"I’m Sarah and I’ve been a volunteer for Norfolk Sands for around five years. I’m currently the Co-chair, a Befriender, and I help to organise events for the group, such as craft activities.

"After my son died at 37 weeks, I was given information about Sands at the hospital. I joined Sands message boards and met other parents like me. We formed an online community and it felt really valuable to be around people who had been through the same experience.

"The Norfolk Sands group wasn’t offering much in person support at the time, but when they put out a call for more volunteers, I wanted to do something practical. I’m someone who processes things by doing, and doing something practical helped me to process my grief. I took on the Secretary role, then the Chair role when the incumbent stepped down.

"Nowadays my role as co-chair involves monitoring our email inbox; supporting the team to deliver our Lights Of Love and Starlight Walk, events; delegating tasks and supporting the other volunteers. I'm very keen that the team are aware of their wellbeing and that they can manage their grief and volunteering against personal commitments.

"I love doing crafty things, so started a project called Stitched Memories, encouraging people to make bunting pennants to remember their babies. We attend the Norfolk Makers festival and always get people coming up to talk to use about all kinds of bereavement. This has helped us to raise our profile and let more families know we are there to support them.

"I also work with the local hospitals. We make sure they know what support is available from Sands, and supply them with resources that they can pass to bereaved families. I’ve been able to use the skills from my day job as a fundraiser to support The James Paget University Hospital by working with them to fundraise to improve their maternity counselling room. 

"We've recently started talking to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to find ways to support them. I’m also part of the Maternity Voices Partnership at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, representing bereaved parents to make sure our voices are heard.

"I didn’t want to see other parents go through the same isolating experience that I did. I wanted to create a safe space for people having later pregnancies, so we started running family friendly meetings, where people could discuss their pregnancy or bring other children."

Sarah Green, Bereaved Mum

"We now meet once a month, and our children get a lot out of it too, having the opportunity to interact with other siblings who have had similar experiences.

"Everything we do is a group effort, and it’s testament to everyone’s hard work that we are so much more well known then we were ten years ago. We get referrals both from other agencies in Norfolk and also word of mouth, so many more people now know we exist! I really value being part of a community of families who can support each other."