A charity that supports those affected by baby loss is facing closure within months due to 'spiralling costs'.
SiMBA provides support for bereaved parents who have lost a baby at any stage of their pregnancy or around the time of birth. This includes creating memory boxes to help them gather timeless memories and providing family rooms within maternity units to offer parents the time to say goodbye to their babies.
Since launching in 2005, the charity has supported thousands of families during their critical time of loss but due to spiralling costs and a significant shortfall in fundraising, it is now facing closure in as little as three months.
Read more: Heartbroken pal bids to give Glasgow mum 'send off she deserves' after River Clyde tragedy
A combination of a surge in requests for memory boxes from hospitals across the UK, the soaring costs of producing, distributing and donating the boxes, has left SiMBA running desperately low on funding and unable to meet growing demand.
The charity has now launched an urgent fundraiser to raise £220,000 to help them survive and continue their work in supporting bereaved families but has so far only 27% of their target.
CEO and co-founder of SiMBA, Sara Fitzsimmons said: "If we don't secure funds we will be forced to close in as little as three months. In order to save SiMBA we need your help. Since 2005, SiMBA has been committed to supporting bereaved families who have lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy and around the time of birth.
"Since 2005 our organisation has donated over 50,000 memory boxes and in the last year alone we have gifted over 10,000 boxes. Our costs have increased faster than ever before while at the same time we've seen a growth in requests for precious memory boxes. And with a significant shortfall in fundraising and soaring costs means, we are running desperately low on funds."
With no regular government funding, the charity is relying on the kindness of supporters to help them continue their essential work.
In 2020, SiMBA created six bespoke SiMBA Family Rooms to enhance the level of bereavement care in the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow. The charity's largest project to date aimed to ensure that anyone who has a loss, at any stage of their pregnancy or around the time of birth will be supported in a bespoke SiMBA room.
To support SiMBA's fundraiser, click here.
READ NEXT -
Prison death probe into Dumbartonshire killer who butchered teenage mum and dumped body parts
Glasgow's free school holiday meals for hungry kids facing axe to save £500,000
Lanarkshire man gives back to hospice which took care of 'warrior' mum
Glasgow pub beer garden backed despite reports of 'binge drinking and sectarian singing'
Glasgow community centre warns of 'catastrophic' closure after council funding blow
