A BEREAVED mother whose five-week-old baby tragically died has launched a new support group in Chard to help families suffering similar heartbreak.

The group, Melody’s Voices, held its first meeting at the start of this month, and the launch was attended by the mayor of Chard, councillor Dave Bulmer.

The support group is run by Chard resident Julz Scott, who lost her own daughter Melody when she was just five-weeks-old, through the charity Towards Tomorrow Together.

Speaking after the launch, Ms Scott said: “We have full support from local undertakers, midwives and health visitors, particularly Becky Scott and Sim Harrington.

“We’ll be running the group, Melody’s Voices, named after our daughter, through the charity Towards Tomorrow Together, which was set up by Mel Scott in 2009.

“Melody’s Voices will be holding a face-to-face support group on the first Tuesday of the month, with our next meeting being June 7, from 7.30pm, at St Mary’s which is situated in the grounds of St Mary’s Church.

“This has been made possible thanks to Becky Scott and Sue Tucker.

“When Melody died at five-weeks-old in 2012, we were offered little in the way of face-to-face support locally, leading us to rely heavily on online support, which turned into something great, but led to the feeling of being lonely and isolated, which is the last thing you want to be when your child dies.

“So I felt I needed to set something up.

"With subsequent relaxed meetings every first Tuesday evening of the month at 7.45pm we’d very much like to welcome anyone bereaved by pregnancy and infant loss.”

Mel Scott, who lives in Bridgwater and founded the charity Towards Tomorrow Together, said: “I set up local charity Towards Tomorrow Together following the death of my son Finley during labour in 2009.

“We offer a variety of services for families affected by the death of a baby. We run peer support groups in Taunton, and Bridgwater for parents after the death of a baby and for those pregnant or parenting after a loss.”

The group offers “tea, biscuits and a friendly ear,” and there will be a remembrance book and pebbles there should any parent wish to use them.

For more information, visit www.towards-tomorrow.com.