Sands Co-ordinator role - Bereavement Support

Teddy’s Wish is delighted to be funding the London Network Co-ordinator Role in 2016 for Sands, which will provide vital support to bereaved parents and families.

When a baby dies, Sands aims to offer as much support as possible to bereaved parents and families. This is offered on the Helpline, via the Forum and through one to one befriending and support from the network of Sands groups throughout the UK.

The groups provide:

• Befrienders who provide bereavement support • Peer support from other bereaved parents and families • Training, help, literature and advice for hospitals to improve their bereavement care • Raising awareness in the local community and fundraising to continue vital work

The London Network Co-ordinator Role will help groups to:

• Train volunteers as befrienders • Develop links with hospitals to improve care – in London, this will be crucially important as there are so many hospitals • Hold ‘network days’ to encourage the exchange of good practice and ideas • Publish newsletters and share information • Sign-post care and support for bereaved parents • Access communications and fundraising help from national Sands teams

The new London Network Coordinator being funded by Teddy’s Wish in 2016 will play a vital role in ensuring that the needs of anyone affected by the death of a baby are met. W

There are currently six Sands Groups in the London Network which will benefit through the addition of the new post: North and East London Sands, West London Sands, South West London Sands, South East London Sands, Enfield Sands and Havering Sands.

Through Sands’s network of groups – and their direct links to maternity wards in hospitals - they will effectively reach out to hundreds of parents and families in the London area.