The Charity

‘Because Every Baby Matters’

When Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates suffered the loss of 5 babies, they knew that they needed to help others who went through the same trauma and grief associated with baby loss, and so launched the organisation ‘Saying Goodbye’ in August 2012.

1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage with an estimated 250,000 babies lost each year in the UK. In addition, the UK sees around 7,000 babies lost through stillbirth, neonatal loss and in infancy, so the scale of the problem was easy to see. Internationally, the US sees 1,000,000 lost through miscarriage & an estimated 30,000,000 babies are lost globally through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss and in infancy each year.

In March 2013, the Mariposa Trust was formed as a charity and ‘Saying Goodbye’ became its primary division. Since the Trusts launch, it has expanded exponentially, and the charity has systematically developed new divisions and services to provide support that reaches over 50,000 people each week. This has in turn led to expansion into North America & globally.

Divisions and Projects

The charity has a number of support divisions, as well as major fundraising projects that are run both nationally and internationally. These include:

  • Saying Goodbye – Support for anyone who has suffered baby loss
  • GrowingYou – Pregnancy support for people who have suffered baby loss
  • Waiting For You – Support for people who have chosen to go through the adoption process
  • Holding Hope – Support for people going through fertility treatment
  • Love in Every Tear – Supporting those, who are supporting others through loss
  • So Cherished – Support for those who’s babies have received a genetic or terminal diagnosis

The charities work is focused on care and support, and all fundraising activities from skydives to the Mariposa Balls, are to facilitate that happening in a targeted and beneficial way.

Key History

08/2012

Saying Goodbye (SG) officially launches and holds the first SG service for 2012

03/2013

Officially becomes registered charity and the first of 18 UK SG services for 2013 takes place

04/2016

Charity hosts reception with Samantha Cameron at No 10 Downing St

11/2017

Charity holds 100th service in Westminster

03/2018

Secretary of State for Health appoints Zoe Clark-Coates, to co-chair Government’s ‘National Pregnancy Loss Review’.

11/2022

Charity holds its 200th Saying Goodbye service

03/2023

The Mariposa Trust celebrates its 10th birthday at the Mariposa Ball at the Landmark Hotel.


Media

It’s Always About The One

The new film premiered at the Mariposa Ball 2016.

Saying Goodbye Film

A short film exploring baby loss, and the reason for the charity’s work.