Sands’ Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of the charity - making sure that Sands is effectively and properly run - and setting our long-term aims.
Roxanne Burrows works for the NHS and is passionate about improving both bereavement care and maternity safety. When her daughter Kaitlyn died at birth in 2018, Roxanne and her family turned to Sands for the support they needed.
We asked Roxanne why she wanted to become a Trustee, how her experience in the NHS informs her work with Sands, and her hopes for the future.
Please tell us a bit more about yourself.
I work for the NHS and my professional background is strategy and development. My role is focused on joining up strategies and ways of working across the public and voluntary sectors in a newly formed integrated care system in Hampshire. My husband and I are parents to three beautiful children. I am also a keen musician and sing in a chamber choir in Oxford.
How did you first find out about Sands?
Sands was a huge source of support and information for us when our middle daughter, Kaitlyn, died in 2018. I first heard about Sands the day after she died, when we were given Sands information leaflets. In the months that followed we attended Sands meetings and used the telephone and email helpline.
When did you begin to get involved in supporting our work?
Our family first fundraised for Sands in the weeks leading up to Kaitlyn’s funeral; we asked family and friends to make donations to Sands instead of sending flowers. After the birth of my son in 2020, I took part in the walking challenge (Walk 310,000 Steps in October), and shortly afterwards trained as a Befriender.
Why did you want to become a Trustee?
This is my first Trustee role and I feel privileged that it is for a charity so close to my heart and with such amazing reach and impact. I felt that the Trustee role would give me an opportunity to use the skills, experiences and insights gained in my NHS work – it felt like the best way to be able to give back for all the support we were given when Kaitlyn died.
What do you find most inspiring about being on the Board?
The commitment of Sands staff and fellow trustees to doing their very best for families living through the death of a baby. The whole team demonstrates their commitment to the values that really matter around support, fairness, listening, including everybody and making the very best impact they can.
How do you feel your experience, knowledge and skills make a difference to the work of the Board?
I feel I bring a combination of professional and personal experience and skills that support Sands. I bring an understanding of how the NHS operates at a national and local level.
I am passionate about maternity safety; after Kaitlyn’s death I worked with our local hospital to make changes to systems and processes there. I have been a parent speaker at stillbirth safety and training events and have worked with the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch to support their family liaison team.
My natural thinking style is to make connections across different organisations and agendas, and as such I contribute best to the strategic direction of the charity and the decisions around where the charity focuses and how it operates.
What do you think makes Sands special and unique as a charity?
For me, it’s a combination of things that together makes Sands unique. Firstly, that Sands gives equal focus to providing bereavement support and preventing baby deaths through research and improving maternity safety. Secondly, the charity’s ability to focus on individual families right through to influencing government policy. And thirdly, Sands’ esteemed reputation for its expertise and delivery.
If you had to describe Sands in three words what would they be?
Expert, essential and empathetic.
Is there a particular aspect of Sands’ work that most interests you?
Everything the charity does is so important. My particular interest is in saving babies’ lives through improving maternity safety and driving for changes in national policy.
If you had one wish for the future of Sands what would that be?
That the charity can continue to grow, increase its impact and reach more people even through these tough social and economic times.