New campaign “OFFLOAD” tackles silent grief of Dads after Baby Loss

UK baby loss charity, Aching Arms is launching a groundbreaking campaign to support dads in the construction industry following the loss of a pregnancy or baby. 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in loss and around 3,000 babies are stillborn each year. The impact this has on families is devastating, however dad’s grief is often not recognised or acknowledged.

The campaign, titled OFFLOAD, aims to break the silence around the impact of baby loss on dads in particular in the Construction industry where, according to ONS, men are four times more likely to take their own life. With 97% of the construction workforce being male, it has never been more important to support the wellbeing and mental health of these employees. Whilst there is now more focus on mental health within the Construction industry, OFFLOAD seeks to address a hidden part of this crisis – the emotional impact of baby loss on dads.

“Dad’s grief matters too and it is all of our responsibility to ensure that dads are adequately and compassionately supported in the workplace” said campaign lead, Helen Gallagher. “We want every construction business in the UK to stand with us and ensure that no dad carries the weight of baby loss alone”.

Launching in April, 2025, OFFLOAD aims to raise awareness of the impact of pregnancy and baby loss on dads, provide resources for companies to better support bereaved dads in addition to breaking the silence and creating workplace cultures where dads feel seen, supported, and able to speak openly.

“When I lost my son in 2019, I felt like the most isolated person in the world, being able to talk to others who understand has helped so much…” a bereaved dad explained.

OFFLOAD is more than a campaign — it’s a commitment to real, lasting change. We want to ensure that every dad affected by baby loss knows he is not alone, and that compassionate support is available, both personally and professionally.

“So many dads that I have spoken to have mentioned that most of the support was targeted towards their partners and they all say they would not have wanted that to be any different, however they felt there was no support at all for them. We really do need to change this.”

OFFLOAD launches officially on 1^st April and businesses across the construction sector are invited to register their interest in supporting this campaign through the link below :

Aching Arms – OFFLOAD – No Dad Should Carry the Weight of Baby Loss Alone

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