A new programme is launching in the Royal Borough of Greenwich to help young mothers build their self-confidence as parents and reduce the risks to their mental health.
Young Mums Together groups are being run in Greenwich by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) and Greenwich based charity MumsAid who have provided specialist perinatal support services to new Mums in the area for over a decade.
The groups will run at local Children’s Centres in Greenwich from January 2022. Young mothers and services interested in finding out more about the groups are welcome to visit Vista Field Children’s Centre at Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, SE9 5SD, between 1 pm and 3 pm on Friday 21 January, where there will be activities, food and an opportunity to ask questions about the groups. Anyone interested in finding out more by email should contact [email protected] .
Laura Burke, Project Manager for the Mental Health Foundation, said: “Becoming a mum at any age can come with physical and emotional changes, such as to identity and responsibilities. Young mothers can be at increased risk of social isolation, poverty and experiencing stigma. Young Mums Together groups offer young mothers a space to connect with others just like them, to build a support network and their confidence as parents.”
Psychotherapist and MumsAid founder Miriam Donaghy said: “We have been providing a programme of services for young mums since 2015 and so are acutely aware of the need for more support for young mums across the UK and in our local area. Young Mums Together will address this and provides a great opportunity to connect with other young mums to access support, guidance and community to help mums secure a better start in life for their babies. The MumsAid and Mental Health Foundation teams are looking forward to bringing this programme to Greenwich and supporting more young mums at the time they need it most.”
The Young Mums Together groups are weekly drop-in sessions that will include discussions, lunch and snacks, activities and guest speakers for young mothers and their babies. The aim is to help young mothers, up to the age of 25, to enjoy healthy bonds with their children and to learn about the services and support they can access if they need help.
The hardest thing about being a young mum is when you go places with your baby you feel that people are judging you. That's why I like the Young MumsAid group - nobody judges you here. You can ask about things and get help and support. I would recommend other young mums like me to go along to the new group.
The programme is part of the MHF’s Covid Response Programme - a £2 million initiative to support people whose mental health has been hardest hit by the pandemic, including young parents.
The programme will be evaluated, and the hope is to extend it across England.
Single mothers have attended similar programmes run by MumsAid.
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For further information contact [email protected] .
The Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health since 1949. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.
MumsAid is an award-winning charity providing pregnant women and new mums with specialist counselling for emotional or mental health difficulties. Our vision is of a society where all mothers are supported with giving their babies the best start in life.