Personal tragedy inspires Foundation for infant bereavement care and support.
Today, at the 密桃传媒鈥檚 (UWTSD) graduation ceremony in Swansea, Dr Chantal Lockey was conferred an Honorary Fellow in recognition of her outstanding leadership and services to infant bereavement care and support.
The devastating loss of her baby daughter, Marnie, at just six weeks old drove Dr Lockey on to help other families facing the horror of the loss of a child. Through personal experience, she realised that families were not receiving adequate bereavement care as there was no training in place for those working at the frontline with families including midwives, nurses, police departments, universities and counsellors. In 2007 she founded
In presenting Dr Lockey to the congregation, Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of the Wales Institute of Science and Art, said: 鈥淒r Chantal Lockey, a woman of strength and resilience, experienced one of the most devastating tragedies a parent can endure - the sudden loss of her precious baby. In the face of deep grief, Chantal has emerged as a beacon of hope, using her pain to advocate for awareness and support for those affected by infant loss鈥.
鈥Through her organisation, Chantal Lockey has tirelessly worked to break the silence surrounding infant loss and, as she says, the pain of losing a child is horrific, there is no way to dress it up. It is a weight that no parent should ever have to bear鈥.
Born in Surrey, the eldest of four, Chantal鈥檚 family moved to Bournemouth where she grew up a care-free, relaxed person, a young girl who, in her own words, 鈥渆njoyed life to the full, loved travelling, eating nice food, who was a good friend to many, and importantly, a young person who had not lived negative experiences in her life.
When she became pregnant at the age of 23, her journey began like any other expectant mother. Sadly, in a cruel twist of events, her baby Marnie died from sudden infant death aged 6 weeks.
Rather than succumbing to the depths of despair, Chantal found strength to transform her grief into action. She became an advocate for infant loss awareness, determined to ensure that other families would not suffer in silence, and in Chantal words, this work has been in itself a healing experience for her too.
She has shared her story, speaking openly about the pain, the heartache, and the struggle to find meaning in the face of tragedy. By doing so, she has created a safe space for others to share their own experiences, fostering a community of support and understanding.
Chantal Lockey understands that the journey of healing is not a linear one. It is marked by ups and downs, moments of strength, and moments of vulnerability. She has used her platform to provide resources and support for grieving parents, offering a lifeline in a time of overwhelming darkness.
In the last 15 years, Chantal has trained thousands of health care professionals at almost every NHS Trust, and universities that offer nursing and midwifery courses.
She also works extensively with counselling professionals, offering, for example, free training to the charity , a volunteering counselling organisation in Wales.
Her e-learning programme has been taken up in numerous countries, receiving more than 20 accreditations demonstrating the need for the training across the world.
Dr Chantal Lockey has been recognised with numerous awards; including an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire, The 2019 National NHS Special Award for a lifetime of work, and in 2024, she was appointed Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by HRH King Charles III in the New Year鈥檚 Honours List for her services to bereavement care and reducing infant mortality.
She has influence policies on infant loss in the workplace; and hundreds of corporate organisations have sought her advice and training. Her story, has been told time and again, helping heal hundreds of bereaved parents.
Dr Cocks continued: 鈥淐hantal’s courage and determination have inspired countless individuals who have faced the devastating loss of a child. Her story serves as a reminder that even in the depths of despair, there is hope. She has shown that it is possible to find strength in vulnerability, and to transform pain into purpose.
By challenging the stigma surrounding grief, encouraging open conversations and providing a supportive network for those in need, Chantal has helped to shape a society that is more compassionate and understanding towards those experiencing infant loss.
Chantal said: 鈥淭hank you to University of Wales Trinity St David for recognising my work and for the wonderful privilege of being conferred as Honorary Fellow. My work in Pregnancy and Infant can still sometimes remain a taboo issue. I hope that this platform will raise more conversations, more awareness and in turn ensure that the thousands of bereaved parents who suffer loss every year in the UK, are recognised and fully supported by professional services.
It is also an immense privilege to be a part of your special day. I hope that you all feel extremely proud of your achievements and that you have a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends. Many congratulations to you all.鈥
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
Principal PR and Communications Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467076