Family bereavement charity 2wish has officially launched the expansion of its vital support services into Wiltshire, marking the latest phase of its growing presence across England.
The launch follows a deeply personal moment for the charity’s founder and CEO, Rhian Mannings MBE, who recently received a visit from Prince William at her home to mark World Mental Health Day. In a moving conversation released by Kensington Palace, the Prince discussed Rhian’s experience of suddenly losing both her baby son, George, and her husband, Paul, within just five days.
Founded in 2012 in Wales, 2wish was born from Rhian’s determination to ensure that no other family faces such unimaginable loss without support. Since then, the charity has provided help to more than 9,500 families across Wales and several English counties, including Bristol, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Somerset and Cheshire.
The latest expansion will see 2wish services introduced in Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Merseyside. Working in partnership with NHS England, police forces and hospital trusts, the charity ensures immediate access to compassionate, specialist care for bereaved families through emergency and critical care units.
Rhian Mannings MBE said, “We are proud to be able to extend our support to more local communities in England. We’ve seen the significant difference that we’re making to families who lose a child or young adult under certain circumstances, and have spent time building relationships in hospitals and police forces across these counties.
“In order to meet the growing demand, we’ve expanded our support team so that staff are embedded within local communities, mirroring the services that have been running successfully in Wales since 2012.”
She added, “Our jobs are as incredibly hard as they are rewarding. We meet devastated families at the lowest ebb of their lives. Sudden loss can have a profound effect on the mental health of parents, siblings and other family members. We believe this support is essential and will prevent further families walking out into the night with no hope and no support.”
To find out more about 2wish and its work, visit www.2wish.org.uk.
