SUPPORT & GROUPS
perinatal mental health supportSUPPORT GROUPS & ONE TO ONE SUPPORT
These groups are a safe place for you to come and talk about how you feel with others who understand, gain support and make social connections. We have a play worker and SEND support worker who engages children in play activities. Our groups can give you the opportunity to make supportive friendships and your children the opportunity to socialise.
If you are interested, please email us at groups@mothersformothers.co.uk or call the helpline 0117 9359366 or you are welcome to drop in.
come along and join us at one of our Support Groups
Staple Hill
Every Monday – 10:00am to 12:00pm at Staple Hill Children’s Centre, Page Road, Staple Hill, BS16 4NE
Clevedon
Every Monday – 12:00pm – 2:00pm at Clevedon Children’s Centre, The Barn, Great Western Rd, Clevedon, BS21 6HB
St George
Every Tuesday – 10:00am to 12:00pm at The Beehive Centre, 19a Stretford Road, Whitehall, Bristol, BS5 7AW
Weston Super Mare
Every Wednesday – 10:00am to 12:00pm Old Mixon Family Centre, Monkton Ave, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24 9DA
Hartcliffe
Every Wednesday – 10:00am to 12:00pm at Hartcliffe Children’s Centre, Hareclive Road, Bristol, BS13 0JW
Bedminster
Every Thursday – 12:45pm to 2:45pm at St Francis Church, North Street, Ashton Gate, Bedminster, BS3 2AN
Patchway
Every Friday – 10:00am to 12:00pm at Patchway Children’s Centre, Epney Close, Patchway, BS34 5TF
Zoom peer support group
Every Friday – 10:00am
Antenatal and Wellbeing in Pregnancy Group
Every Tuesday evening Rebecca runs an online group created specifically for pregnant women and birthing people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, low mood and/or isolation. It is a welcoming and relaxed group where you can access antenatal, birth and postnatal information and meet other women and birthing people facing similar experiences. The sessions have a strong focus on mental health and emotional wellbeing, with themes and discussion topics informed by the issues the group consider to be important and useful. We look at the helpful coping strategies available to women and birthing people during pregnancy and discuss ways to positively improve our responses to the ongoing demands of the perinatal period.
All of our sessions are underpinned by the principles laid down in the Guided Self-Help Workbook, ‘Wellbeing in Pregnancy’ created by Kings College London and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
If you are interested please email Rebecca Rice on rebecca.rice@mothersformothers.co.uk or call us on the helpline 0117 9359366
Zoom Antenatal support group takes place on Tuesdays at 7pm.
GROUP TRIPS
We have four group events a year. Two trips to local family attractions and two parties. These events provide an opportunity to build your social circle outside the group you attend and give all the children a wonderful fun day. Being away from home with the safety of our support can help self-esteem and build confidence.
The women and birthing people attending the groups decide on the location, usually a local attraction such as Avon Valley Country Park, Bristol Zoo and We the Curious. Our trips take place during school holidays and of course we welcome older siblings to join in. Transport is also provided.
For more information email groups@mothersformothers.co.uk or call 0117 9359366
SEND
Our SEND Peer Support service is aimed at women and birthing people who have children with additional needs (diagnosed or not) or themselves are Neurodivergent. Our SEND Peer Support worker can offer you a listening ear, practical advice or emotional support because she’s been on a similar journey and has navigated the SEND system personally and professionally.
By chatting to a parent who ‘gets it’ can decrease your ‘mental load’ by allowing you a safe space to express those feelings associated with being a parent of a SEND child.
By knowing you’re not on your own and there’s support which allows you to belong and be included because there are people who think and feel like you do, can increase your resilience when trying to access and fight for support.
Through accessing SEND Peer support, your confidence and skills in parenting a child with additional needs can grow and develop and you can progress to accessing other SEND services such as local Autism support groups or other SEND friendly activities.
Join our Zoom Peer Support Group
If you live in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire get ready for the weekend by joining us for online peer support from your fellow mothers, in an open and non-judgemental space, to talk about whatever is on your mind.
We will have a Weekly Theme and space to talk about your go to activities when you are stressed perhaps…. Exercise & Movement/Puzzles & Reading/EastEnders & Hollyoaks share whatever you find works for you and get ideas from others. We will close with some gentle mindfulness techniques so we can all leave the space safely and grounded to carry on with our day and into the weekend.