A STALYBRIDGE funeral director is providing families living through the toughest of circumstances the chance to be with them in a comfortable environment.
And it has received a device that enables them to spend time with their loved little one from a fundraising family that has experienced such a loss.
Elite Funeral Services (NW), based at The Arcade, close to Cheetham Hill Road, has set up a nursery that is free for anyone who wants to be with a child in the most emotional of times.
Now it has a CuddleCot after Jodie Pilling and Lucas Jepson, from Leigh, donated it in honour of their son, Oakley – whose named on a plaque.
Lucas raised the money for charity Little Acorns, which they set up after their child was stillborn, by completing the Bolton Ironman triathlon in June, accumulating almost £2,000.
After they saw what Elite was offering, they decided to give it to them as it means so much to local families.
Jodie said: “I’ve followed them online and seen what they do, so it’s nice to be able to give it to them.
“There are more people who’ve gone through it than you’d think. You don’t realise that until you go through it yourself.
“I’ve spoken to a lot who have.
“Things are getting better than it used to be, but people still don’t really want to talk about it.
“And this has Oakley’s name on it. It shows that try to do something good out of something so bad.
“The nursery can also provide that bit of comfort. Where Oakley was, there wasn’t anything like this.
“It was nice, but this is a proper nursery – it’ll being comfort to some people. It’s a nice thing they do have a nursery as I’ve never seen it anywhere else.
“Especially with a CuddleCot in there as people can spend as much time as they want with their loved one.”
CuddleCots allow families to spend time with their loved ones without needing to cool the entire room.
This allows them to create precious memories, enables mothers to recover from medication side effects, make arrangements without feeling rushed and gives family members the chance to visit.
Whether the funeral is being organised by them or not, people can access the facility without charge.
As well as a cot, there are Moses baskets of different sizes, relaxing pictures and even sets of baby clothes.
It was one of the first things Jo Pilling, of Elite Funeral Services (NW), wanted to put in place as nowhere else in Tameside has one.
And after living through the loss of a little one herself, she knows just what it can mean.
She said: “It’s still such a taboo subject, people don’t talk about it,
“Even to the point where people go, ‘Oh God,’ but it happens and both my business partner Sam and I have endured baby loss.
“That’s why when we opened Elite, we were like, ‘This is something we have to do. It’s needed so much.’
“The CuddleCot is like a cold-water system, so if parents want to take baby home, they can lend it. It sits inside a Moses basket or a cot and it allows parents that crucial time.
“I was looked after at St Mary’s Hospital, so I’m hoping to reach out to them and let them know what we’re doing.
“It’s only right they, and others, should know about it – even if a family chooses to use a funeral service closer to them, that’s fine but for whatever they need, the room is there.”
Just four months after opening, Elite Funeral Services (NW) has been shortlisted for the Most Promising Newcomer to the Trade award at the Good Funeral Awards, which will be held at Cornwall’s Eden Project on Saturday, September 14.
*IF YOU would like to use the nursery space, contact elite Funeral Services by calling 0161 669 1166 or emailing admin@elitefuneralservices.co.uk.