News
North Herts Council Charity of the Year
We were thrilled to hear that the Chair of North Herts Council, Councillor Clare Billing, has chosen Sands to be her charity of the year for 20245/25. We are very grateful to her for her support and look forward to working with her in the year ahead.
Chair of the Council | North Herts Council (north-herts.gov.uk)
Two members of the North Herts Sands committee attended the council meeting for North Hertfordshire on 11th July 2024 to give a short presentation about the work of Sands and to answer questions from councillors.
Upcoming events
North Herts Sands
Summer 2024
Monday 13th May – Monthly Support Group, Great Ashby, Stevenage, 8-9.30pm
Monday 10th June - Monthly Support Group, Great Ashby, Stevenage, 8-9.30pm
Monday 8th July - Monthly Support Group, Great Ashby, Stevenage, 8-9.30pm
Sunday 21st July tbc - Family Group social
Monday 12th August tbc - Monthly Support Group, Great Ashby, Stevenage, 8-9.30pm
All events are subject to the availability of our volunteers. Please check the facebook page or contact us for more information and to confirm details before attending any events.
Annual Memorial Service 2024 - Sunday 6th October (tbc)
Past events
2023
Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival 2023
We decorated a tree for the Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival. It has become an annual tradition for many of our members to come and see their baby's name on our tree!
Many thanks to all those who helped with the tree this year.
Annual Memorial Service 2023
As part of Babyloss Awareness Week 2023 we held a memorial service, in conjunction with East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. The service featured readings and music from bereaved parents and staff from the Lister Hospital.
2022
Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival 2022
The Christmas Tree Festival took place on the weekend of 10th/11th December at Holy Saviour Church in Hitchin. We were really pleased that our tree came third in our category.
Many thanks to all those who helped with the tree this year.
Baby Memorial Service 2022
North Herts Sands and East & North Herts NHS Trust
Our latest memorial service was held in Hitchin Town Hall in October 2022, during Baby Loss Awareness Week. We hope that those who were able to attend found the service helpful. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the event a success.
We are already planning our next service, pencilled in for Sunday 15th October 2023.
2021
Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival 2021
The Christmas Tree Festival takes place this year on the weekend of 11th/12th December and is held at Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road, Hitchin, SG5 1QG.
As in previous years North Herts Sands will be decorating a tree. If you would like your baby(s) name(s) displayed on the tree please email the details to chair.northherts@sands.org.uk
Virtual Ceremony of Remembrance 2021
As part of Babyloss Awareness Week 2021 we will be holding a virtual memorial service, in conjunction with East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. This will be filmed in advance and put online on Sunday 10th October at 3pm.
The service will feature readings and music from bereaved parents and staff from the Lister Hospital.
As part of the service, the chaplains at the Lister Hospital will be reading out the names of babies we have lost, known or cared for. If you would like your baby's name read out please email the details to Mary Porter mary.porter1@nhs.net
If you are concerned about the pronounciation of your precious baby's name please arrange for Mary to telephone you, or send her a voice file of the correct pronounciation.
If you have any questions please contact Mary on the above email address or contact our Chair Cathy Beach by emailing Chair.northherts@sands.org.uk
A number of North Herts Sands members have signed up to the Sands Jog 50 miles in March campaign to raise awareness and money for Sands. If you would like to join us you can sign up on the website: Jog 50 Miles in March | Sands - Stillbirth and neonatal death charity
Good luck to everyone who has signed up!
2020
Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival
We will be participating in the Hitchin Christmas Tree Festival this year. This will be held in Hitchin Town Centre from 4pm on Friday 11th December until 10pm on Sunday13th December. Trail guides cost £2 and are available from the High Street on the Saturdays 5th and 12th December.
Come and see if you can find our tree!
Lights of Love Service
As the end of the year approaches, Sands are offering a virtual space to remember precious babies gone too soon. Lights of Love is a virtual family friendly evening of carols, readings and music. It is a multi-faith event with contributions from faith and non-faith communities. The service will be pre-recorded for you to watch at a time that is convenient to you. It will be available on the Sands youtube channel from 7pm on the 4th December.
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