Bereaved mother’s honour for helping others

Posted on 13 December 2023 • Honorary Graduate

Grief and trauma therapist Lucy Herd has been awarded an honorary doctorate from The Open University for devoting her life to ensuring grieving parents receive support from employers after the loss of a child.

Jack’s Law, in honour of Lucy’s son who tragically died in 2010 just before he was two, has created a new legal right to paid parental leave for working parents who lose a child.

Lucy embarked on the legal crusade because of her own experience. After Jack drowned in a pond she found there was no legislation in place for grieving parents that allowed them to take time off. It was at the discretion of employers.

She found this wasn’t always forthcoming and, in many cases, parents had to return to work before they had even buried their child.

In accepting the award at a recent Open University graduation ceremony in Poole, Dorset, Lucy admitted to being a self-doubter who also struggled with a lack of self-belief.

She said:

“It’s taken me a long time to believe in myself but now standing here I can believe the past 13 years has been down to my hard work and trust in my heart that I could help others.”

She told the audience:

“I have now come to realise that others see my work around grief and trauma as something I should be proud of, but all I’ve ever done was never about me. It was about my son, Jack.”

In 2020, Jack’s law, officially known as Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Regulations, came into being.

It also applies to parents who suffer a still birth and means they can take two weeks’ leave in separate blocks if they wish.

Lucy talked about the “incredible” people she has met along her journey who have shared their stories with her.

She paid tribute to her “wing woman”, daughter, Ellé, 22, watching from the audience:

“She’s amazed me with her passion and I’m blessed that’s she’s here by my side. She gives me help and the determination to help others with grief and loss.

“It’s been a difficult journey but knowing that my story has helped thousands of grieving families to ease a tiny amount of their grief when they needed it, makes me feel honoured to have accepted my honorary doctorate today. But all in the name of Jack.”

She told listening graduates that they should be proud of themselves “for all that you have accomplished”.

It is estimated that around ten thousand parents will benefit from the legislation annually and Lucy has devoted her efforts to extending Jack’s Law to other family members, too.