Washing line at landmarks to raise awareness of baby deaths

Launched by the stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands, the campaign - #15babiesaday - is taking place throughout June, and aims to raise awareness of the fact that 15 babies die before, during or shortly after birth every day in the UK.

Under the month-long campaign, Sands is hoping to raise awareness of the number of babies that die every day, the effect it can have on families and encourage the public to speak more openly about baby death.

To raise awareness, the charity is today visiting 15 ‘iconic’ sites across London – including Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and Tower Bridge - where it will put up a travelling washing line with 15 babygrows pegged on to it to symbolise the babies who lose their lives every day.

While Sands says the number of deaths of babies has fallen in recent years, the UK is moving three times slower than some other European countries to reduce the baby death rate, and many families are too often sent home with poor explanations about their baby’s death, which is ‘simply unacceptable’.

The charity is also asking people to support its campaign on social media using the hashtag #15babiesaday and take part in its #90minute challenge to raise money to help save babies’ lives. According to Sands, on average, every 90 minutes, or 1.5 hours, another family is left devastated by the sudden death of their baby.

There will also be special events taking place across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland throughout this month.

• For more information about supporting the campaign click here