Newsletter December 2010

Befrienders

Jo-Anna, Kathryn, Jenny, Debbie

Committee

Jo-Anna - Group Co-ordinator/Scottish Network Liaison/Training

Kathryn - Treasurer/Inscriptions/website

Nichola - Secretary/Press

Christine - Hospital Liaison & Training

Clare - Hospital Liaison & Training

Jenny - Fundraising Co-ordinator

Debbie – Events Co-ordinator

Susan - Grants

Teresa

****New Contact Details****

Our new telephone number is 08455280322

Our new Postal address is

Fife Sands, PO Box 29210, Dunfermline KY12 2BS

Monthly Support Group Meetings

26th November – The Downie Lounge, Kirkcaldy

No meeting in December

28th January 2011- The Downie Lounge, Kirkcaldy

25th February 2011 – Holiday Inn Express, Halbeath Road, Dunfermline

Next Pregnancy Support Group

If you would like support during a subsequent pregnancy, please check the website for up to date information.

The Tuesday Club

An informal Lunch Club that meets every Tuesday to provide an opportunity to meet other parents and their kids, and to help support each other through parenthood.

Please call Clare on 07980443523 for further information.

If you have any contributions for the next edition, please submit them to us by 31st March 2011

Royal College of Midwives Awards

Further to my application for funding from the Jennifer Brown Fife Research Fund and Fife sands, I wanted to share some news with you. Following an application to the Royal College of Midwives, I have been shortlisted for the Award for Excellence in Bereavement Care. I have an interview arranged in London for the 30th of November. I am sure you will wish me luck with this.” Christine.

Christine is one of only 3 finalists in the whole of the UK, which is an amazing achievement in itself, and I'm sure you will all join us in wishing Christine the best of luck for the 30th November, and for the awards ceremony in January.

Stay and Play Christmas Party

We have exclusive use of the Play Planet where the children can play together while parents chat. This is an opportunity for children who have been affected by the loss of a baby in their family, be it sibling, cousin, niece/nephew, or stepchildren, to meet other children in the same position. Santa will also be paying a visit.

Date: Tuesday 7th December

Time: 6pm - 8pm

Venue: The Play Planet, Dalgety Bay

RSVP with names and ages of children attending by 30th November

Light refreshments will be provided for the children & the cafe may be open for adults for the first hour.

Any questions email fife-sands@tiscali.co.uk or phone 07986897060

Family Christmas Service

Our annual Christmas service will be held on Sunday 12th December at 2pm.

Due to the increasing popularity of this event, we have changed venue to the St Andrew Erskine Church on Robertson Road in Dunfermline, just behind the hospital. The format will be the same, with family members and friends invited to hang a bauble on the Christmas tree in memory of their baby/babies.

After the service you are invited to join us for some seasonal refreshments and a chat in the coffee lounge.

Facebook

If you have a facebook account, why not join us?

Membership is by application only, and you can keep up to date with what's going on within the group. The page is still in it's early stages of development, but we hope you will join in and see it as an additional means of support.

New Arrivals

Huge congratulations to Nichola and David on the safe arrival of Jorgie, born on the 11th November. A beautiful little sister for Alex, Derryn and the late Callan and to Kirsty & Steven on the safe arrival of Hamish, also born on the 11th November. A gorgeous little brother to Natalie, Jamie, Stephanie, Hannah, D.J., Pheobe and the late Nairn.

Nichola and Kirsty have made it a double celebration 2 years in a row, as their daughters Derryn and Phoebe were also born on the same day 13 months ago!

Appeal For Members

......to Join Our Fundraising / Event Organising Sub-Committee

If you have an interest in fundraising and organising events and have some free time available please consider joining our Sub-Committee.

We are aiming to organise a calendar of events for raising funds and for supporting bereaved parents/family members. The group would aim to initially meet once a month, time and day to be arranged. Once I have a few interested parties then I will get in touch to arrange the first meeting.

If this sounds like something that you would like to get involved with for sands then please get in touch with Jennifer.

Lights of Love Service

Hosted by Forth Valley sands, the annual Lights of Love service will be held on Friday 10th December at 7.30pm, in St Mary's Church, 15 Upper Bridge Street, Stirling, FK8 1ES

This is one of six individual Lights of Love evenings taking place across the UK, consisting of traditional carols, inspiring readings and beautiful music. Everyone welcome to attend. This year we will also be joined by the Scottish Cot Death Trust who are commemorating 25th years of supporting bereaved parents in Scotland.

If you are unable to attend, but wish to sponsor a light and write a message on a special handmade tag, please contact Caroline on 07948 562321 or mail@forthvalleysands.org.uk

Donations

A huge thank you to.....

£260 from Olive and family for sponsored walk in memory of Jay

£259.84 from Monica for 50th birthday rather than presents in memory of her great-nephew Alfie

£513.50 50% split from national from Clair who walked the West Highland Way in May 2010 in memory of Catriona Rose

£1,000 from Lindsey from the Ben Nevis Climb in memory of baby Steven

£425.64 from Fiona in memory of Alexander Jayden

£54 from Lorraine in memory of Rebecca Jacqueline

Angels Gone Away

The world keeps on turning

While for some it stands still

It’s the season to be happy

Parties, peace and goodwill

A special baby was born

On that first Christmas day

Like we really need reminding

With our angels gone away

But the world keeps on turning

Just for us then it stands still

People say, ‘Time’s a healer’

For some it never will

Up go the decorations

And we’ll see a nativity play

But it’s hard to look at angels

With our angels gone away

And we’ll wrap up all our presents

Place them neatly by the tree

But there’s one or two gifts missing

Where our angels’ gift should be

And although we may be hurting

We can look up high above

Then we’ll light up all our candles

So they might see our lights of love

Written by Nick Oliver for the Lights of Love service 2006

Birthdays

Remembering all our babies, particularly those whose birthdays are approaching. We hope these days pass peacefully for you.

Adam

02/02/06

Jay

12/02/09

Connor Henderson

08/03/98

Jamie

08/03/10

Olivia McLaren

13/03/09

Katie

17/03/10

Kelly

24/03/04

Princess Helen

26/03/09

Emily Sandell

08/04/10

Jennifer

16/04/68

Caleb David

16/04/09

Connor Charles Anthony

18/04/05

Emily & Georgie

24/04/03

Nadine

24/04/08