We are proud to share that 2wish has now supported more than 10,000 people affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person.
While this milestone marks a significant moment in our journey, it is one we hold with deep sensitivity. Behind every number is a family, a story and a life changed forever. Every single person we have supported represents someone navigating unimaginable grief, and it is a privilege to be able to stand alongside them at such a difficult time.
2wish was founded in 2012 by Rhian Mannings MBE, following the devastating loss of her baby son George. Just days later, Rhian’s husband Paul also died, overwhelmed by grief. During this time, Rhian discovered there was little to no support available for families facing sudden bereavement, leaving her and her children to cope alone.
That experience shaped everything that 2wish is today.
From those beginnings, driven by a determination that no family should ever feel as alone as hers did, 2wish has grown into a charity providing immediate and ongoing emotional and practical support to families across Wales and, more recently, across England.
Reflecting on this milestone, Rhian said:
“While the number of people we have helped is heartbreaking, because every single figure represents a family experiencing unimaginable pain, I am incredibly proud of what the 2wish team has achieved over the last 14 years.
“When George died and then Paul passed away just days later, there was no support available for families like mine. I know how isolating and devastating that experience can be.
“Today, because of the dedication of our staff, volunteers, supporters, and the courage of the families we work alongside every day, thousands of people are no longer facing that journey alone. That is something incredibly powerful, and we remain committed to ensuring every bereaved family receives the care, compassion and specialist support they deserve.”
Over the past 14 years, 2wish has supported parents, siblings, grandparents and professionals affected by sudden bereavement. Support is provided not only in the immediate aftermath of a loss but throughout the longer journey of grief.
One of our amazing families recently shared:
“At every step, your gentle, unobtrusive support and guidance has helped us gradually get through the terrible days, weeks and months that followed the sudden and unexpected death of our child.
2wish stepped up and stepped into our lives where others have been unable to help us, in both emotional and practical ways which we have been so very grateful to receive.”
In recent years, we have expanded our services significantly. During 2024, support was extended into new regions including Bristol, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Somerset and Cheshire. Since late 2025, we have continued to grow and now reach families in Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Merseyside.
Working closely with the NHS, police forces, fire and rescue services and a wide range of organisations, we have established immediate support pathways across Emergency and Critical Care Units in the areas we serve. This means that when the unimaginable happens, families are identified quickly and offered compassionate, specialist support from the earliest possible moment. This is something that simply did not exist when 2wish began.
One of our many champions within the NHS spoke of her experience working alongside 2wish in their role “As a Specialist Nurse in Paediatric End of Life Care and previously a Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation, I often share your memory boxes and contact details with families during the most heartbreaking times of their lives. The support you offer is truly incredible, and words simply cannot express the difference you make to families.”
Reaching more than 10,000 people is not something we have done alone.
This milestone has only been possible because of the dedication, compassion and commitment of so many individuals. To our staff, who provide expert care and unwavering support every day. To our volunteers, who give their time, energy and empathy so generously. To our supporters, partners and fundraisers, past and present, who believe in our mission and make this work possible.
And most importantly, to the families we support. Your courage in the face of devastating loss inspires everything we do.
While we will always wish that families did not need our services, we are committed to ensuring that when they do, they are not alone.
As we look ahead, our promise remains the same as it was in 2012. We will continue to ensure that every family affected by the sudden death of a child or young person receives the care, compassion and specialist support they deserve.
By becoming a regular giver, you can help ensure that everyone who needs our help receives immediate and ongoing support at the time they need it the most.
