Financial Ombudsman Service celebrates raising more than £30,000 for baby loss charity

• Two-year fundraising target reached in less than a year
• Fundraising events organised by Financial Ombudsman staff included a skydive, Snowdon hike, football match and bake sales
• Staff at the organisation voted to partner with Sands because of its work supporting bereaved families and saving babies’ lives

We embarked on a two-year partnership with Sands in 2024 – raising funds to support the charity’s vital work saving babies’ lives and supporting bereaved families.

The fundraising has been led by staff coordinating charitable activities across the organisation. Over the past year, employees have taken part in a wide range of initiatives including a skydive, a nighttime hike up Mount Snowdon, a charity football match, bake sales, raffles, and a sponsored fast during Ramadan, where staff fasted in solidarity with Muslim colleagues.

Altogether the various fundraising efforts raised just over £32,000*, significantly more than our target. 

Jenny Simmonds, Interim Chief Executive said:

I’m very proud of our colleagues. Raising more than £30,000 in just one year shows the commitment, energy and compassion they bring to causes that matter.

Sands is a vital charity that supports families at the most devastating time in their lives – and we’re honoured to be their partner.

Whilst we’ve hit our target early, we won’t stop there. We’re determined to keep raising awareness and funds in the year ahead.”

In addition to raising funds, the partnership with Sands has helped us open up conversations about pregnancy and baby loss. The charity has delivered two awareness sessions for staff and will be running bereavement training over the coming year, helping staff feel better equipped to support each other. 

Half of UK adults**, 50%, said that they, or someone they know, had experienced at least one form of pregnancy or baby loss. Sands provides support to everyone touched by pregnancy or baby loss, and saves babies’ lives through research, training and campaigning.

Clea Harmer, Sands’ Chief Executive, said:

It’s wonderful to have the ongoing support of everyone at the Financial Ombudsman Service – every penny raised during this two-year partnership will help Sands support everyone who needs this and do everything within our combined power to inspire change and prevent babies from dying.

Some people can find talking about pregnancy and baby loss difficult but with so many of us affected it’s vital that everyone feels confident and comfortable to start sensitive conversations. It’s so good to hear that Sands training and awareness days are helping Financial Ombudsman Service colleagues to create a more compassionate community at work and beyond.”

Sands offers accredited workplace training for colleagues and managers, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to give compassionate support to anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss.

Notes to Editors

*Total raised by 1st April 2025 was £32,039.78. 1st April 2024 was the start date of the charity partnership.

**Half of UK adults, 50%, said that they, or someone they know, had experienced at least one form of pregnancy or baby loss, in response to a YouGov survey published at the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October) 2023. The survey was commissioned by an alliance of more than 130 charities led by Sands, Tommy’s, Bliss, The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, The Lullaby Trust, and The Miscarriage Association.