Thank you for pledging your time to become a Virtual Befriender for the Good Morning Britain 1 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.
The reassurance of talking to someone else who has been affected by the death of a baby and who is nearby to phone or chat online is invaluable.
What this role could involve:
- Responding to phone and online contact from bereaved parents and other family members.
- Sharing your own experience of loss with others.
- Reaching out to bereaved people on social media to let them know about Sands.
- Signposting to other kinds of Sands' Bereavement Support Services.
- Taking part in Sands training courses and webinars.
- Practicing self care and accessing regular support for yourself.
Is this role right for me?
Sands Virtual 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 Virtual 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 Virtual Befrienders receive a full induction training and can access ongoing training while in the role. All Virtual 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 Virtual 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.