The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. Whether your baby died long ago or recently, we are here for you. 

The telephone helpline is free to call from landlines and mobiles on 0808 164 3332.

You can also email the team at helpline@sands.org.uk 

If you need support and would like it in a language other than English, please email us so we can arrange a three-way telephone call with one of our bereavement support team and an interpreter.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss and require a British Sign Language interpreter, please email us so we can arrange a video call.

Opening Times and Confidentiality 

The team are available to speak to on the telephone from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 6pm to 9pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Please note we are not open during bank holidays unless stated on the website. 

On Thursday 28th November, our staff will be taking part in training and the Helpline will be closed.  The Helpline will re-open on Friday 29th at the usual times.

We offer support on the telephone for up to one hour. This can be for a one-off call or a number of calls over time.

We aim to respond to all emails within 48 hours, except over the weekend when the helpline is closed. The team also respond to emails from outside the UK.

Calls and emails are confidential. We will not share information outside of Sands, except if there is an immediate risk of harm to you or someone else.
 

Who do we support on the helpline?

• Bereaved parents
• Bereaved grandparents
• Other family members
• Friends and colleagues
• Healthcare professionals
• Other professionals supporting bereaved families

Who will be responding to your call or email?

We have a small team of dedicated and experienced helpline staff to offer confidential, non-judgemental and compassionate support. We understand that sometimes it can be difficult to talk about feelings and grief but we hope to give you space and time to find your words.
 

What you can expect when you contact the helpline

The Sands National Helpline offers support across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and offers support in the following ways:

• Bereavement support (coping with grief, anger, hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, facing the future)
• Practical information relating to decisions required after the death of a baby
• Information on local Sands group support available and our Online Community
• Coping with another pregnancy after the death of a baby
• Advice on supporting a bereaved parent
• Signposting to other organisations where appropriate

We would welcome your feedback on the Sands Helpline and would be grateful if you could complete this short survey

Sands Helpline is a member of Helplines Partnerships and has been accredited since 2018.