The London Cable Car is to light up pink and blue following a partnership between TfL and a baby loss charity to encourage conversations during Baby Loss Awareness Week.
During Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9-15 October, the London Cable Car cabins will be lit up in remembrance of all the babies who have died before, during or after birth.
On14 October, the Footprints Baby Loss charity will host an event at the London Cable Car Experience; with a range of speaker sessions, support classes and memory making activities in aid of spreading awareness and support for families.
“All we want is for people that have lost their babies to get the best support they can,” said Sharon Darke, co-founder of the charity.
Sharon cofounded the charity with Suzie Scofield in 2024 and their work promotes starting conversations and extending support to families grieving the loss of multiple baby births.
She sadly lost her twins, Charlie and Joshua, in 1999 and has been advocating for baby loss awareness ever since.
For Baby Loss Awareness Week, the charity has partnered with TfL. “We’re always keen to raise awareness and what better way to do that across London than by lighting up the cable cars pink and blue,” Sharon said.
It is estimated that one in six pregnancies in the UK end in miscarriage, highlighting the need for community support.
Head of London Cable Car, Fiona Jones, said: “I think for us [TfL], the key is raising awareness and getting those conversations started.
“I hope that we can encourage people to ask the right questions and learn more about it.”
Baby loss is often considered a taboo subject, which is why many people avoid discussing it out of fear of upsetting anyone affected.
Sharon said: “One of the hardest things we hear is when people are just expected to be exactly as you were and carry on as normal.”
Footprints Baby Loss teaches the correct ways to talk about baby loss and how to support grieving families.
When asked about the significance of the lit up London Cable Car, Sharon said: “I think there will be a massive amount of people that come through, see the pink and blue and, it will give them the feeling that they’re not alone.
“It’s not just them it’s happened to, and that can be so important, especially in those early days when you feel like no one gets it.”
Jones said: “It’s nice that we can support people like Sharon and the fantastic work she’s doing.”
Sharon added: “Not everyone wants to do a baby loss awareness event so it’s really great that the TfL is so open to it.”
The government have recently announced a new right to two weeks bereavement leave from work after the loss of a baby before 24 weeks.
When asked about the new bereavement leave, Sharon stated that it was a very positive start to acknowledging baby loss legally but also believes there is still a long way to go.
She said: “All we want is for people that have lost their babies to get the best support they can and I think it’s brilliant that it includes partners and other family members.”
Featured image credit: TfL
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