To coincide with Maternal Mental Health Week (May 2-8) Home-Start South Warwickshire is delighted to launch ‘Bump-Start’, a pilot project to support new Mums living in Lillington and Kingsway.
Bump-Start extends Home-Start South Warwickshire’s unique home-visiting volunteer support to support families through pregnancy, the birth experience and during the first year of their baby’s life. We know how hard the journey to Motherhood can be; it brings huge changes to our bodies and our way of life. As a new mum we can feel amazing highs but also exhausting lows with loss of freedom and increased anxiety about our new babies. And of course, if you are struggling alone life can feel especially overwhelming.
Bump-Start aims to help new mums to feel less overwhelmed, less lonely, more confident and happier. Bump-Start will offer the opportunity to make friendships, to feel listened to and to learn the importance of self-care. Starting in pregnancy we want to help parents give their children the best possible start in life
Thanks to funding from Warwickshire County Council’s Social Impact Fund we will run Bump-Start as a pilot project for one year. And working with the Midwives and Health Visitors in Lillington and Kingsway mums we will offer a mix of group support and 1:1 support from specially trained perinatal volunteers. Volunteers can offer friendship and company at home, provide a non-judgmental listening ear, practical help and encouragement for a couple of hours a week.
"As a former Midwife and Health Visitor I have seen how important early intervention is to families who might be struggling with isolation, lack of confidence, living in a rural area without transport and lack of support. Bump-Start aims to help families who need an extra pair of hands, a listening ear, help with getting to appointments or loneliness. Just knowing that someone is there for you can make an enormous difference. Motherhood being a shared experience can help us feel less alone and more manageable." Marie Ashford, Project Manager for Bump-Start
The project is looking for volunteers in nearby areas to support new mums and babies. If that could be you or someone you know, please do get in touch with Marie Ashford on 07516680649 or email marie@homestartsouthwarwickshire.org.uk.
Maternal Mental Health Week, which is into its eighth year, is a campaign dedicated to talking about mental health problems during and after pregnancy. The week focuses on raising public and professional awareness of perinatal mental health problems, advocating for women affected, changing attitudes and helping families access the information, care and support they need to recover
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