We are announcing today some important changes to our Board of Trustees, including the appointment of a new Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Treasurer.
Our current Chair of Trustees Oliver Reichardt is stepping down after completing his six year term of office, leading the charity and demonstrating that with commitment and collaboration we can make change happen.
During the last six years, the numbers of babies in the UK who are stillborn or die soon after they are born has fallen from 15 babies a day to 13 babies a day, that’s over 730 fewer babies dying each year.
The creation of our Joint Policy Unit is already playing a key role in ensuring that those in positions of power know exactly what needs to change to keep lowering that number and saving more babies’ lives.
Our work with the NHS has been at the heart of improving bereavement care across the UK. Sands has led the implementation of the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP), with 100% of Trusts in England now signed up, and the NBCP introduced in Scotland, Northern Ireland and a pathway being developed in Wales.
And Sands now reaches more people, breaking the silence and tackling stigma and taboos sometimes still associated with pregnancy and baby loss.
“Looking back over my term, I’m incredibly proud of the way Sands has grown – grown in the help provided to bereaved families, grown in influence and stature with those in power, and grown in the huge effort to reduce the number of babies dying.
“This number is still far too high, and is what drives us to keep doing all we can, so that in the future more families have a different story to tell. Congratulations to Dr David Hall, who takes over from me, and who I know will do a fantastic job.”
- Oliver Reichardt, outgoing Chair of Sands.
“On behalf of Sands I want to thank Oli for all that he has done for the charity over the last 6 years, for sharing our ambitions and for supporting us to be the best we could be. Much of the work related to governance and finance happens behind the scenes, and Oli has always been there when needed – giving enormously generously of his time and has helped Sands build strong foundations."
- Clea Harmer, Sands’ Chief Executive
Sands’ new Chair of Trustees
Our new Chair, David Hall, has served as Vice-Chair since 2023, and as a Trustee since 2018. David’s son Ruaridh died shortly after he was born in April 1996, and his role as a Trustee has been driven by the wish to ensure that bereaved parents receive the best possible care, and to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.
David and his wife Alison have been involved with Dumfries and Galloway Sands since 2007. They also helped to create and volunteer to maintain The Rainbow Room at their local hospital, which is a vital space to allow families time and privacy when they need it most.
David brings to his role as Chair a wealth of knowledge and expertise in mental health, having worked as a psychiatrist for over 30 years and more recently in healthcare improvement.
“I’m very grateful to Oli for all his hard work and honoured to be taking up the role of Chair. I’m confident with the great board that we have, an amazing staff team and the whole Sands community working together we will continue to grow and be there for every family and every baby that needs us. Sands does much more than it’s ever done before – yet there is always so much more that’s needed.”
- Dr David Hall, incoming Chair of Sands.
The role of Vice-Chair will now be shared between two of our existing Trustees Sangeeta Agnihotri and Sarah Threadgould.
We are also welcoming a new Trustee and Treasurer Neil Ferris, father to Zachary and Noah, and to Adam, who was born sleeping in 2009. Neil has seen the tremendous support that Sands has given to bereaved families, and the contribution it has made to saving babies lives.
This means that we are saying thank you and goodbye to Tom Burdett who has served as Sands’ Treasurer since 2020. During his time as Treasurer, Tom navigated the financial challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and provided continual support and guidance as Sands grew in size.
“I am enormously grateful to Tom Burdett – we couldn’t have asked for a better Treasurer to see us through such extraordinary times. The role of Treasurer requires an ability to hold your nerve with steely determination. And Tom has done all of that and more – he has been extraordinarily supportive and kind, but also incredibly generous with his expert knowledge and experience."
- Clea Harmer, Sands’ Chief Executive
Finally, David Price is stepping down as a Trustee having completed his six-year term of office. Since joining the Board in 2018 David has used his marketing and strategy expertise to support fundraising, helping build new corporate relationships and professional support for the charity.
“David has been incredibly passionate and committed and his wish to do something for his son Finn has shone through so many times. He has been so generous with his time and expertise as a Trustee, to do things such as being filmed for the Impact Report and exploring possibilities for Sands United Football teams in terms of sponsorship and growth.”
- Clea Harmer, Sands’ Chief Executive.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance and strategic direction of Sands, and it also holds legal liability. Find out more about how Sands’ Board of Trustees are appointed by our Nominations Committee, and more information about how Sands is governed.