Monthly Bereavement support Meetings
Monthly Support Meetings take place on the first Thursday of every month at:
Bedminster Library, 4 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster Parade, Bristol, BS3 4AQ
From 8pm to 10.30pm.
Our Monthly Support Meetings provide an opportunity for parents to talk and you are welcome to bring along a friend or relative. It may help you and your partner to meet with others who have lost a baby and to share experiences. Books and leaflets will be available for you to borrow. Our support meetings take place in a single central Bristol venue at the same day and time every month. This provides better access to those who may not have a car and also makes it easier to remember when and where the event is, you do not have to worry about ringing up in advance to check whether or not it is happening. It provides an opportunity for the same faces to come along several months in a row and to allow people to build up friendships over several meetings. These informal meetings are run by bereaved parents from Bristol Sands who know how devastating the death of a baby can be. We offer support to anyone whose baby or babies have died during pregnancy, birth or after birth or anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. This may be recently or some time ago. Whenever or wherever your baby died we are here to offer support, understanding, comfort and a listening ear.
Parking: The large Asda car park is available
Public Transport: 52, 75, 75a, 76, 77, 89, 90, 503 and 511 all stop on Bedminster Parade or East
Ante Natal Class / Pregnant Again Support Meetings
Pregnant Again Support Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of every month at:
Bedminster Library, 4 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster Parade, Bristol, BS3 4AQ.
From 8pm to 10.30pm.
The next pregnancy can be a difficult and worrying time for some parents. We recognise that this can be a time when parents may need more support and being able to draw on the experiences of other parents who have gone through a subsequent pregnancy may be helpful. We will understand how you are feeling and may be able to offer practical help as well. It can also be an opportunity to meet other parents who are pregnant again at the same time and to form supportive friendships. We also recognise that some parents may not feel able to attend ante natal classes during a subsequent pregnancy and some parents may not have had the opportunity to attend ante natal classes in their previous pregnancy. We have therefore arranged to have midwife support at these meetings. The first part of the meeting is an antenatal type class. The midwife will be able to talk about the topics and lead discussions on the issues that are of concern to you, and will be available to answer your questions. The second part of the meeting will be in the form of a support group and there will be an opportunity for parents to have one to one discussions with Sands Befrienders if they wish to. If you are pregnant again please feel welcome to come along to these meetings. You may wish to bring your partner or a friend or family member along. These meetings are for you and we will welcome your input into what you would like to discuss and what information you would like to receive.
Parking: The large Asda car park is available
Public Transport: 52, 75, 75a, 76, 77, 89, 90, 503 and 511 all stop on Bedminster Parade or East
Post-natal support group
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Post Natal Support Group will NOT be running on Saturday 7 April. If you require support, please call the support mobile on 07970 930 513. A special Easter Extravaganza is being held in support of Bristol Sands on this day – please see top right corner for further details.
As an extension of the Pregnant Again Support Meetings we have recently started a Post-Natal Support session to offer continued support for families beyond a subsequent pregnancy.
Having a new baby can be a difficult time for anyone. However as a bereaved parent there may also be additional worries and concerns. We recognise that some people may need additional support following the birth of a new baby.
This group is run by Sands members who have been through the Pregnant Again Support meetings and who wanted to provide the opportunity for bereaved parents to meet, build friendships with those in similar situations and be around others who understand how you are feeling.
It is held in a reserved area of a child-friendly cafe, which includes a soft play area for siblings, on a more informal ‘drop in’ basis for you and your family to have a drink and a chat with other bereaved parents with new babies or with a Sands Befriender.
It takes place on the first Saturday of every month at:
Rimandos, 395 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 9DX
The cafe is near the junction of Ashley Down Road and parking is available in the residential side streets. There are also many buses that pass by from many locations around Bristol.
Sands befrienders will be in the reserved area between 10.30am and 12.30.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the Post Natal Support Group will NOT be running on Saturday 7 April. If you require support, please call the support mobile on 07970 930 513.