London Borough of Redbridge’s Post

Family hubs and Sure Start children's centres share similarities in their aim to support families and children, but there are distinct differences in their scope and focus and Labour need to build this into their future plans, we cannot go back, we must go forward Labour Party (UK) **Sure Start Children's Centres:** 1. **Origin:** Sure Start children's centres were established in the UK in the late 1990s with the aim of providing integrated services for children under five and their families, particularly in areas with high levels of disadvantage. 2. **Target Population:** Primarily focused on families with children under the age of five. 3. **Services:** Offered a range of services including early education, childcare, health and family support services, and parenting classes. 4. **Location:** Typically located in areas identified as needing additional support, often in disadvantaged communities. 5. **Funding:** Funded by the government and had specific eligibility criteria for families to access services. **Family Hubs:** 1. **Origin:** Family hubs are a broader concept that has absolutely evolved from the Sure Start children's centres. They aim to provide integrated support and services for families with children of all ages, not just those under five. 2. **Target Population:** Aim to support families with children of all ages, from birth to adulthood. 3. **Services:** Offer a wider range of services including childcare, early education, parenting support, employment and training advice, health services, and activities for children and families. 4. **Location:** Can be located in a variety of settings including community centres, schools, or other public buildings, and are not limited to disadvantaged areas. 5. **Funding:** Funding sources can vary, including government funding, grants, and partnerships with other organisations. In summary, while Sure Start children's centres focused primarily on children under five and are often located in disadvantaged areas, family hubs offer a more comprehensive range of services for families with children of all ages and can be located in a variety of settings. #labourmustgoforward #buildonSureStartFamilyHubs #bothAMAZING #Earlyhelpinboth

Premature Birth Hospital Stay Benefit - part of our new Zurich UK Pregnancy & Early Childhood Cover (PEC), but why is it important? Research from Bliss, a charity representing babies born premature or sick tells us that 1 in 7 babies born in the UK are admitted to a neo-natal unit each year. For these babies, the average length of stay can change based on the completed weeks of pregnancy: Less than 28 weeks: 92 days 28-31 weeks: 44 days 32-36 weeks: 12 days Full term: 4 days During a difficult time, additional costs will be incurred for the parent, such as travel, parking, accommodation and meals, plus there may be indirect costs such as additional childcare costs for siblings. Bear in mind that the hospital may not be in the customer's home town. PEC includes a valuable Premature Birth Hospital Stay Benefit before the 37th week of pregnancy of £50 per night, payable from the 7th night for up to 30 nights. Seeing this happen first hand with both family and friends really highlights the difficulties that anyone finding themselves in this situation can face. Whilst we can't prevent premature birth from happening, the right protection can provide a helping hand when it does. Take a look at our adviser guide to Children's Cover for further information on our Children's Cover options and PEC: https://lnkd.in/euMUHiKg Source: https://lnkd.in/eg22CF74 #zurichinsurance #protection #lifeinsurance #consumerduty

Speaking on a panel on how companies can better support workers through pregnancy loss – organised by baby charity Tommy’s – Drew Gibson, head of inclusion, belonging and wellbeing at Santander UK, warned that ideas of a ‘normal’ pregnancy were holding back progress on supporting employees returning to work after experiencing loss. Delegates were told that one in four pregnancies end in loss in the UK, but there are currently no specific legislative standards in place to support those going through the experience. Speaking on the panel at Tommy’s ‘Policy to practise: supporting employees through all pregnancy journeys’ event, Gibson said: “When it comes to organisational policy, or government policy or legislation, it's still just the starting point, and it's focused on what a typical pregnancy or parenting journey looks like. If there's one thing to take away, it's that it doesn't exist.” #HRNews https://lnkd.in/eYF_6b9g

Our founder Maggie Gordon-Walker was honoured to be included in The Big Issue’s 100 Changemakers 2024. However, at the same time as receiving this excellent recognition, we have had to take the heartbreaking decision to pause our life-saving work with mothers; over half being new, first-time parents, many of whom have suffered birth trauma. We simply can’t afford to keep going. This really hurts, as we know too many women are suffering in silence. It seems almost every week there is a news item about a crisis in maternity care: unsafe hospital wards, shortage of midwives, over 11,500 new mothers unable to access mental health care. They are forced to deal alone with anxiety, loneliness and postnatal depression, and in more serious cases postpartum psychosis that can emerge after the birth. As an entirely peer-led network, since 2008, over 2000 women have benefitted from our post-natal groups using facilitated discussion and guided arts activities. Our non-judgmental, supportive groups inspire the mothers to take ownership of their lives going forward, knowing they have a community they can rely on. We operate on a shoestring, but we can’t exist on thin air. My co-director and I have been working on an almost voluntary basis for the last two months, desperately trying to bring in extra funds. If they don’t come soon, we will both have to seek other employment. Our lack of money is not through want of trying. Last year, we applied for nearly fifty funding opportunities. We received just ten, and most of those were for just a couple of thousand pounds.   The feedback was that there was nothing wrong with our bids, it was just the competitive landscape. A funder told me once informally; ‘Unless there is a threat to the child’s life, mothers will never be the priority when it comes to funding.’ And we are proof of that. The category of ‘mothers’ runs into the millions, a big amorphous mass of different needs and life circumstances. But if a mother isn’t supported properly, there is a very real risk to the health of the whole family and many studies conducted have proved this.   One of our five week groups, which supports eight mothers, costs about £1500 to run. That is the cost of a hospital bed for ONE night. Many past participants say attending has stopped them needing to receive further help.   Just this week, I was contacted by a health visitor asking if we had any of our birth trauma sessions scheduled. I explained our current position, which she was sorry to hear, ‘I have had really good feedback from mums who attended this month and feel it would benefit many more.’ If the NHS is struggling to support women because of stretched resources and small charities like Mothers Uncovered aren’t able to help women, what will the cost be? Heidi, a participant in our very first group, who subsequently became a facilitator, said ‘Mothers Uncovered saved me. There’s no other way of putting it.’    

