About Cornwall Sands
We work to support anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.
At Cornwall Sands we are all bereaved parents who support other bereaved parents. Our meetings and other activities such as walks and remembrance events provide an often welcome opportunity to talk about and share your experiences and concerns with other individuals and couples who have perhaps experienced something similar - whether it's about what happened, how it happened, and how to cope. There is no requirement to talk, and some come just to listen and to feel supported.
If you feel you would like some support, but can't face attending a meeting, please contact us and let us know what we can do to support you.
VOLUNTEER WITH US! We welcome individuals and couples who would like to help us out in any any. Please email us if you'd like to help.
Sands was founded by bereaved parents in 1978 who found that there was no access to support following the deaths of their babies. Since then Sands has become the largest baby loss charity and has expanded its activities - there are support groups all across the UK - and areas of interest, but parents who have experienced baby loss are still at the heart of everything we do.
Everyone’s story is different, although we all share the sadness and grief of baby loss.
Who am I contacting when I fill in the form?
Who will be hosting the meetings?
Cornwall Sands has volunteers. and befrienders. When you contact us, one of our team below will reply to you (we aim to reply within 24 hours). We understand that attending any meeting can be a daunting, therefore, we want to share with you the people who facilitate our support meetings and get-togethers - whether online or in-person - so when you arrive, you'll recognise us.
Our story
We moved to Truro in 2023 after 38 years in Manchester. Our first baby Rocky died very soon after birth in 1990. We started attending Sands meetings soon after and remained at the centre of Manchester Sands' work for three decades. We are both trained Sands’ Befrienders and, over the years, we have met and supported hundreds of bereaved parents. Everyone’s story is different although we all share the sadness and grief of baby loss.
In July 2024 Jo was awarded the University of Manchester’s prestigious Medal of Honour for her volunteering work with Manchester Sands.
My story
I live in Hayle with my husband, three children, and our Labrador. Our third and fourth babies, Summer and Oliver, both died mid-pregnancy in 2010 and then 2011. There was no clear explanation for why this happened. The experience of losing them prompted me to retrain as a researcher and I now do social science research related to pregnancy and loss at the University of Exeter.
My story
I live in Camborne with my husband. My family are growing up and I only have one son left at home now.
My experience of baby loss was of my first baby, Robyn, who was stillborn at 24 weeks through a pregnancy affected by Pre-eclampsia. I work in healthcare, and her loss inspired me into working to particularly give good bereavement and dying phase care, and I currently work in Palliative Care.
I trained as a Sands befriender a number of years ago, and have been involved in local baby loss support for over 20 years now.
National Helpline
0808 164 3332