Patrons & Sponsors

Principal Patron

Donna Ockenden

Some people come into your life at exactly the right moment. For us, that person was Donna Ockenden.

We first met Donna following the heartbreaking loss of our daughter, Poppy, during the Ockenden Review. At one of the darkest times in our lives, Donna listened with compassion, kindness and genuine empathy. She believed that Poppy's story deserved to be heard and, from those very early conversations, encouraged us to use our experience to help create positive change for other families.

Donna's support has been unwavering ever since. Long before Poppy's Promise became a reality, she recognised its potential and generously introduced us to many of the people who have helped turn an idea born from loss into a movement that is now making a difference within the NHS. Those introductions, her encouragement and her belief in what we were trying to achieve have been invaluable.

Donna is one of the UK's most respected leaders in perinatal safety and compassionate care. As a registered midwife and nurse with decades of NHS experience, she has dedicated her career to improving patient safety, championing compassionate care and ensuring that the voices of women and families are always heard. Her leadership of the independent review into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has helped shape improvements in maternity care across the country and has influenced national conversations around safety, learning and culture.

The values Donna has championed throughout her career—listening, compassion, honesty and learning—are the very foundations of Poppy's Promise. Having someone who has inspired change across the NHS choose to stand alongside us as our Principal Patron is an incredible honour.

Thank you, Donna, for believing in us from the very beginning, for opening doors, for sharing our vision and, above all, for helping us ensure that Poppy's legacy will continue to improve care for families for generations to come.

Principle Patron

Donna Ockenden

Some people come into your life at exactly the right moment. For us, that person was Donna Ockenden.

We first met Donna following the heartbreaking loss of our daughter, Poppy, during the Ockenden Review. At one of the darkest times in our lives, Donna listened with compassion, kindness and genuine empathy. She believed that Poppy's story deserved to be heard and, from those very early conversations, encouraged us to use our experience to help create positive change for other families.

Donna's support has been unwavering ever since. Long before Poppy's Promise became a reality, she recognised its potential and generously introduced us to many of the people who have helped turn an idea born from loss into a movement that is now making a difference within the NHS. Those introductions, her encouragement and her belief in what we were trying to achieve have been invaluable.

Donna is one of the UK's most respected leaders in perinatal safety and compassionate care. As a registered midwife and nurse with decades of NHS experience, she has dedicated her career to improving patient safety, championing compassionate care and ensuring that the voices of women and families are always heard. Her leadership of the independent review into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has helped shape improvements in maternity care across the country and has influenced national conversations around safety, learning and culture.

The values Donna has championed throughout her career—listening, compassion, honesty and learning—are the very foundations of Poppy's Promise. Having someone who has inspired change across the NHS choose to stand alongside us as our Principal Patron is an incredible honour.

Thank you, Donna, for believing in us from the very beginning, for opening doors, for sharing our vision and, above all, for helping us ensure that Poppy's legacy will continue to improve care for families for generations to come.

“It is a privilege to know Katie and Neil, and through them know their beautiful daughter Poppy. However, the reality is, I should never have had to meet them.

Since the death of Poppy Russell, Katie and Neil have built a legacy of hope, compassion, and kindness as a result of their own grief. This legacy is Poppy’s Promise, a nationwide initiative that supports staff to be the best they can be by embedding compassion and respect into care to save babies and mothers lives.

40 years ago, I made a promise to a little baby called Gina, who died avoidably, that I would do all that I could to improve perinatal services and today I make that same promise to Poppy and her parents and in doing so I have the huge honour of being the Principal Patron.”

Donna Ockenden, Principle Patron