Pregnancy Pals and Birth Buddies (360G-EssexCF-A494666)
Funding Organization
£9,800
Recipient Organization
Towards the 'pregnancy pals' and 'birthing buddies' initiatives for vulnerable women in Basildon
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Grant Details
| Amount Applied For | 10000 |
| Amount Awarded | 9800 |
| Award Date | 2018-12-18T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Beneficiary Location: Country Code | GB |
| Beneficiary Location: Geographic Code | E01021268 |
| Beneficiary Location: Geographic Code Type | LSOA |
| Beneficiary Location: Name | Basildon 015B |
| Grant Programme: Code | 2018/19 |
| Grant Programme: Title | Tampon Tax Community Fund |
| Impact Category | Advance people's physical and mental health, wellbeing and safety |
| Last Modified | 2021-04-29T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Planned Dates: Duration (months) | 11 |
| Planned Dates: End Date | 2020-01-31T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Planned Dates: Start Date | 2019-02-01T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Primary age group | Adults (26 – 65) |
| Primary beneficiary | Women |
| Primary ethnicity | All Ethnicities |
| Primary issue | Health, wellbeing and serious illness |
| Recipient Org: Company Number | 06714737 |
| Recipient Org: Description | Skilled peer support during pregnancy, birth and post birth, is life changing for mothers, fathers and babies. Early prevention through the transition to parenthood is at the heart of our work. Evidence is clear - it is a time when people are particularly open to change. Drawing on strengths in communities we nurture the resilience of vulnerable parents during this critical time to achieve the following outcomes: • The best start in life for babies • Resilient parents and communities that are less dependent on limited professional resources Our aim is to establish purposeful, supportive peer relationships during pregnancy that enable volunteers and parents to feel valued, respected, supported and socially connected. By nurturing parents’ resilience (and in turn their babies), we contribute to positive outcomes during the "1001 Critical Days" (UK Cross Party Manifesto). We aim to prevent escalation of need. Our ‘Pregnancy Pal and Birth Buddy’ volunteer programme began in South Essex in 2010 to address a clear gap in support for vulnerable, disadvantaged families. Over the past nine years we have developed a high-quality volunteering initiative that reduces social isolation, helps expectant and new parents prepare for changes ahead, increases resilience, and improves relationships between parents and their infants. We achieve this by building trusting peer relationships, starting in pregnancy, continuing in hospital during labour and birth and ongoing during the early months of parenting. We prioritise communities in Basildon, Thurrock and Canvey Island facing significant social, health and educational inequalities particularly families living in the 10%/20% most deprived postcodes. As well as improving the health, wellbeing and resilience of vulnerable parents, we also aim to make the experience of our volunteer peer supporters deeply rewarding. Our volunteers often describe their involvement as ‘life changing’. Through skilled, regular supervision and extensive training, our volunteers state improved: personal development (86%); knowledge of health issues (71%); self-confidence (71%); and awareness of local services (86%). Volunteers can improve their employability prospects by gaining a level 3 national vocational qualification through our City and Guilds Accreditation Centre. Evidence of learning and skills into practice are derived from the natural volunteer setting. Peer support is provided by volunteers and paid workers. They are trained to focus on parents’ strengths and assets, treat them as equal partners, and avoid dependency by empowering vulnerable parents, communities and families to do more for themselves and their children. A Pregnancy Pal or Birth Buddy is “someone in their corner” providing flexible, personalised support throughout pregnancy, labour and birth and the early months of being a parent. Drawing on lived experience or shared characteristics our peer supporters aim to provide knowledge, emotional support, practical help and social interaction. Their strengths-based, non-judgemental approach enables them to build trusting relationships with vulnerable women who may be wary of professionals. We provide the following activities: 1. Intensive one-to-one peer support (home, hospital, community) to vulnerable women and their partners (early pregnancy to 6 months post birth, over 120 families a year, up to 2-hours a week) provided by thoroughly trained and supervised volunteers and paid staff. Parents are encouraged to set and review self-selected achievable goals. For very vulnerable women our birth buddies provide emotional and practical support throughout labour and birth. 2. Weekly community outreach activities to meet pregnant women face-to-face (2-3 hours per session, 10 disadvantaged locations). These take place in GP and children’s centre antenatal clinics, Essex Youth Services, homeless hostels, Thorney Bay Caravan Park in Canvey Island, and women’s refuges. We provide supported signposting and opportunities for pregnant or post birth women to request one-to-one peer support. We set-up information stands at Basildon maternity unit (weekly). Each year, we engage with over 1200 expectant parents via these activities. 3. Antenatal and postnatal exercise and wellbeing sessions (100 women each year). A qualified perinatal fitness trainer and health promotion specialist runs weekly 2-hour sessions in 3 disadvantaged locations (Laindon, Vange, Canvey). Each session is followed by an informal talk about pregnancy and parenthood. Attendees make connections and continue exercising together at the end of the programme. We support them to set up their own buggy walks. 4. Workshops for expectant fathers (2-hours, twice a month in Grays and Basildon): delivered by experienced and qualified antenatal teachers. Topics include: how to support their partner during labour; preparing for changes ahead (e.g. family relationships, mental health); and practical baby-care. 5. Informal groups for pregnant women to meet each other: delivered in Family Hubs (7 disadvantaged locations where there is no provision, 2-hours, monthly basis). These are informal information sessions with simple quizzes about labour and birth; keeping well; and becoming a parent. We encourage new friendships that continue beyond the sessions. 6. Video Interaction Guidance during home visits to parents at risk of poor bonding with their babies (20 parents a year). By sharing positive video clips for parents to reflect on, we nurture attuned early parent-infant relationships. 7. Recruiting, training and supervising volunteers (maintaining an ongoing pool of 30 volunteers): we deliver free four-week taster courses each year (total of 12 hours) that enable local parents to gain new skills, build confidence and find out whether being a Pregnancy Pal or Birth Buddy is right for them. Those recruited to become volunteers attend high quality training (76 hours) and induction that prepares them to carry out the role and receive ongoing one-to-one supervision and peer group meetings (monthly basis). We work particularly closely with community midwives who regularly refer vulnerable pregnant women. A programme manager, a volunteer coordinator and a trainer operate the programme carrying out volunteer recruitment, collaboration with professionals, introductory visits to pregnant women in their homes, matching volunteers to pregnant women’s’ needs, safeguarding, regular volunteer supervision, risk assessments, and ongoing evaluation. |
| Recipient Org: Web Address | http://essex.parents1st.org.uk |