across the world joined the global Wave of Light at 7pm by lighting a candle in memory of all the babies who are no longer with us.
This Baby Loss Awareness Week, I am supporting the Sands – baby loss charity campaign to raise awareness of pregnancy & baby loss. This year, our team have worked with Nottingham Council, and Chichester Council to light their council buildings blue & pink to honour all babies who have died. https://lnkd.in/eQzSw8vf
Baby Lifeline National Maternity Safety Conference
Delighted to have attended the Baby Lifeline National Maternity Safety Conference yesterday, alongside colleagues and families from across the country.
As honorary president, I am proud to have chaired the ‘Progress in Partnership’ session that explored how the Royal Colleges can work together with NHSE to provide women and their families with the care they need and deserve.
Some really interesting conversations on recovering maternity services post-Covid, maternity care in the face of war, developing maternity services through lived experience, and how providers can adopt a more person-centered approach to care.
One of the common themes was that we need to listen to women. All women. The ‘hard to reach’ communities are in fact not hard to reach, and they deserve to have their voices heard & amplified. A thought-provoking video shared by Angie Doshani explored how vital it is that we are able to provide care for women whose first language isn’t English, AND for those women who can speak SOME English so that we are able to provide informed care. I would love to see the JANAMApp in use within Trusts across the country so that we are able to provide this support.
So many fantastic speakers, whose discussions have truly left an impact and I will certainly be sharing your insights with my team: Sir Rob Behrens CBE, Professor Lucy Easthope, Clotilde Rebecca Abe, Larysa Cheprasova,
Alina Dunayevska, Viktoriya Luchka, Amber Marshall, Geeta Nayar, Shakila Thangaratinam, & Dr Angie Doshani, to name but a few.
#MatSafety2024The Royal College of Midwives (RCM)Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | RCOG
Below are some of the letters that Donna has received for her charitable work over the years. Click to view the full size document.
