Young MumsAid new out of hours text service!

MumsAid, the South-East London maternal mental health charity, has secured funding from the Royal Borough of Greenwich to further extend support for mums and their families in Greenwich.

The funds have been provided to build on the charity’s tailored Young Mums Programme in Greenwich which supports pregnant women and new mums aged 14-21 and includes free specialist counselling and advocacy support.

The new funding from Royal Borough of Greenwich has enabled MumsAid to put in place a new Out of Hours Text Service providing 24 hour support to Young Mums after MumsAid’s working hours, over weekends and holidays which can be difficult times for young mums when feelings of isolation and anxiety can be heightened and ability to reach out for immediate contact at those times is a much needed lifeline.

Said Perinatal Psychotherapist Miriam Donaghy, the Founder and CEO of MumsAid ,

“Being able to put in place an ‘out of hours’ text service means that young mums in our service will have someone to talk to any time of the day or night.  This is so important for the management of anxiety and other mental health issues for those who are feeling particularly isolated.  It also means our team can take a break in the safe knowledge that these very vulnerable young women have someone to connect with at all times.  Supporting Mums in these early years and helping them cope as a parent and strengthen their relationship with their baby has an enormous positive impact on their families’ health and well-being now and in the future.”

A total of £7,000 has been awarded to MumsAid by councillors from across the borough through the Ward Budget scheme.

Councillor Linda Bird, the lead proposer for the award, said: “I’m delighted that the Royal Borough of Greenwich will be providing funding for MumsAid so it can continue to carry out it’s vital work in an even more accessible way.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, the support that MumsAid provides young families in Royal Greenwich is more important than ever. I’m proud to be supporting an organisation that is a real asset to our borough in helping give our young people the best start in life.”

MumsAid’s Young Mums Programme has developed over 7 years.  The core programme funds are currently provided by the Young London Fund which has helped MumsAid shape the services offered in this tailored programme carefully to the specific needs of younger women.  As well as up to 24 free perinatal counselling sessions, the Young Mums Programme also provides additional support services include home visits and practical help with nappies or items for babies.  A part-time advocacy worker, assists with filling out benefit forms, making nursery and housing applications and runs a regular weekly drop-in group where young mums (all under 21) can share advice, experiences and support one another.

Consistent contact even if the Mums temporarily move out of the Borough is continually provided by MumsAid whose experience has shown that the continuous support network has proven to be a vital lifeline providing many young mums in the Borough the support they need to give their children the best start in life.

Running for nearly ten years, MumsAid has provided over 15,000 hours of free and low-cost maternal mental health counselling to over 2,000 South East London Mums and trained over 50 specialist, perinatal counsellors using MumsAid’s model of care developed by Miriam Donaghy who is publishing her PHD on the model later this year.

For more information on how to support MumsAid and the Young Mums Programme contact info@mums-aid.org or call us on 077587 63908

A total of 11 wards contributed to the scheme: Blackheath Westcombe, Charlton, Coldharbour and New Eltham, Eltham North, Eltham South, Eltham West, Kidbrooke with Hornfair, Middle Park and Sutcliffe, Peninsula, Plumstead and Shooters Hill.