Sands save babies' lives and support bereaved families with the help of our incredibly dedicated volunteers. There are a number of ways to volunteer with us.
Sands Befrienders
Sands Befrienders volunteer in local groups of two or more volunteers to host regular support meetings, run events, and raise awareness. It is up to each local group to decide what activities best meet the needs of their community, so there is plenty of opportunity to be creative.
Are you ready to befriend?
Befriending is an emotionally demanding role, and both you and we need to be sure you are ready to take it on and have suitable support for yourself. If befriending isn’t right for you at this time, that’s ok. There are many ways you can get involved and support the work of Sands. To find out more, please email volunteering@sands.org.uk. You can, of course, continue to access support for as long as you need it.
To help us decide with you whether you are ready to befriend, we have a number of checks in place that we will take you through when you apply.
Sands United FC
Sands United FC is a unique way for dads and other bereaved family members to come together through a shared love of sport and find a support network where they can feel at ease talking about their grief when they're ready.
The teams also commemorate their babies' all too brief lives by proudly displaying their names on the kit worn for every match.
Each team member helps make a difference by raising vital funds to help Sands save babies' lives and support bereaved families.
Hospital Liaison Volunteers
Sands Hospital Liaison Volunteers (HLVs) are instrumental to Sands' work with healthcare professionals, by meeting with and offering Sands resources and services to them.
Our aim is to ensure that every hospital in the UK has access to a HLV to signpost and promote Sands support services, training, resources, and bereavement care guidance (where applicable) enabling healthcare professionals to provide excellent bereavement care.
The HLV role advocates for parents and hospital staff by providing essential feedback, enabling Sands to support health professionals and parents better.
Find out more about the Hospital Liaison Volunteer role and get involved.
Knit for Sands
We are incredibly lucky to have so many amazing knitters and crocheters making the special blankets that become part of our memory boxes.
We are overwhelmed by your generosity and the time you put into creating these cherished items
Sadly, we are always in need of more blankets, so if you know your ‘knit’ from your ‘purl’, we would love your help.
Get involved in research studies
Researchers often contact us to ask if we can help them find parents to take part in their studies. Usually, they want to hear about parents’ experiences of stillbirth or neonatal death and/or the care they receive (before and/or after the birth).
Study design and oversight
We are often approached by researchers who want to involve members of the public with specific experience in their proposed study. This is called patient/public involvement (PPI), and it’s now a vital part of health and medical research. PPI can take different forms: you might be asked your opinions over the phone, or at regular meetings with the research team and/or other lay people, for example. Or you may be asked for your opinions on written information that has been produced for potential participants in the research.
Event and 'One-Off' Volunteering
Sands Cheer Squad
Sands’ community of dedicated fundraisers participate in a range of challenge events throughout the year. The money they raise allows Sands to continue vital work in helping to save babies lives and supporting bereaved families.
Our cheer squad is an invaluable part of the fundraisers experience, and we would love you to get involved. It is a chance to join Sands’ community, meet new people and support Sands’ runners as they fundraise.
All you need is lots of enthusiasm, a kind and friendly manner and energy to dance, cheer and wave on our amazing Sands runners!
We are looking for cheer squad volunteers for the following events:
- Sunday 12th April 2026 - London Landmarks Half Marathon 2026
- Sunday 26th April 2026 - TCS London Marathon 2026
- Sunday 13th September 2026 - Great North Run 2026
- Sunday 4th October 2025 - Cardiff Half Marathon 2026
- Sunday 11th October 2025 - Royal Parks Half Marathon 2026
Become a member of the Sands Cheer Squad.
Starlight Walk Event Volunteer
Volunteer for #TeamSands at one of our Starlight Walk events this winter. Our Starlight Walk series is a 4-6km (depending on location) route where supporters walk at sunset in memory of their babies. Without the support of our wonderful volunteers at these events, they simply could not happen. Join us in Edinburgh, Bristol or Leeds as an event volunteer. You can choose to either be a route marshal, encouraging people along the route and making sure walkers are heading in the right direction, or to be stationed at the venue where you might work our registration desk, sell merchandise, look after our lantern decorating station or something else! (Don't worry, we'll discuss your role ahead of the night to make sure you're comfortable with what you're doing).
2026 dates coming soon.
Parent Speaker
Recruitment for Parent Speakers is currently paused.
Sands Parent Speakers ensure the voice of bereaved parents is central to our work, particularly our training for professionals. We are looking for individuals who are comfortable talking publicly about their personal experience of pregnancy loss or baby loss, to help inform and educate and to break the silence.
Find out more about the Parent Speaker role and learn how you can get involved.
Virtual Challenge Community Volunteer
Virtual Challenge Community Volunteer
Throughout the year Sands runs online communities through Facebook for our virtual fundraising challenges. To help these Facebook groups to thrive we’re looking for Virtual Challenge Community Volunteers to offer encouragement and information to our wonderful supporters who take part in our fundraising challenges throughout the year.
You will be an invaluable part of our fundraiser’s experience, helping them to connect with like-minded people and providing a safe space to share their experiences within our Facebook challenge groups. In the role you might find yourself:
- writing a motivational post to inspire the community to achieve their target
- responding to questions members have about the challenge
- acknowledging supporters who share their own personal story in a compassionate way
The role asks for you to commit to around 6 hours per week for the 3 month period of one of our upcoming challenges – if you aren’t sure you can commit to this but are still interested in the role, apply anyway and one of our team can talk to you about the flexible options. The Fundraising Team you’ll be part of will make sure you are set up for success in your induction, training and on going support in the role, so you can focus on making a difference through supporting the challenge group.
Want to get involved? Click here to apply and someone from the team will be in touch.
Volunteer Awards
Our annual Volunteer Awards celebrate the impact of our volunteers across the UK.
The Sands Volunteer Awards Ceremony was held at the Sands Garden Day, at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday, 7 June 2025.
Sands CEO, Clea Harmer and Volunteering Development Lead, Louise Fleming presented winners with an engraved trophy and a certificate signed by Clea and Sands Director of Volunteering and Bereavement Support, Jen Coates.
Sands Patrons Bel and Hazelanne Lewis were also in attendance to present the awards for the Bel Mooney Award for Raising Awareness and the Hazelanne Lewis Award for Leadership, which were named after them this year.