In the UK, between 15 and 16 babies a day die. The number covers any loss from 24 weeks of pregnancy to within 28 days of birth. There are 4.6 stillbirths in every 1000 births and 2.7 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births (based on data published by the ONS in 2015). The Hull & East Yorkshire branches of Sands provide help and support for bereaved parents and families who have suffered the death of a baby, even if their babies ‘age’ falls outside the parameters of these statistics. This support is provided free of charge and is open to all bereaved parents, their families and friends, no matter how long ago the loss occurred.
Support Meetings
Hull and East Yorkshire Sands offer one, joint monthly support meeting and these are held in Hull, on the first Wednesday of every month. Details of the meeting is listed on the right. Everyone is welcome at the meeting, regardless of where you live or when you lost your baby.
SUPPORT MEETING VENUE
The address is: DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, Ferensway, Hull, HU2 8NH. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
If you cannot make the meeting but need our support in any way, we would love to be there for you, so please do get in touch. All our contact details can be found on our Contact us page.
WHAT ARE THE MEETINGS LIKE?
The meetings are friendly, small, private and informal and people can participate as much or as little as they like. We are happy to listen to you talk about your baby and your experience or will welcome you just the same if you just wish to sit and listen to other people talk about theirs. Everyone at the meeting, including the befrienders who "run" the meetings will have experienced their own loss of a baby and will understand exactly what you are going through. Please read the quotes below from those who have attended our local meetings previously. If you are still unsure and would like to chat to one of us about the meetings, please just give us a call or drop us a line - all details can be found on our Contact us page.
"Going to my first Hull Sands meeting was a hard first step to make after we lost Samuel. I don't remember saying much other then my name! I wasn't made to say anything but was made welcome. Attending the meetings gave me great comfort and support whilst coming to terms with losing Sam. I also formed some great friendships which are still going strong 8 years later."
Lynne, Hull
"Going to the meetings helped more than I thought they would. I went from "crying when I only thought of Carden" to "openly talk about my son" in just few meetings time! I highly recommend Sands to everybody who experienced a child loss, not only parents but grandparents, aunties, cousins etc. It's the best place to start your journey to learn to live with what happened."
Kamilla, Hull
"I've only been to a few meetings but found it nice to talk face to face with other people who knew the pain I was feeling. Friends and family tried to understand but I found I couldn't open up to them. The Sands meetings allowed me to open up and share my grief and it was a great support to me in the early months of losing Jessica. The meetings are always warm and welcoming and I would recommend them to anyone who has suffered the pain of losing a baby."
Leigh, Hull
"I went to my first meeting approximately five weeks after losing my twins. I will never forget how nice it was to be able to open up about my feelings without worrying about how I was phrasing anything and without the worry of being judged for my feelings because I knew everyone in the room could relate to what I was saying. I cried a lot at my first meeting and I will never forget how someone I never knew before passed me a tissue, another person just instinctively held my hand - such small gestures but ones that will forever stay with me due to the compassion they showed. I made some wonderful friends at the group without whom I am not sure how I would have coped and who are still firm friends years on."
Anonymous, Hull