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.
Sarah Threadgould and her husband lost their son Jacob at birth in 2005. Sarah is an active volunteer with her local Sands group, and has also helped trainee midwives understand the needs of bereaved parents. Her work as Chief Marketing Officer at Killik & Co brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help Sands grow sustainably.
We asked Sarah about why she wanted to become a Trustee, how her personal and professional experience informs her work with Sands, and her hopes for the future.
Hello Sarah, please tell us a bit more about yourself.
I’ve been a Sands trustee since November 2020. In my day job I head up the Marketing team at a wealth management company called Killik & Co. I’ve worked for a range of different organisations – global and UK based, corporate and charity, in a variety of Marketing, Business Development and Strategy roles. I live in Dulwich in south London with my husband Andy, a teacher, and my two teenage daughters.
How did you first find out about Sands?
My husband and I lost our first child, Jacob, in 2005. He died the day he was born due to sudden complications in labour. We were fortunate to be looked after well by the hospital and given information about Sands immediately.
When did you begin to get involved in supporting our work?
We attended our first Sands meeting two weeks after we lost Jacob. For the next few years we attended and then hosted meetings, answered our group’s phone and raised money for Sands. The support we received was a total lifeline, especially as it continued when I was pregnant with our two daughters, which was a very anxious time. I really don’t know what we would have done without it.
Why did you want to become a Trustee?
Sands was there for me and my family and I saw first hand the difference it makes. I wanted to do something to support this amazing organisation. I feel very fortunate to be a Trustee.
What do you find most inspiring about being on the Board?
Seeing the enormous amount achieved by the team at Sands has been incredibly humbling, especially considering the challenges posed by Covid-19 and now by the economic climate.
I’ve been inspired by the deep commitment everyone has to achieving one vision, and how obstacles are navigated creatively to stay on course.
How do you feel your experience, knowledge and skills make a difference to the work of the Board?
I hope that my personal experience of being a bereaved parent is helpful, and the same is true for many members of the Board. I also hope that having marketing, communications and strategy experience across a range of different organisations and different sectors, and having worked through some thorny branding, digital and data-related projects, is helpful.
What do you think makes Sands special and unique as a charity?
Two things have really jumped out to me.
Firstly, the collaborative culture. All organisations talk about it, but it’s harder to deliver. It’s clear that everyone working for Sands is in it together, and that same sense carries through to the Trustee Board.
Secondly, the scale of the ambition – I see the team working so hard to ensure that nobody is left behind, that absolutely everybody who needs Sands gets the support they need and that everyone affected by the loss of a baby is aware of Sands. This drive really shines through.
If you had to describe Sands in three words what would they be?
Transformative. Inspiring. Uplifting.
Is there a particular aspect of Sands’ work that most interests you?
I find everything Sands does very interesting.
I feel more qualified to contribute to discussions relating to the evolution of fundraising and the Sands brand and engagement with Sands members and supporters, probably because these are closest to my areas of experience. But the discussions about research, policy and support are equally fascinating to me because I’m constantly learning more about how this works.
If you had one wish for the future of Sands what would that be?
Very simply that Sands achieves its fantastic vision. I don’t think I need to wish for this though; with the extent of the team’s determination and efforts, I’m sure it will happen.