An Honour for Our Incredible Founders!🏅💜

We are absolutely bursting with pride to announce that our wonderful founders and Lily Mae’s Parents, Ryan and Amy Jackson, have both been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2026 New Year Honours list!

This prestigious award is in recognition of their incredible dedication and service to bereaved parents and families through The Lily Mae Foundation. From turning their own tragedy into a source of support for thousands, their impact is immeasurable.

A message from Ryan and Amy

“We are truly shocked and overwhelmingly grateful for this honour. Reflecting on the journey that led us here, it all began with the devastating loss of our beautiful daughter, Lily Mae, who was stillborn in February 2010. In 2012, we established The Lily Mae Foundation in her memory, and since then, it has become a source of vital hope and support for thousands of families navigating the devastating loss of a baby.

This is not just an honour for us; it is an honour for Lily Mae. When we first held our stillborn daughter, our world shattered. The grief was indescribable and in that darkest moment, we knew we had to find a way to make sure other parents didn't feel so utterly alone.

Receiving the British Empire Medal (BEM) is a moment of deeply humbling pride but the true recognition belongs to every single person who has supported our work, our staff, every volunteer who gives their time and crucially every bereaved family who has trusted us to walk alongside them. This medal is a testament to the strength of a community bound by love, loss and the fierce determination to keep our babies' memories alive.

Our work is driven entirely by love and the memory of all the families we support. We dedicate this BEM to all the babies gone too soon, especially our beautiful Lily Mae. Their lives, however short, matter eternally. We started this Foundation with broken hearts, but it is their memory that fuels us to provide Memory Boxes and vital bereavement support programmes to families in their hour of need.

To our staff, the volunteers, the trustees, the corporate partners and every individual donor; thank you! Your compassion and generosity have built and shaped The Lily Mae Foundation into what it is today. You have turned our pain into purpose and you have ensured that the legacy of love continues to grow. We accept this honour on behalf of every single one of you.

This honour cements our commitment and dedication to ensuring that essential support is available to all families that need us. We will continue to fight for better care, better resources and a more compassionate world for bereaved parents. Thank you, from the depths of our hearts, for seeing our work and for helping us keep Lily Mae's legacy shining bright.”

Ryan and Amy Jackson x