Today is a significant day for pregnancy loss and for those affected by baby loss before 24 weeks. The government has introduced the baby loss certification scheme which will acknowledge all of those precious babies and give validation of their loss. This means so much to Aching Arms UK - the baby loss charity and to all who are part of this charity and the wider network. A huge thank you to all those who campaigned to see this change enacted. Losses before 24 weeks are often dismissed and the impact of these losses not recognised or minimised. This is a huge step forward but there is so much more to be done to support those affected. This is why the workplace training provided by Aching Arms UK - the baby loss charity is so very important. We would ask you all to take this moment to reflect on your own company's policies and HR support. Do you have adequate policies in place which cover pregnancy and baby loss? We recognise that this is a hugely sensitive topic and that is why we are passionate about supporting businesses to make the necessary changes and investment in training for the wellbeing of all of their employees. Let's use today to continue to make lasting change to support those who need it most. Please get in touch so we can support you to support those affected by such heartbreaking loss. #babyloss #babylosssupport #pregnancyloss #mentalhealth https://lnkd.in/e6Ha_Rek

To Improve Maternal and Child Health, Include Fathers Fathers play a crucial role in family health year-round. Involved fathers reduce maternal stress, improving birth outcomes, and influence children's eating, sleeping, and behavior. However, 10% of new fathers suffer from postpartum depression, affecting their ability to bond with their children and support their partners, impacting the entire family's well-being. Despite this, many family support services overlook fathers. Communities can foster father-friendly environments, like Alameda County's Fathers Corps, which promotes positive images of fathers and ensures they feel welcomed in family services. Home visiting programs, such as Dads Matter-Home Visitation and Fathers and Babies, are also adapting to include fathers. At the state level, commissions in 12 states work to strengthen father support. Nationally, promoting men's mental health and screening all new parents for depression can provide early identification and care. Implementing the PRAMS for Dads survey could offer valuable insights into fathers' experiences. Fathers are central to family health. This Father's Day, let's commit to providing the necessary services to support them and improve maternal and child health. #Fatherhood #MaternalHealth #ChildHealth #MentalHealth #FamilySupport #CommunityEngagement https://lnkd.in/g3WCYH_H

In the past, the proverb "it takes a village to raise a child" referred to the community support new parents received. However, with changing societal dynamics like more women in the workforce and nuclear families living apart, that traditional village has, sadly, all but disappeared. To fill the void, many companies have emerged offering costly services like night nurses, postpartum meal delivery, lactation consultants, and even luxury "mommy retreats" with round-the-clock support. While these can be invaluable for sleep-deprived new parents, the costs are often exorbitant, turning postpartum care into a luxury only a privileged few can afford. Other developed nations provide institutional support through paid parental leave, home visits by nurses/midwives, and subsidized childcare. In contrast, the U.S. largely treats postpartum care as a private responsibility, exacerbating socioeconomic disparities. We can and SHOULD do better, by our mothers and children. Hired help can never fully replace the love and care from one's personal village. To truly support new families, and mothers in particular, whose needs are largely ignored by our society and government, policies prioritizing maternal health and universal childcare are needed, not just market-based solutions accessible to a privileged few.

Let me know if you'd like to learn more about our transition to serving pregnant and parenting women.

Read about the great progress our researchers have made with their study on “Maternity Group Homes for Young Mothers in Florida: A Mixed Methods Examination.” https://loom.ly/2I6jFMU Led by Dr. Melissa Radey and Dr. Shamra-Boel Studt, faculty members at the Florida State University College of Social Work , the findings from this Institute funded project provides insights on the state of Florida maternity group homes serving pregnant women and young mothers who are often facing numerous socioeconomic barriers, including foster care involvement and homelessness. “Our findings suggest that mothers face histories of adversity, crisis, and rejection before entering the maternity group home. Their history in foster care often created instability and difficulties in meeting their basic physical and psychological needs,” – Dr. Boel-Studt. In the article, Dr. Radey also stressed that “For maternity homes to best meet the needs of young mother, we need to understand their reach and functionality in the lives of those who stand to benefit from services. Providers can also benefit from understanding the struggles and hardships among maternity group home residents.” Visit our website to read more about this project: https://loom.ly/0YgfP30

Celebrating all the moms, mom figures, caretakers, and those who support us in raising our children. Let's also take a moment to recognize companies that empower mothers, break stigmas, and lead the way for change. Frida for the genius idea of "Momday," closing offices the day after Mother's Day. A true day off to spend however you please. Bobbie for changing the conversation on feeding and paving the path forward on change.  The Motherhood Center of New York for breaking down the stigmas on recognizing and receiving help for perinatal depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges. It is no coincidence these companies are run by mothers. To companies that are hiring - take note: If you’re looking for standout candidates to hire look no further than a mom. *Because 1 in 5 birthing people struggle with Postpartum Depression or Anxiety - and moms still show up and perform. *Because the US is one of the few industrialized countries that still DOES NOT have national paid leave - and moms still show up and perform. *Because the rising cost of childcare, not to mention finding childcare alone, forces many of us out of the workforce yet here we are - and moms still show up and perform. *Because very rarely do companies offer flexibility that coordinate with school schedules, or doctor appointments or sick days - and moms still show up and perform. I could tell you all the ways why I may be qualified for a role but my greatest work is being a mom. The Power of Moms!