A MONMOUTHSHIRE woman is leading a charity event to fund training bereavement support workshops for midwives.

Myscha Dene, of Abergavenny, is holding a children’s Christmas party at Get Together Coffee in Abergavenny on December 11 to raise money for the SANDS (stillbirth and neonatal death charity) training packages.

The funds raised will contribute to funding the training being held by Ms Dene and SANDS for local health board midwives in Cwm Taf and Aneurin Bevan in 2017.

The 28-year-old final year midwife student at the University of Wales hosts regular fundraisers for SANDS and local maternity services following the stillbirth of her daughter Bobi-phiel Parry seven years ago in June.

Ms Dene said that it is vital midwives receive additional, regular training to help staff feel confidence in delivering bereavement support to families who experience the tragedy of stillbirth or neonatal death.

She said: "As not only a bereaved parent but a final year student midwife myself, I recognise how important training and education is in order for staff to provide optimum support for families, which we hope will improve long term outcomes for bereaved families. This is why I am so very passionate about raising the funds to put this in place."

"The donations will contribute towards training midwives to provide improved support to families experiencing a bereavement in maternity settings. The training will be delivered to over 100 midwives and student midwives.

"I feel that added training helps staff feel a sense of confidence in providing support to families experiencing the tragedy that my family did. This will include options available to families when spending time with their babies, making memories and saying goodbye. I know personally how vital the support we received was to us in helping our family make a lifetime of memories with our daughter in a short window of time."

Ms Dene also said that she hopes that the regular fundraising event’s help in some way to break the taboo of infant loss, and also raise awareness amongst the public.

The funds made from the children's Christmas party fundraiser will be added to the amounts Ms Dene has previously raised during other events to go towards the training workshops, but she hopes to raise an additional £500.

The children’s Christmas party fundraiser at Get Together Coffee shop on Nevill Street, Abergavenny takes place on Sunday, December 11 from 12pm to 3pm, admission is £4 per person and will include a visit to the grotto, a Christmas disco, facepainting and other festive activities.