One Million Minutes pledge | Face-to-face Befriender

Become a Face-to-face Befriender for the Good Morning Britain One Million Minutes campaign.

If you have been affected by pregnancy or baby loss you can play a vital role in offering support to bereaved families throughout the UK.

Here at Sands, we want to ensure that everyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby gets the support they need and deserve.

Simply knowing that someone is there to listen can really help bereaved parents know they are not alone in their grief.

Sands provides bereavement support services locally through a network of around 100 regional support groups based across the UK and run by trained befrienders.

The reassurance of talking to someone else who has been affected by the death of a baby and who is nearby is invaluable.

What this role could involve:

Provide emotional support to anyone affected by the death of a baby
Facilitating support group meetings face-to-face
Participate fully in self-reflection, supervision and training opportunities
Sharing your own experience of loss with others

Is this role right for me?

Sands Face-to-face Befrienders are bereaved parents themselves, offering peer support to others. It is an emotionally demanding role, and a key step is to make sure you are ready to take it on. Firstly, we ask that you only apply if you are more than two years on from your own bereavement. Then we also ask that you have sought some support yourself, so that you know what this is like, and you have a chance to understand your own grief journey better.

If you feel that being a Face-to-face Befriender isn’t right for you, that’s ok. You may want to find another way to pledge your minutes to Sands?

Training and support for you

If you feel ready to take the next step, rest assured that all Sands Face-to-face Befrienders receive a full induction training and can access ongoing training while in the role. All Face-to-face Befrienders can receive ongoing direct support from our Bereavement Support Services team throughout their time as a volunteer.

If you are ready to sign up to be a Face-to-face Befriender that's great - we just need to ask for a few details. Simply fill in the form below and we'll be in touch to guide you through the next steps.