For the first time, a dedicated Child Death Awareness Week will take place from July 1st to July 7th, creating a space to honour the lives of children who have died and to support the families forever changed by their loss.
The week includes National Bereaved Parents Day on July 3rd and will feature a series of events. This new observance was founded to confront the silence that too often surrounds child death, offering visibility to grief, and space for remembrance.
“This is about making the invisible visible,” said Simon Riley, founder of the initiative, Head of The Alder Centre. “Grieving parents, siblings, and communities deserve to be seen, heard, and supported, not just in their darkest hours, but in the long journey that follows.”
With themes of remembrance and compassion, Child Death Awareness Week invites individuals, organisations, and professionals to participate through:
- Candle lighting
- Grief Encounters
- Social media storytelling with #ChildDeathAwarenessWeek
This initiative seeks to amplify the variety of needs and complexities for those affected by the death of a child. Newly formed, we trust the voice of those affected by the death of a child will grow and be heard nationally and internationally over the years to come.
Whether the loss occurred through illness, accident, stillbirth, or other tragedy, every story matters. Every name matters. And every grieving family deserves to know: they are not alone.
Two ribbons, one message
We wear two ribbons tied together to mark Child Death Awareness Week:
- Purple represents remembrance of the child who has died — a symbol of love, loss, and memory.
- Green stands for mental health — raising awareness of the emotional impact child loss has on families, friends, and communities.
Tying the ribbons together shows how remembrance and mental health are deeply connected. It’s a call for care, understanding, and education for anyone affected by the death of a child.
By making and wearing these ribbons, we honour the children we’ve lost and support those who grieve.
Wear the ribbons. Share the message. You are not alone. Search #ChildDeathAwareness for more.
Find out more about The Alder Centre below.
More informationFollow The Alder Centre on X – @aldercentre
Use hashtags: #ChildDeathAwarenessWeek | #SayTheirName | #StillLoved