UHDB becomes Advocate organisation for World Childless Week (14-20 September 2026)
We are pleased to share that University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) has become an official Advocate organisation for World Childless Week, strengthening our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues feel seen, supported, and valued.
World Childless Week takes place from 14 to 20 September 2026 > and raises awareness of the experiences of people who are childless not by choice. This refers to people who want to become parents but, for a range of reasons and circumstances, have not been able to. This important awareness week provides an opportunity to recognise people and their experience who can often go unseen, and to help people share their stories with confidence.
What is a World Childless Week Advocate?
As an official World Childless Week Advocate, UHDB is committing to raising awareness of childlessness in the workplace - signposting colleagues towards information and support, and considering the experiences of people who are childless not by choice as part of our approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are also delighted to be the first NHS organisation to be made Advocates of such an important and meaningful cause.
The World Childless Week organisation describes its Advocates as organisations that proactively raise awareness in the workplace and make positive changes to ensure people who are childless feel seen and represented in day-to-day matters and policies.
This work has been led by our Gender Equality Colleague Network, who, like all of our colleague networks across UHDB, work at all levels of the organisation to embed an inclusive and open culture around gender and issues that affect many of our hard working colleagues, as well as providing a space for them to connect and share experiences.
How did we become an Advocate for World Childless Week?
The Leads of this Network, Jorden Gerring and Liam Gravenell, heard from a colleague in our organisation who shared her experience as a person who was childless not by choice and asked for the Network's practical support. In doing so, they have helped to raise awareness of the experiences of colleagues who are childless not by choice, and established a formal peer support group led by those with lived experience - driving forward opportunities for people to talk about their experiences, access support and feel understood at work.
Reflecting on UHDB becoming an Advocate for World Childless Week, Jorden said this was "an important step" in making sure that all of our colleagues are recognised and understood.
She continued: "It can be a very personal and often unseen experience, and simply creating space for people to talk about it, without assumptions or judgement, can make a real difference.
"Our colleague networks are here to listen to our people, amplify their voices and help us identify where we can do more to make UHDB a place where everyone feels supported and included.”
Garry Marsh, Chief Nurse at UHDB and Executive Sponsor for the Gender Equality Colleague Network, said: “We want UHDB to be a place where every colleague feels valued, respected and able to be themselves.
"Becoming an Advocate for World Childless Week is about recognising lived experience that may not always be widely recognised, and reinforces our commitment to a compassionate and inclusive working environment where colleagues know they are not alone - and importantly, how to access the support they need to bring their whole selves to work.
"Our colleague networks play a vital role in helping to truly listen, learn and understand the different experiences of our people across UHDB - and I am delighted that our Gender Equality Colleague Network have led such important work to support this."
Helen Gallagher, Founder of Happy & Childless, which spearheads the World Childless Week Advocate Programme, said: "The commitment of UHDB to support World Childless Week is an important step in recognising and supporting colleagues who are involuntarily childless. It is an honour to have them onboard as a World Childless Week Advocate, and will hopefully encourage more businesses to follow their lead and ensure truly inclusive and compassionate workplaces for all."