40 years ago, two bereaved mothers, Bel Mooney and Hazelanne Lewis, found there was no support available for them following the deaths of their babies. Realising there were many bereaved parents across the UK left similarly devastated and without support, they founded Sands in 1978.;xNLx;;xNLx;At that time in the UK, most parents were not allowed to see, hold or bury their babies. No photographs were taken, and they could not put their baby’s name on the stillbirth certificate.;xNLx;;xNLx;Since then, Sands has grown into a national charity that supports anyone affected by the death of a baby. Over time we have expanded the work we do to include working with healthcare professionals to improve the care parents receive when a baby dies. More recently we have developed a research fund to help us to better understand the causes of stillbirth and neonatal deaths and to reduce the baby death rate in the UK.;xNLx;;xNLx;Sadly, despite our many accomplishments over the years, more work needs to be done to reduce the number of babies dying, now and in the years to come. Find out more about our commitment to reduce the baby death rate in the UK and ensure every single person affected has access to the care they need, when they need it.;xNLx;;xNLx;The anniversary also acknowledges Sands continuous efforts to be the voice of bereaved parents, the charity’s impact on the lives of many bereaved parents, improvements in bereavement care and funding vital research.
The beginning. After three years of meetings, discussion, consultations, letters and article writing, Hazelanne Lewis and Bel Mooney along with a small group of parents who had all lost babies form as association to support bereaved parents. This reveals an enormous unmet need and leads to local support groups being set up. Photo of two co-founders of Sands - HazelAnne Lewis and Bel Money with her son Daniel. Bel is pregnant with a baby who was stillborn three months later.
Sands produced its first leaflet under ‘THE STILLBIRTH ASSOCIATION’ with an address 15A Christchurch Hill, London NW3 1JY.
Booklet ‘The loss of your baby’ produced in August 1979 by The Health Education Council in conjunction with MIND and The National Stillbirth Study Group. This refers parents to the Stillbirth and Perinatal Death Association – again at 15A Christchurch Hill.
The first group in Newcastle-upon-Tyne was set up by Jeanne Nicholls, covering much of the north-east and into Berwick. As one of the first Sands groups there were no guidelines and together with a friend, also a bereaved parent, we learned together as we progressed. The meetings were held with other bereaved parents and soon after the group began to involve local health professionals. It was very much a hand-to-mouth existence, we had no funds and at the time fundraising for such a cause was not easy. The local Samaritans guided the group on how to listen effectively to callers. From that time onwards, Sands has demonstrated the value of users’ voices to raise awareness nationally of the need for and value of bereavement support, including innovative training for a multiplicity of relevant professional staff.
First as the Stillbirth and Perinatal Death Association (SPDA) to include babies dying in the first month of life
Belfast Sands held their support group meetings in Cregagh (Craig-aah) Road Library before moving to the Mount Oriel Centre on Saintfield Road. They now meet in the Malone Lodge Hotel, Eglantine Road, Belfast.
Esther Rantzen’s ‘The Lost Babies’ is shown on television. Tremendous public interest is reflected in the formation of many new groups and the nation network grows to over 100.
Current Chair: Emma Kedge
Avril Rodd – appointed as secretary in June 1984
Sands first office opened in Euston Road, London.
Four workshops for Group Organisation and four for Befriending have been organised throughout the year.
The first Sands Newsletter was created to better connect bereaved parents across the UK.
From The Stillbirth and Perinatal Death Association (SPDA) to be named SANDS, The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society
Isle of Wight Sands set up
Our helpline offers support to anyone affected by the death of a baby. To this day it continues to be an important part of our support services for parents and families struggling to cope with baby loss.
Lesley Moreland was director of Sands from 1985-1988.
One of the oldest copies of the Sands Newsletter dated 1985.
AGM held in Birmingham, SANDS, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society were at Argyle House, 29-31, Euston Road, London NW1 2SD. The logo was a disc (see attachment)
Two new Sands booklets published ‘After Stillbirth and Neonatal death – what happens next’ and ‘Saying goodbye to your baby’.
Sands members have been in the forefront of improved practice in the funeral arrangements for stillborn babies. Sands Funerals Working Party was called together in 1985 and four copies of the information pack were sent to all hospitals which have a maternity unit during 1986.
‘From Cradle to Grave’ BBC2 Open Space programme was produced in conjunction with the Birmingham Sands group. The office and groups were inundated with enquiries afterwards. Local groups grow to 150. Start of the long term planning exercise. Move to larger offices to meet the growing need for Sands' services.
The new teardrop logo was launched at the Annual General Meeting and Members' Conference on 24th September and will be used on all Sands stationery and literature in future.
