About Manchester Sands

National Helpline

0808 164 3332

Manchester Helpline

07756466841

National Email

helpline@sands.org.uk

Manchester Email

manchester@sandsvolunteer.org.uk

Everyone’s story is different, although we all share the sadness and grief of baby loss.

We work to support anyone affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.

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 grown, but parents who have experienced baby loss are still at the heart of everything we do.

Nationally, Sands is made up of staff and volunteers, who work together to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby has access to compassionate support.

Manchester Sands has run for over thirty years. At Manchester Sands, we are all bereaved parents who support other bereaved parents. Our meetings 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. We also offer support to individuals and couples.

We also have a remembrance page on our website and we send out remembrance cards on anniversary dates. If you would like your baby to be added this page, please contact us via email or fill in the form below.

Who am I contacting when I fill in the form? Who will be at meetings?

Manchester Sands has a long history of volunteers. 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 the meetings - be it online or in the flesh - so when you arrive, you recognise us.

Paul Kleiman and Jo Richler

Co-Chair and Co-Treasurer

Our first baby Rocky died very soon after birth in 1990. We started attending Sands meetings soon after and have remained at the centre of Manchester Sand’s 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.

Kim and Kris Powell

Co-Chair and Co-Treasurer

In-Person Meetings

We attended our first Sands meeting in 2021, following losing our beautiful son Reggie Albert, who passed away at 24 weeks. The meetings, led by Jo and Paul were invaluable to us as we met other parents who understood the pain we felt. Our grief will be a lifelong journey but we have the support of Sands. Three years on, we are proud to be part of the Sands team facilitating monthly meetings at The Tea Hive alongside Hailey.

Hailey Peacock

In-Person Meetings and Remembrance Cards

Our beautiful daughter Scarlett passed away in January 2016.

My husband and I attended our first Sands meeting around 2 weeks after.

Meeting Jo and Paul and being with other parents that were going through similar experiences really helped me to start processing my grief.

I have continued to attend the monthly meetings and now I’m proud to be part of the Sands team to help and offer support to other bereaved parents at our in - person meetings.

Rebekah Woolf

Online Meeting Facilitator

I was directed to Manchester SANDS by St Mary's hospital when we discovered that our second son, Lucian, was incredibly ill during our anomaly scan.

My husband and I attended our first meeting a few days after he passed. It was November 2020 and in the thick of the COVID restrictions, so we were able to join the online meetings, for which we were incredibly grateful.

We have since experienced further loss and have continued to attend and be supported by SANDS. Then later, be privileged to lead the online meetings and be part of the team.

I hope to continue to be a part of the Manchester SANDS family and be able to contribute and support other families going through this most devastating loss.

Manchester Sands