NCTs Birth and Beyond Community Support (BBCS) programme supports new and expectant mums during the all important first 1000 days. We have over 20 'Community Support' volunteers who aim to increase social connections and reduce isolation as well as increasing self confidence and self esteem. All of our peer support volunteers are mums themselves and have completed an OCN certified training programme giving them the skills to provide non-judgemental listening and emotional support.
This is a FREE services and the types of support our volunteers offer include:
- weekly 1-2-1 peer support in a public place or via the telephone
- providing information about the local area
- signposting to local services and national services
- accompanying to local groups/appointments
What is the Birth and Beyond Community Support Programme?
The programme aims to provide support to new mums and women from groups and communities who often experience day-to-day challenges and social exclusion.
The objectives of this service are:
- Improve emotional wellbeing
- Reduce isolation and loneliness
- Improve confidence and self esteem
- Increase access to local services
What is peer support and why is it so important?
Our volunteers, who will have experienced the challenges of being a mother, can support women at any time from pregnancy through to their childs second birthday. They offer a kind, listening ear and can signpost and accompany women to helpful, local services. We find that this really helps to connect mothers with their local communities. We regularly support women who have no recourse to public funds, who may be isolated physically and emotionally, and who may be experiencing low to moderate mental health difficulties.
We believe that the BBCS programme helps us to connect with our vision of a world where no parent is isolated and all parents are supported to build a stronger society.