The provided source material does not contain information about free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes in categories such as beauty, baby care, pet products, health, food, or household goods. Instead, the sources focus exclusively on support services, resources, and organisations dedicated to assisting families who have experienced pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant death. This article outlines the available free support programmes, peer networks, and educational resources identified within the source documents.
Organisations Offering Bereavement Support
Several organisations are mentioned as providing free resources and support for grieving families. These include non-profit entities and health-focused campaigns. Their services are designed to offer emotional and practical assistance during and after a loss.
Rachel's Gift
Rachel's Gift provides a range of free support services for bereaved families. The organisation offers boxes that include resources to help guide parents through difficult decisions during their hospital stay. Additionally, they maintain contact with families throughout the first year after a loss, providing gentle reminders that support is available, particularly during holidays and the anniversary of the loss. Rachel's Gift also runs free pregnancy and infant loss support groups, which are open to parents, grandparents, extended family, and friends. Furthermore, the organisation has developed nationally accredited infant bereavement training for medical professionals.
Chasing the Rainbows
Chasing the Rainbows is a non-profit organisation that provides free trauma-informed support to families nationwide. Their services include peer support, counselling, and healing resources. The organisation offers free virtual support groups, print and digital materials, and additional recommended reading. Chasing the Rainbows also hosts community events, such as the Angel Dash Annual 5K, which is held in various areas across the country every spring and fall to honour families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. Participants can join virtually or in person at satellite locations. The organisation also encourages community engagement through fundraising events like the Bursting Bubble 5K and by launching state or local chapters to expand their impact.
Star Legacy Foundation
The Star Legacy Foundation offers free peer-to-peer support by matching individuals with someone who has experienced a similar loss. They also provide information to help families understand additional testing options if a baby has died unexpectedly. The foundation fields questions about pregnancy health, stillbirth, other perinatal losses, or bereavement, and approaches appropriate medical experts for answers.
National Campaigns and Resource Hubs
The Safe to Sleep® campaign, led by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), acknowledges the tragedy of infant loss and provides a list of organisations offering resources for grieving families. This campaign does not directly provide samples or products but serves as a central hub for linking families to support services.
Safe to Sleep® Campaign Resources
The campaign lists several organisations that offer grief and support resources: * First Candle: A non-profit organisation committed to helping babies reach their first birthdays. It offers a "Bereavement" menu on its website with grief and support resources. * Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC's SIDS: Parents and Caregivers page links to several organisations that offer support to families who have experienced the death of an infant. * Children’s Bereavement Centre: Provides resources, events, and free peer-support groups for children, young adults, adults, and families dealing with the death of a loved one. * March of Dimes: Offers a Loss & Grief page with suggested ways for parents to cope with tragic loss related to miscarriage and stillbirth. * Postpartum Support International: Provides a Loss & Grief in Pregnancy & Postpartum page with resources and discussion support material for parents coping with grief.
Educational and Community Programmes
Beyond direct support, some organisations focus on education and community building to aid in the healing process.
Training for Professionals
Rachel's Gift has developed a curriculum and educational training for medical professionals. This nationally accredited infant bereavement training aims to improve the care provided by healthcare workers to bereaved families.
Podcasts and Media
Chasing the Rainbows produces "The Cry It Out Loud Podcast," which features raw, real conversations with parents, families, and experts walking through pregnancy and infant loss. The podcast is available for free on all major streaming platforms and aims to help listeners feel less alone and more connected.
Community Events and Fundraising
Several organisations utilise community events to provide connection and raise funds for their services. Rachel's Gift's Angel Dash Annual 5K and Chasing the Rainbows' Bursting Bubble 5K are examples of events that allow families and supporters to participate in memory of babies. Chasing the Rainbows also encourages individuals to host fundraisers for personal milestones, such as birthdays or memorials, to support their mission.
Accessing Support
The sources indicate that support is generally available to anyone in the UK or US who has experienced loss, with specific programmes sometimes tailored to parents, grandparents, extended family, and friends. For example, Rachel's Gift support groups are open to this wider network. Virtual support is a common offering, with Chasing the Rainbows providing services to families throughout the USA. To access peer support from the Star Legacy Foundation, individuals need to click a link on their website to learn more and be matched.
The provided material does not specify any eligibility requirements beyond the experience of loss itself. There are no mentions of geographical restrictions within the UK, purchase requirements, or subscription fees for the support services described. All resources listed appear to be offered free of charge.
Conclusion
The provided source material details a range of free support services, resources, and community programmes for families affected by infant loss. Organisations such as Rachel's Gift, Chasing the Rainbows, and the Star Legacy Foundation offer peer support groups, educational materials, accredited training for professionals, and community events. The Safe to Sleep® campaign serves as a central resource hub, linking to additional organisations. These services are provided at no cost and are accessible to grieving families, their friends, and extended support networks. The focus is entirely on emotional and practical support, with no information available on free product samples or promotional offers.