Miscarriage Association Former National Director awarded OBE in New Year Honours

The Miscarriage Association is proud to share that our former national director Ruth Bender Atik has been recognised with an OBE in the New Year Honours list.

Ruth, who retired in March 2024, was honoured for her services to the baby loss community and bereavement care, in recognition of her 31 years of leadership at the charity.

When Ruth was appointed as its first ever director in 1993, the Miscarriage Association was a tiny charity. Today, it has grown into a national organisation that is the go-to source of information and support for people experiencing pre-24 week pregnancy loss across the UK.

Ruth said: “This is a truly special and completely unexpected honour. I greatly appreciate the recognition of my time at the Miscarriage Association and too, the opportunity to highlight the importance of good care, support and information for those affected by pregnancy and baby loss.”

Miscarriage Association Chair of Trustees, Amy Braier said: “Ruth devoted her career to improving care and support for the hundreds of thousands of people experiencing the heartbreak of pregnancy loss every year.

“During her leadership of the Miscarriage Association she campaigned tirelessly for better information, improvements in care and to raise public awareness of pregnancy loss – ensuring its impact is more widely understood and acknowledged. We are delighted to see her work and her legacy formally recognised and are dedicated to continuing to campaign on these issues.”