Sands’ Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of the charity - making sure that Sands is effectively and properly run - and setting our long-term aims.
When her son died, Sands (and particularly the local Southampton group) became one of her family’s lifelines.
We asked Emma about why her personal journey with Sands, why she wanted to become a Trustee, and her hopes for the future.
Hello Emma, please tell us a bit more about yourself.
I’m a mum of three beautiful kids who comes from Scotland and now lives in Winchester. Professionally, I’m a management consultant who helps organisations set and deliver strategies to thrive in volatile times. Outside of work, I love being outside either swimming, walking, running, cycling or skiing, preferably involving some hills and my family.
How did you first find out about Sands?
My second son sadly died when he was only a few days old. It was a complete shock. Sands was one of the organisations the hospital directed us to for support. In the wake of my son’s death, I didn’t know which way was up.
Sands' practical advice, including leaflets we could just send to our work colleagues, family and friends so they could figure out better how to help us, was such a help. I also found the peer support of my local Southampton group a source of real strength too. Just being with others who understood felt like coming home.
When did you begin to get involved in supporting our work?
After our son died we set up a fundraising page for him that supported Sands, mostly to give people something to do to help. Later I wanted to do something to give back that would also be something I could do “with” my son.
As I reflected on what I was good at, I thought being a trustee of a baby loss charity would be a perfect fit. I figured I’m good at reading papers, contributing to meetings and helping organisations go from strength to strength from the position of a highly-invested outsider. An opening to become a trustee at Sands came up and I was delighted to be appointed in 2018.
Why did you want to become a Trustee?
Sands is a really precious organisation. It helps people in the toughest of moments and is critical to helping reduce the number of babies that die. It is also beloved by the people it helps, including me. I became a trustee because I wanted to be part of protecting that special organisation and help it grow to have even more impact.
I see challenges for Sands that all organisations need to grapple with to survive and thrive. I also see huge opportunities for Sands to meet the moment. I have huge admiration for the wonderful people who make Sands what it is - the staff, the volunteers and the leaders - and find everything they innovate and achieve such an inspiration.
What do you find most inspiring about being on the Board?
I am really privileged to see up close the amazing work that Sands does and the impact that work has. We are lucky to have such a creative and committed team whose single focus is how to make things better for babies and the people who love and care for them.
For example, during Covid, despite all the huge difficulties in operating and ensuring the survival of the charity, Sands was in the middle of working with hospitals and policy makers to understand and reduce the impact of Covid on baby loss. No one asked Sands to do this, but it was important work so we got on and did it straight away. I love that about this organisation.
I also find the care with which Sands people do their work an enormous source of inspiration. No one ever forgets that at the core of all we do is saving lives and supporting those affected by the tragedy of loss. The care people feel for the charity's beneficiaries pervades everything.
How do you feel your experience, knowledge and skills make a difference to the work of the Board?
My day to day work is helping organisations solve problems, spot opportunities, take decisions and make things happen. I hope I bring that experience to the Board as we help the management team grow Sands impact and protect the organisation for the future to come. I am also lucky to work for a company full of enthusiastic people keen to support good causes who I can bring to help on specific topics from time to time.
What do you think makes Sands special and unique as a charity?
The connection Sands’ supporters have with the charity is unique. We are a source of support at a time of great need and people support us often as a tribute to the person they lost. This is an honour and something we need to respect enormously.
It also gives Sands great power that we can use for good. We punch well above our weight in our advocacy, training and research work, thanks to the ingenuity and talent of our people, and the real connection we have with those who experience loss.
If you had to describe Sands in three words what would they be?
Caring, Committed, Creative
Is there a particular aspect of Sands’ work that most interests you?
I’m passionate about the full mission of Sands. As a bereaved parent I know first hand how important the work to support families is, and similarly the work to help healthcare providers and employers to support bereaved people better.
I am also deeply passionate about reducing the number of babies that die. I would give anything to have my son back and if I can be part of helping someone keep their baby, then that is a wonderful legacy for him.
If you had one wish for the future of Sands what would that be?
That we are no longer needed, because the kind of tragedy that befell our family doesn’t happen anymore. Realistically though, that is unlikely to happen. So I’ll settle for Sands helping to reduce the number of babies that die to the smallest possible number, and always being there for the people who love the ones that do - for as long as they need our support.