To celebrate Volunteers Week, we spoke to Brooke, Claire, Jess and Ruth, who are part of a group of bereaved parents who volunteer their time for our Wales Campaign to create change in memory of their babies.  

Brooke started volunteering with Sands shortly after her son Gwilym died when he was eleven days old.  “In the weeks and months after losing him, I found myself searching for answers, trying to understand why he died and what could be done to improve things for other families. That’s when I found the Sands campaign team in Wales,” explains Brooke. “I’ve always been passionate about speaking up on issues that matter, so getting involved felt like a natural way to channel my grief and turn all the love I still have for Gwilym into something positive.”

Claire, a Befriender with Cardiff Newport Sands, got involved with the campaign group after hearing stories about baby loss and the difference in care across various health boards in Wales. “I wanted to be part of a collective voice so that everyone whose baby dies in Wales is given the same care and support no matter where they live,” Claire shares. “I want to help the Welsh Government see that there’s currently a difference in care and get them to do something about it.”  

Jess got involved for a similar reason. “The statistics within Wales for baby loss are shocking, worse than England, Scotland and Ireland. Something has to change and by volunteering for the Sands campaign I can potentially improve bereavement care, reduce the statistics and avoidable deaths within Wales,” she says.  

And Ruth wanted to use what she went through after losing her twin boys George and Henry in 2018 to help support others. “Being part of the campaign allows me to use my voice to advocate for others,” explains Ruth. “We went through so much in the first few years after George and Henry died and campaigning for change and improved bereavement care has been so important to me. I’ve been able to channel my strength and grief into pushing for change so that others don’t have to experience what we did.

“Volunteering and campaigning have also introduced me to other bereaved parents and getting to know them is such a comfort. To stand shoulder to shoulder with these wonderful individuals and families as well as the incredible campaigns team at Sands has been so inspiring. Knowing that you have shared experiences, shared grief but also a shared desire for change, makes the whole process so much less lonely.

Jess agrees, “Supporting other bereaved parents through an extremely difficult time in their lives has sort of been like therapy for me. We all understand what we’ve gone or are going through and everyone is so passionate about the cause.”

“There’s an understanding between bereaved parents that’s hard to describe unless you’ve lived it yourself,” adds Brooke. “You don’t need to explain your grief or why certain things matter so deeply, and there’s compassion, strength and support in our shared experience. Meeting other parents carrying the same heartbreak, but who are still finding ways to create change in their babies’ memory, has been incredibly powerful and comforting.”

A standout memory for Brooke has been getting involved in the Sands Senedd election campaign  

It’s so important that decision-makers understand that behind every statistic is a much-loved baby and a family whose lives have been changed forever,” says Brooke. “Being able to speak up for bereaved parents, raise awareness, and remember Gwilym in the hope of helping bring change for other families has been a real honour.”

And when Ruth and Claire attended an event at the Senedd in October 2025, where bereaved parents got the opportunity to share their experiences and views with politicians (MSs) and civil servants, it was another chance for decision-makers to hear directly from families behind the statistics.

“To hear everybody sharing their own experiences and being so vulnerable, knowing they were doing so in memory of their babies was incredibly moving,” says Ruth. “Despite the emotions of the occasion, it was invigorating and really felt like we were making a difference. The shared goal of wanting change was evident and I felt so supported by Sands staff and other parents.”

“You could see the expressions on the MS’s faces when people in the group were telling their stories, they obviously were unaware of what goes on,” adds Claire.  

Volunteering with the Wales campaign and more widely within Sands has made a difference to all four mums and they encourage others to get involved.

“Just attending a meeting or an event makes a difference as you're supporting people and raising awareness of baby loss, which shouldn't be a taboo subject,” says Jess.  

“There are so many bereaved, devastated families out there who would take so much comfort from your compassion and shared experience,” adds Ruth. “The support I had from other bereaved parents, who were Sands volunteers, in the horrendous early days after losing George and Henry made me feel so much less isolated and lonely. If you can offer that feeling to anyone going through the worst time of their life then please do - you will never regret it.”  

Brooke agrees. “If you feel ready, volunteering can be incredibly meaningful and healing and you’ll join a group of people who truly understand you and who want to make things better for families in the future.”

“It’s great being with people who understand, and who all have similar views and aims,” says Claire. “You rarely change something alone but with a team you might!”