Befriender profile - Elena

I have been a befriender since July 2017. I have previously run monthly support groups and now I am responsible for all 1:1 support for Brighton and Worthing which is usually by telephone and email and also available face to face.

I also support SANDS training in hospitals to share with healthcare professionals the services we can offer to families and how we can support them. 

To become a befriender, I underwent the SANDS official befriender training course - two days over two weekends.

The most rewarding part of befriending is supporting people through their journey after the loss of their baby. It's such an emotional time for families and knowing that you are making a difference to someone/their family, even if it's just listening, is incredibly rewarding. 

1:1 support is based entirely on what, how, and when the person requesting support is looking for. It is totally flexible and because all befrienders are also people who have lost a baby, the support will be from someone who can relate to what someone is going through. It often creates a particular connection and understanding between befriender and befriendee that can be difficult to find in normal support circles such as family and friends.

Elena 

Are you thinking of holding a fundraising event for Brighton and Worthing Sands?  

To make it easy for you we have a Charity Checkout fund raising page all set up and ready to go, all you need to do is follow the link below:

Thank you for supporting us, we receive very little government funding and rely entirely on funds raised by people like you  ❤

Charity Checkout

Donate to Sands                                                                                                                               

Your donation will make a real difference and help save babies' lives.    

Sands supports anyone affected by the death of a baby, works to improve bereavement care and promotes research to reduce the loss of babies' lives.

Donate today and make a huge difference to the lives of bereaved families in their darkest hours, giving them hope for the future.

Whether a one-off donation or a regular gift, your support is invaluable and we couldn't do it without you. Thank you so much  ❤ ❤ ❤

Charity Checkout

Volunteer Befrienders Needed

Brighton & Worthing Sands is a small group that relies heavily on the dedication of its valued volunteers to provide the level of services that parents and their families need when they experience the death of their baby.  We are part of a national Charity, Sands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society. We provide support in the Brighton and Worthing areas.

The effort and the availability of our volunteer befrienders varies. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as we are only a very small group covering a large area. Our befrienders have lost babies in the past and will receive full training in order to listen and talk with bereaved parents and families by phone, email, online or face to face. They may also run or assist at support group meetings once a month, where bereaved parents can share their thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Find out more about becoming a befriender and please get in touch if this appeals to you.