Local volunteer Geoff Davies from Whitchurch, Cardiff has been named as the winner of an Award for Dedication by the pregnancy and baby loss charity Sands.
The Sands Volunteer Awards Ceremony was held at the Sands Garden Day, at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday, 7 June. Sands’ Chief Executive Clea Harmer and Volunteering Development Lead Louise Fleming presented Geoff with an engraved trophy and a certificate, signed by Clea and Sands’ Director of Volunteering and Bereavement Support Jen Coates.
Geoff is a volunteer Parent Speaker with Cardiff and Newport Sands, sharing his experiences with both healthcare professionals and the local community. Geoff was recognised for creating safe spaces for men to be with others who understand and for leading with warmth and compassion.
Geoff said:
“I have found volunteering with Sands to be a great way to remember my own babies and to ensure that some good comes from their passing. It has helped me deal with my own loss and use my experiences to help others in the same position.”
Sands’ Chief Executive Clea Harmer said:
“Volunteers are at the heart of our community and so much of the work we do to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families would not be possible without their commitment and dedication. Geoff has made such a difference in his role as a Parent Speaker and contributing to our work to support bereaved men, and this shone through in his nomination.
“Thank you to everyone who nominated a Sands Volunteer for an award. We had so many amazing nominations come through, from all across the UK. We are always keen to hear from more people who would like to give their time to support our work so if you’ve been inspired by Geoff, we’d love to hear from you.”
This year, Sands named two awards after Sands’ Patrons, Bel Mooney and Hazelanne Lewis. Bel and Hazelanne, along with a small group of fellow bereaved parents, founded Sands over 45 years ago. Thanks to their dedication and vision, Sands has gone on to grow to become the organisation it is today, doing incredible work that continues to make an impact across all our communities.
The Bel Mooney Award for Raising Awareness and the Hazelanne Lewis Award for Leadership will ensure we continue to honour their legacy, by recognising the contributions of Sands’ volunteers.
The Garden Day is an opportunity to celebrate and connect the Sands community, with the Volunteer Awards and a chance to find out more about Sands’ work in the morning. In the afternoon a Remembrance Event was held for all babies, helping families and individuals to find hope.
The Sands Garden is dedicated to the memory of all babies who have died. At the heart of the garden is a Portland stone sculpture of a baby, created by the respected sculptor John Roberts. This year marks the 25th anniversary since the Sands Garden opened at the National Memorial Arboretum.
Find out more about volunteering with Sands at www.sands.org.uk/volunteering
Anyone affected by pregnancy or baby loss who needs the support of Sands can find more information at www.sands.org.uk/support