Boston & District Sands formed this year
Completion of the long term planning exercises, aims and objectives clearly stated together with a plan of development for the next three years. More media interests – ‘Some babies die’ shown on Channel 4 results in many more enquiries. Pre-stillbirth group with representatives of Royal colleges and voluntary and statutory organisations set up. Staff increased from two to four. New house logo launched. Annie Lennox, lead singer of the Eurythmics’ baby son is a full-term stillbirth. Extensive media coverage results in many hundreds of enquiries.
Sands moved to 28 Portland Place, London W1 4DE
Sands run workshop on "Setting up and running a group"
Prior to 1988 there were no support meetings or Befrienders available for Solihull families after a stillbirth or neonatal death. There was, however, the Senior Sister on the Labour Ward in Solihull Maternity Unit (Kathleen Flanagan) who had achieved creating a quiet room with a double bed and a few extra comforts. She and some midwives were willing to care for bereaved parents but she was eager to have some on-going support available. After gentle chivying by Sister Flanagan and the hospital Chaplain, there was a meeting held bringing together parents and professionals. Thankfully, enough people came forward of the right calibre to start a group for Solihull in 1988. Support was then, and still is, the prime aim. Some fundraising was necessary and some basic training for Befrienders was acquired with help from Avril Rodd.
One of the oldest copies of the Sands Newsletter dated 1988.
During 1989 Sands Annual report wins a major award and confirms Sands as a successful growing charity. Part-time fundraiser appointed.
David was one of three professionals, who contacted Hazelanne Lewis to offer assistance, in January 1976 after her letter to The Guardian was published. In 1977 he founded the National Stillbirth Study Group which produced ‘The Loss of Your Baby’ leaflet. He then went on to persuade MIND and the Health Education Council to fund the leaflet. By the end of 1979 the leaflets had been sent to all midwifery units in the country although it took somewhat longer for all bereaved parents to be given them.
The first moses basket and monitor donated by Ayrshire Sands to Ayrshire Central Hospital.
136 Groups 53 Contacts
The first bereavement suite in the maternity unit at Solihull Hospital comprised of a bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and kitchenette. Those involved were proud that this was mentioned as exemplary in the Sands Guidelines in 1991. Sadly the unit was relocated to another ward with fewer comforts and then to a new hospital block without any bereavement facility. It took another four years of negotiation and hard work before the mayor officially opened the third Sands Family Room in 2002.
Sands produced a range of leaflets including " About other children", "Loss of a grandchild", "Next pregnancy" and "Facts for students"
AGM held at Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London
Susan Howard was Director of Sands during 1989-1990.
After months of research and publicity, members of Ayrshire Sands had traced the graves of hundreds of babies for their families. The Group set up a series of name plaques and held a memorial service.
Strategic Planning exercise for Sands 1991-1993 undertaken and priorities agreed. Fathers’ workshop raises the profile of fathers’ needs reinforced by considerable press coverage. Final drafts of ‘Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death – Guidelines for Professionals’ and Sands book for parents, When a Baby Dies completed. Continued media interest at local and national level.
One of the first bereavement rooms in the UK was opened following funding from Ayrshire Sands.
141 Groups and 54 contacts
Sands AGM & Members’ Conference: “Working together: Sands and Professionals” was held on 29th Sept at the International Students House, Portland St. London W1
140 Groups and 63 Contacts
Sands Executive Committee 1990 Photo: Left to right back row, Alan Forster, Helen Honeyman, Jane Wadham, Roma Iskander (Director) Louise Tyson, Tim Kirby, Front Row: Immy Lee, Denise Birkett, Christine Wilson and Julie Ransley.
Roma Iskander was Director of Sands from 1990-1994.
Sands won best Charity annual report in its category for it’s 1988 Annual Report presented by ‘Accountancy‘ Magazine, Charities Aid Foundation and the Charity Forum.
Executive committee was made up of June Hall, Gary Barnes, Alan Forster, Tim Kirby, Shirley Gradwell, Philip Timms, Greg Hall, Eileen Faith, Jane Wadham, Louise Tyson, Immy Lee, Janice Elley, Helen Honeyman, Lucy Lelliott and Julie Ransley.
In 1991, the publication of these guidelines signaled Sands' ambition to not only support parents, but also to improve the care they received. Sands new Guidelines for Professionals were welcomed as ‘powerful’, ‘excellent’ and ‘moving’ by Virginia Bottomley, Minister for Health when she formerly launched their publication in February. Mrs Bottomley told the launch press conference in London that her department had ordered 2,500 copies to distribute to district health authorities throughout the country.
Our first support booklet "When a Baby Dies Before Labour Begins" was sent to hospitals around the country. It was given to bereaved parents who had suffered a stillbirth and greatly improved the support they had access to in the early 1990s.
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