Baby Loss Awareness Week: Hastings and East Sussex Sands
This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week and here at Eastbourne Life we are proud to spotlight a local charity making a true difference.
Baby Loss Awareness Week is an annual, collaborative campaign held from October 9th to October 15th to support bereaved families, remember babies who died during pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy, and raise awareness about pregnancy and baby loss. The core purpose is to break the silence and stigma around baby loss, offer a safe community space for grieving parents, campaign for better bereavement care, and push for improvements in research and policy.
On the final day of the week, October 15th at 7:00 PM local time, families and individuals around the world light a candle and leave it burning to remember all the babies who died too soon, often sharing photos using the hashtag #WaveOfLight.
We had the chance to speak with Ange Graff, a volunteer with Hastings and East Sussex Sands, about the importance of Baby Loss Awareness Week and the support available to bereaved families.
Hastings and East Sussex Sands is the local branch of the national charity Sands, which supports anyone affected by the death of a baby, works to improve care for bereaved parents and campaigns for a future where fewer babies die.
Ange told us why raising awareness matters:
“Baby Loss Awareness Week is so important because it helps to break the silence, get people talking and let people know that support is out there and they are not alone.”
Hastings and East Sussex Sands hold monthly support meetings for anyone affected by the loss of a baby. Meetings take place on the last Thursday of each month, alternating between Eastbourne and Hastings.
The next meeting is on Thursday 29 October 2026, from 19:30 to 21:30 at Community Wise, Eastbourne, BN21 1PY.
“At Hastings and East Sussex Sands, we support anyone who has been affected by the loss of a baby. We’re always here whenever you need us.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by baby loss, please know that support is available and you do not have to face it alone.
Please contact the Hastings and East Sussex Sands team on:
Email: hastingseastsussex@sandsvolunteer.org.uk
Phone call: 07493716124
