In 1978 a group of bereaved parents formed Sands to provide much needed support to bereaved families and unite for better maternity and bereavement care. We have grown to become the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity working to save babies' lives and providing support. 

Sands has grown and evolved over the years. As well as providing much needed support, we have developed our research and prevention work to improve care, support and prevent avoidable baby deaths. We work with Government to make real change through our Policy and Campaigning work, and we provide vital training to healthcare professionals and workplaces.

Learn more about our work through the years...

2020s

2024 - In one year alone, Sands pregnancy and baby loss support helps nearly 760,000 people.

2024 - We actively support over 90 research studies, alongside bereaved parents, to improve bereavement care, support and maternity safety.

2024 - We provide more than 8,300 training and learning opportunities for healthcare professionals and reach 47,639 employees through workplace training. 

2024  - The National Bereavement Care Pathway, a set of guidelines showing what excellent bereavement care looks like is now adopted by 100% of NHS Trusts in England and we're not working to implement across Northern Ireland and Wales. 

2023 - We publish the Sands Listening Project, capturing the experiences of bereaved parents from Black and Asian backgrounds. This evidence plays a key role in our End Inequalities in Baby Loss Campaign.

2023 - Sands wins The Amplifying Voices award from the Sheila McKechnie National Campaigner Awards 2023 for our work in securing the Confidential Enquiry into the deaths of Asian and British Asian babies.

2023 - Income reaches £7.5 million indicating growing support and awareness of our work and our mission to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families.

2022 - We accelerate our efforts to make support accessible and inclusive through the formation of roundtable groups and British Sign Language interpretation across central support services.

2021 - Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit launches so that both charities can work together to influence Government policy and save babies’ lives.

2020 - The National Bereavement Care Pathway is adapted for Scotland and mandated by the Scottish Government as part of their Best Start Programme for maternity and neonatal care.

2010s

2018 - Sands United launches offering men affected by pregnancy and baby loss a safe space for support to connect with other men going through a similar experience. This leads to local teams run by local dads being set up all across the UK.

2017 - We launch the Safer Pregnancy website offering guidance and advice to pregnant women.

2017 - We launch the National Bereavement Care Pathway, a set of guidelines showing what excellent bereavement care looks like. 

2017 - A study supported by Sands publishes results on the safety of side-sleeping for women in pregnancy and fuelled a national awareness campaign.

2016 - The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss is formed with Sands as the secretariat.

2016 - We launched the Elaine Thorp Bereavement Care Award to recognise individuals who provide excellent bereavement care.

2014 - Sands advises on NHS England’s Saving Babies’ Lives care bundle.

2013 - With the involvement of Sands, MBRRACE starts collecting data on baby deaths.

2012 - The first research project is funded by Sands focusses on prevention of baby deaths and improvements in bereavement care. 

2010 - Our training for professionals launches ensuring that those working with bereaved parents are supported in providing compassionate care.  

2000s

2009 - Sands Memory Boxes launch to help bereaved families create precious memories with their babies before saying goodbye. A Care Box is later introduced for families from varying backgrounds and religious beliefs.

2008 - The Research and Prevention team is set up and launches their first parent survey.

2008 - The Why 17 campaign launches along with the launch of the Saving Babies’ Lives report highlighting the scale and hidden impact of baby death in UK.

2006 - Sands joins the International Stillbirth Alliance Board and goes on to host the annual conference in 2007.

2002 - Baby Loss Awareness Week launches. More than 20 years on, the campaign continues to grow with Sands chairing the Baby Loss Awareness Week Alliance leading over 130 alliance member charities that take part in the campaign. 

1990s

1993 - Sands teardrop sticker scheme is introduced to be included on the maternity notes of bereaved parents ensuring healthcare professionals are aware of their previous experiences.

1992 - The Sands Bill leads to changes in the definition of Stillbirth from 28 weeks to 24 weeks.

1992 - Sands launches a new publication aimed at healthcare professionals to improve bereavement care. 

1991 - Sands gives evidence at Parliament at an all-party committee to help improve maternity care for women and babies.

1991 - The first support book is published and sent to hospitals called “When a baby dies before labour begins”.

1980s 

1986 - “Saying Goodbye to your baby” support book is first published. An invaluable resource to help bereaved parents at an extremely difficult time  

1985 - The Sands Helpline is set up to offer support to anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss and is still a core part of our bereavement support offering.

1980 - Local support groups begin to be formed. The first was set up in Newcastle Upon-Tyne and by 1989, 136 groups were formed across the UK.

1970s

1978 - In 1978 a group of bereaved parents form Sands to provide much needed support to bereaved families and unite for better maternity and bereavement care. We have grown to become the UK's leading pregnancy and baby loss charity working to save babies' lives. 

Visit our timeline for a more detailed overview of the history of Sands.