This year, Relax with Lucy is one of the NVS Group’s nominated charities for 2024/25. Hannah Browning, Head of Haematology at NationWide Laboratories, nominated the charity. We’ve had the opportunity to speak with Hannah, who shared the deeply personal reasons behind her nomination, the inspiring work Lucy, the charity’s founder, is doing to support parents coping with baby loss, and how our contributions will benefit the charity.
What inspired you to nominate Relax with Lucy?
I nominated Relax with Lucy because of the support it provides to parents who have experienced the unimaginable – the loss of a baby. Lucy, the founder, is a good friend of mine, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength and love she’s poured into this charity after going through this heartache herself. She lost her daughter, Ellie, after a late-term termination for medical reasons, and the experience was devastating. Lucy and her husband faced the unimaginable task of delivering their baby, knowing they would have to say goodbye.
As a mental health nurse with years of experience, Lucy had mindfulness, meditation, and self-care techniques to lean on, but she quickly realised many other parents wouldn’t have access to such resources. That’s when she decided to turn her own pain into a force for good, founding Relax with Lucy in Ellie’s memory to provide parents with the emotional support they might not find elsewhere.
Lucy is one of the one of the loveliest, most compassionate people I know. Even while raising two boys and expecting another child, she continues to run evening mindfulness sessions and retreats, all while still working as a mental health nurse. The charity is a true testament to her dedication and compassion for helping others through the most difficult of times.
The other reason I felt it was so important to nominate Relax with Lucy is because baby loss affects more people than we often realise. Many of us can think of friends or family members who’ve experienced miscarriages or loss, but it’s not something that’s often talked about, especially by men. Relax with Lucy provides a space for everyone – mums, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles – anyone who’s affected. You don’t have to be labelled; it’s simply a resource for healing, and I believe that support is vital for so many families.
How is Relax with Lucy making a difference?
The charity is all about providing tools and spaces for healing. Lucy and her team offer mindfulness and meditation sessions, which were key in helping her cope with her own grief. They run retreats and workshops, offer blog posts, podcasts, and a dedicated support line, and have built an online community where parents can connect and support each other.
One of the charity’s biggest projects right now is the “Ellie’s Gift” app, which allows parents to access mindfulness tools and support whenever they need it. Everything from videos explaining relaxation techniques and tips for a calm birth to valuable downloadable resources, including MP3s, birth plans, and hospital checklists. It’s a lifeline for parents who might be struggling to find ways to cope.
How will our contributions help the charity’s mission?
Relax with Lucy is entirely volunteer-run, with Lucy working alongside a small but passionate and dedicated team.100% of the donations they receive go directly towards providing support for families going through baby loss.
Our support is crucial for the continued development and expansion of the charity’s initiatives, particularly the “Ellie’s Gift” app, which is being piloted in some NHS Trusts. The app is free for anyone to use, but to really expand its reach, especially within the NHS, Lucy and her team need more funding for things like app design, marketing, and rolling it out more widely. Our support will help them get this app into the hands of more parents and families, offering them comfort and support through one of the hardest times in their lives.
How can we further support the charity’s efforts?
One of the biggest challenges Lucy and her team face is raising awareness about the support they offer to families. If you know someone who might benefit from the resources Relax with Lucy provides, please share information about the charity and its Ellie’s Gift app. The app is free to download from both the Google Play Store and the App Store – just search for “Ellie’s Gift.” By spreading the word, we can help ensure that more families can benefit from this fantastic charity.
There are plenty of other ways to get involved and support Relax with Lucy. You can donate directly through the charity’s website, or if you’d like to get more hands-on, Lucy and her team are always looking for volunteers. Whether you’ve got IT skills, marketing experience, or a background in counselling, there’s a way for everyone to help.
Lucy provides full training for volunteers, so if you’re interested in volunteering with the helpline, or anything else, your time and skills would be hugely appreciated. I know we have such a diverse and talented group here at NVS Group, and any help – no matter how small – could make a big difference for Lucy and the families she supports.
To find out more, donate or volunteer – https://www.relaxwithlucy.co.uk/
