News & Events

Do you enjoy walking, running or cycling? Would you like to get fit? Would you like a new fun challenge? Would you like to raise money for a local charity?

Then we would love you to join us in our Sponsored Virtual Walk around North Yorkshire.  This will take place at your own pace from 1 - 31 March. You can choose whether you would like to do the 100 mile, 50 mile or 20 mile option.

As you walk around your local area we'll send you virtual postcards of places you would see if you were able to do the actual walk. You can walk/run/cycle as much or as little as you like each day!

To sign up please click the link below, sign in and choose "start fundraising". We will email you with your welcome pack containing all the details once you have signed up. From there you will be able to select your route and start gathering your sponsors as you enjoy virtually exploring new routes in North Yorkshire.

There is a £5 sign up donation to cover admin costs.

Our Route options are:

MAIN ROUTE: 100 MILES

York - Thirsk - Harrogate - Selby - York

Other stops along the way include: Shipton by Beningbrough, Easingwold, White Horse, Asenby, Ripon, Ripley Castle, Spofforth Castle, Wetherby, Lotherton Hall, Riccall, Bishopthorpe, Rowntree Park

MEDIUM ROUTE: 50 MILES

York - Thirsk - Harrogate

Other stops along the way include: Shipton by Beningbrough, Easingwold, White Horse, Asenby, Ripon, Ripley Castle

FAMILY ROUTE: 20 MILES

Thirsk - York - Around York

Other stops along the way include: Riccall, Bishopthorpe, Rowntree Park

You will be able to select your route once you have signed up and received your welcome pack.

Invite your friends and join us for a fun-filled virtual Quiz night on Saturday 6 Feb at 7:30pm!

You can enter as a team of 6-8 people or as an individual and we will allocate you to a team.

To book your place please use our Virgin Money giving page and donate £5 per person. Use the link below and select donate.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayEventDetails.action?eventId=36189&charityId=1006812&invocation=evt0050

Places are limited so book soon!

Christmas is often billed as “the most wonderful time of the year”, and for many reasons and for many people it really is. Yet it can also be an incredibly difficult time. As we head towards the end of 2020, we are all having the realisation that this has been one of the most difficult years that I think many of us can remember. Here at Reflect we want to not only wish you a Merry Christmas but to acknowledge how hard this time of year can be, especially this year, if you are dealing with loss.  We also want you to know that you are not alone.

When we are dealing with loss, Christmas can feel daunting. It can feel like the world is carrying on as normal when your world feels upside down. There is a pressure to be jolly and to get into the Christmas spirit, which may be the last thing that you feel like doing. Navigating these feelings can be hard, upsetting and exhausting. The desire to put on a brave face, particularly around Christmas, can be intense.

Alternatively, Christmas may act as a reminder of a previous loss and you may find this season difficult because of feelings it brings up from previous years. I had a miscarriage several years ago, I have dealt with many of the emotions around this as part of my training as a pregnancy loss advisor for Reflect. However, whenever I hear Michael Buble’s dulcet tones tell me “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” I still have a momentary pause of sadness which transports me back 5 years. Ironically it’s only through coming through this grief that I can look back and realise how much it affected me at the time and that my brave face, possibly wasn’t as brave as I thought.

You may wish to enjoy this Christmas and all of the festivities that it brings but feel guilt given a recent loss. In my opinion, enjoying this time and moving forward in no way lessens how you feel about your loss. Moving forward doesn’t equate to no longer caring or no longer recognising the significance of the loss it just means you have seen a way through some of the darkness.

This year is definitely not your typical year. It may be that the emotions that you are feeling are heightened as we navigate the challenges of household bubbles, tiers and social distancing. Where previously we could seek solace in the arms of loved ones, this year we are having to keep our distance. This can lead to feelings of isolation which can make us feel like we need to walk this path alone. Honestly, this is not the case.

I think the important thing this Christmas is to realise that there is no right or wrong way to feel following baby loss, your feelings are valid and how you choose to navigate this season will be personal to you.

If you are struggling with grief during this Christmas period, please speak out. Whether to close family and friends, a medical professional or one of Reflect’s pregnancy loss volunteers. You do not have to walk this path alone at any time but please do not let the Christmas celebrations prevent you from connecting and sharing your pain. 

Equally if you know someone who is walking through grief this Christmas season, ask how they are doing. Check in with them, connect, see if they are ok. They may not want to talk or share their grief with you but, asking and acknowledging the presence of their grief beats avoiding the one thing you can feel between you but are pretending is not there. 

Whatever you are facing this Christmas, please know that you are not alone. Whatever you are feeling is valid and if you need help or support during this time please please reach out. Here at Reflect we would love to hear from you and would feel privileged to sit beside you in your grief. Sometimes the hardest thing can be initially reaching out. 

Our office will close on Monday 21st December and reopen on Monday 4th January 2021.

Our volunteers will still be available for urgent telephone or email contact during this time if you are in need of our support.

A huge thank you to the Co-op Community Fund, and to all of you who have supported us through this - we are so excited to have raised £2,550 to support Reflect!! Your support will mean we can continue to provide our free support service to anyone facing a Pregnancy Choice or dealing with a Pregnancy Loss.