Listed below are some ideas for what a local Sands group can do with regard to supporting bereaved parents and their families and improving care from health professionals.

Support

1. Helpline
   This could be a dedicated mobile phone with an answer message managed by trained befrienders from the group. The advantage of a mobile is that it is separate from a private home phone and can be passed from befriender to befriender to share the load.
   
   
2. Support Group Meetings
   These could be held at regular intervals throughout the year, maybe monthly on a set day (1st Tuesday every month for example). Support Meetings should be run by a trained befriender(s) and held at a suitable venue away from the hospital. Early evening is usually a suitable time for the majority of people. (7.30pm - 9.30pm for example).
   
   
3. Newsletter/Sheet
   A newsletter or sheet can be a good way of communicating the activities of the group to bereaved parents, health professionals and other interested parties. The style, size, detail and regularity of the publication is your choice - the important thing is to communicate and offer support through the written word. It could be useful to appoint an 'editor'�. The newsletter/sheet could be sent in hard copy or electronically through e-mail.
   
   
4. Website and Email Address
   In the same way as a newsletter/sheet communicates information about the group and its activities, this could also be done on a website. Again, a dedicated person/editor could be useful to regularly update the website. It can be a good idea to have an email contact address as some parents may feel unable to make a phone call or prefer to write. It also enables people to make contact at times when a phone call would not be appropriate.
   
   
5. Affiliated Charities/Bereavement Support Organisation
   It may be useful to bereaved parents in your group to have established links with affiliated local charities such as the Miscarriage Association, TAMBA (Twin and Multiple Birth Association), etc. Another service/support required by some bereaved parents may be one-to-one or specialist counselling which can be offered by bereavement support organisations.
   
   
6. One to One Meetings
   Some bereaved parents may not feel able to attend support groups but would still benefit greatly from a face to face meeting. If the group is able to offer this service, it is recommended that the meeting should take place at a neutral venue away from the hospital or private homes so as not to compromise either party.
   
   
7. Baby/Memorial Gardens/Benches/Stones
   A number of groups have successfully set up baby or memorial gardens, benches or stones. Contact should be made in the first instance with the local cemetery but once in place these memorials can become a great focus for the groups.
   
   
8. Remembrance Service
   Remembrance Services, normally held annually, have been successfully run by a number of groups and can offer support to a large number of people at once, often including long ago bereaved. These services can be religious, non-religious or non-denominational and can be held in churches, halls or any other suitable venue.