Chloe first came to Ruby’s in June 2025 with her seven‑week‑old son, Olly. Her pregnancy had been incredibly difficult. At six months pregnant, she lost her mum to brain cancer. Her mum knew she was expecting, but sadly never got to meet Olly.
Chloe, Matt and Olly present Pete and Becca with an incredible cheque for £10,000.
A month later, at seven months pregnant, Chloe was diagnosed with prenatal depression and spent six months under the care of the mental health team. The combination of grief and declining mental health made everyday life extremely challenging, and she worried she wouldn’t bond with Olly. In her words, professionals would “check to make sure I wasn’t dead.”
Her partner, Matt, was with her every step of the way. He attended every appointment for both Chloe and Olly, and kept a close eye on her at home to keep her safe. They had already experienced the loss of a baby before Olly, and together were navigating parenthood without the support of a wider family network.
Before discovering Ruby’s, Chloe struggled to leave the house. At one point she didn’t leave her bedroom for three weeks. She went twelve months without brushing her hair and four months without washing it — not through choice, but because her mental health made simple tasks overwhelming.
Ruby’s became a turning point.
Chloe quickly began to rely on the routine and safety of visiting the centre. She looked forward to seeing Kate, whose warmth helped rebuild her confidence. The sensory room became her calm space — a place she could reset, and where Olly learned to sit up and crawl. Matt even arranged his lunch breaks so he could meet them at the sensory room.
Chloe describes Ruby’s as the one place she felt she could go without judgement or pressure. She met other mums, began making friends, and found what she calls “silent help” — support that didn’t overwhelm her, but made a real difference.
She soon started bringing friends and family to Ruby’s because it felt like her safe place. As a former SEND teaching assistant, she knew how rare it is to find somewhere genuinely welcoming, inclusive, and supportive — especially locally.
Recently, Chloe donated £10,000 to Ruby’s. She said she wanted to give back to the place that helped her through some of her hardest months, and to support a charity she worries the community can’t afford to lose.
In Chloe’s own words:
“I wouldn’t be here without Ruby’s. You’ve been a silent lifeline.”
For support with any of the topics mentioned, please follow these links.
Smile Group (perinatal mental health support in Cheshire East) – https://smilegroup.org.uk
Tommy’s (baby loss support) – https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support
Mind (mental health support) – https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/using-this-tool/
Reasons to Stay (suicide and crisis signposting) – https://reasonstostay.co.uk/find-help/
Macmillan (support for those living with cancer and their loved ones) – https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help