"Even the smallest of feet have the power to leave everlasting footprints upon this world"
Author Unknown

It is only through generous community support that we can continue to donate bears of hope and maintain the level of support we have achieved so far. There are many ways you can help:

• Purchase a Bear Of Hope
• Make a Tax Deductible Donation
• Hold a Bear Drive
• Baby Loss Memorial

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Our Rationale

Throughout Australia each year, thousands of parent’s are blessed and heartbroken with having been touched by a life so brief. Their lives are thrown into grief in an instant. Dreams for the future are quickly shattered and replaced with an intense emptiness. All sense of normality is put on hold whilst trying to come to terms with saying goodbye to their precious baby before having the chance to even say hello or to get to know them. The stress and trauma of losing a baby can have many effects on parents, family and friends and may be compounded by lack of support, isolation and lack of understanding. To say the least, it is a cruel and often lonely experience for parents to bare and endure for the rest of their lives. Therefore it is important that parent’s individual grief is understood, validated and supported, to show that they need not travel this road alone and to guide them through this unfamiliar journey towards healing their broken hearts.

Our Mission

To provide parents, who have experienced the loss of their baby during Pregnancy, Birth and Infancy, with the comfort of knowing they are not alone from the very beginning, and to offer significant ongoing support to heal their broken hearts. This includes loss through Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Genetic Interruption, Multiple Loss, Neonatal and Infant Death.

Our Objectives

Bears of Hope is established for the public charitable objects of:

(a) relieving the suffering, distress and misfortune experienced by parents who have lost their baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, genetic interruption, multiple loss, neonatal or infant death through:
(1) provision of online support groups;
(2) facilitating face to face support groups;
(3) hospital and home visits by Bears of Hope members
(4) provision of quarterly newsletters;
(5) holding community and fundraising events;
(6) regular phone and email contact;

(b) reducing the feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety and isolation felt by grieving parents by placing them in contact with other families who have experienced similar loss;

(c) initiating early support for parents who have experienced a pregnancy, birth or infant loss with the donation of a ‘Bear of Hope’ and providing support literature;

(d) reaching parents who have suffered loss by forming strong relationships with delivery, maternity and early pregnancy clinics, social workers, neonatal intensive care units, general practitioners, obstetricians, IVF clinics, children’s hospitals and emergency departments in NSW, ACT and across Australia.

Our Vision

• To support parents across Australia who experience the loss of their baby during pregnancy, birth or infancy
• To initiate and advocate early support for parents before they say goodbye to their baby
• To have a positive impact on parents’ grieving and healing to reduce the incidence of mental illness such as depression and anxiety
• To increase our ability to support families
• For the wider community and the Federal Government to officially recognize October 15th as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Australia
• To empower parents with sound bereavement information and support choices to meet their individual grieving needs
• To hold support groups across Australia
• To create a Community Support Network throughout Australia
• To raise our profile & the importance of the community providing early and ongoing pregnancy & infant loss support.

Our Support Services

Bears Of Hope provides:

• a bear of hope to bereaved parents through Hospitals, GP's, Obstetricians and IVF Clinics.
• A bear of hope directly to grieving parents if they have not received one
• The opportunity for parents and the community to donate a 'bear of hope' in honour of their baby, or someone else's.
• A resourceful and informative website including Parent Information (Before & After the Birth of their Baby, Arranging a Funeral, Facing the Future, Special Dates, Depression), Australia-wide Support Groups & Services, Creating Memories Before and After Saying Goodbye, Bears Of Hope Resources, Fundraising & Events, Information for Family and Friends, How To Support Our Program.
• Online Support Groups for Mothers, Fathers, Pregnancy After A Loss, Family and Friends, and for Parenting After Loss.
• Face to face support groups for both parents.
• Phone & Email Support from one parent to another
• Coffee & Chat Mornings
• Support Literature for Parents
• Healing Hearts Quarterly Newsletter
• A Mailing List for Bears Of Hope Updates
• Community Events including our Annual Charity Ball, Candle Lighting Ceremony and a Christmas Picnic.
• Fundraising events and activities
• Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness through Fundraising, Media and Event exposure
• Home & Hospital visits - Selected Sydney Metro and Hunter Region areas

Structure

We are a not for profit organisation. Since becoming an Incorporated Association on May 22nd 2006, Bears Of Hope has been governed by a Volunteer Executive Committee of parents who have personally experienced the loss of their baby. Office bearers include the President, Vice-President, Public Officer, Treasurer and Secretary.

We have volunteers who have titles as
Newsletter Editor
Fundraising & Event Coordinator
Public Relations Manager

We also have Volunteer Representative Members who maintain bear of hope donations to particular hospitals.

Authority Numbers

Registered Incorporation 9885618
ABN 49599164988
Charitable Fundraising Number 20113

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