A MUM who suffered a miscarriage is assembling memory boxes to help other bereaved parents deal with their grief.

Gemma Antell, who lost her baby at 12 weeks in 2004, has put together boxes that will be handed out at Warrington Hospital to families who have been affected by stillbirth or a premature or neonatal loss.

The keepsakes contain a candle and a baby record with space for hand and footprints.

The scheme is the first of its kind and if successful could be rolled out to other hospitals.

Gemma, who lives on Fearnhead Lane, Padgate, said: “The feedback from the hospital has been great. I think people will really appreciate the boxes, they will create invaluable memories.”

The 28-year-old put the boxes together as part of Warrington Project, a scheme that has helped comfort families at Warrington Hospital since February 2009.

The project, which has so far collected £3,000, is funded by national charity Life After Loss, which supports people who have lost babies through miscarriage or stillbirth.

Last year Gemma, mum to Lily and Lincoln, aged five and four, did a bungee jump to raise enough money to train a midwife at Warrington Hospital in bereavement counselling.

Gemma added: “Having a specialist midwife makes the awful experience of losing a child a little more bearable by having that point of contact to support them.”

She has also provided the maternity bereavement suite with camera equipment so people can capture pictures of their child, clothing and a support phone line.

Gemma also runs a monthly pregnancy and infant loss support group and has taken an Open University course in counselling therapy.

For more information visit lifeafterloss.org.uk or call Gemma on 07596 583487.