Leading young people to a brighter future
27th September 2024
When given the support, inspiration, and encouragement to achieve their full potential, young people have the ability to become the leaders of the future.
Nurturing traits such as natural talent, an aptitude for learning, and dedication is vital in developing their leadership skills, so they can achieve ambitions and guide others towards success.
Young people in Essex with these outstanding skills are now able to pursue their dreams of reaching the top thanks to grants they have received.
A leadership legacy
In 2018, an ECF fund was established in memory of a young pilot, Ajvir Singh Sandhu – a talented and natural leader. Following Ajvir’s tragic death, his family wanted to help young people in Essex who showed similar leadership qualities or had the attitude, drive, and ambition to succeed in their area of interest.
The Ajvir Singh Sandhu Leadership Fund has now given grants totalling around £11,000 to help those excelling in sport, music, the academic world, and military disciplines.
Ajvir Singh Sandhu, who lived in Essex, was an exceptionally talented, trainee jet pilot in the RAF.
Having joined the air cadets at the age of 13, his natural abilities were quickly recognised, and he won several awards during his time with the squadron. Ajvir continued to develop his leadership qualities and academic prowess at Durham University, where he studied Geology and completed a master’s degree with first-class honours.
His dedication and determination culminated in joining the RAF in 2015, where his boyhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot began to come true. Training at the Linton-on-Ouse Academy, and opportunities to fly with the Red Arrows and the Slovakian Airforce, showcased his exceptional abilities.
Then, tragically, on April 30, 2016, the private light aircraft he was flying crashed near his training base in North Yorkshire and he died at the age of 25.
Despite his short life, Ajvir’s legacy inspired the creation of a charitable fund in his name, honouring his memory and supporting talented young people in Essex.
Amrik Sandhu, Ajvir’s father, says: “Recognising and nurturing leadership potential in young people is crucial for building a brighter future. By identifying traits such as natural talent, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to community, we can help them to become the leaders of tomorrow, allowing them to spread their wings and fly as high as Ajvir.”
Making a difference
The fund has already made a major difference to the lives of young people, including Rachel Ojo.
Rachel, who has lived in Basildon for most of her life, achieved exceptional results at school and is now on a graduate programme having studied philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford.
Passionate about climate change, Rachel was selected as a UK Youth Delegate to the COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates. Support from Ajvir’s Fund helped with the cost of attending the conference and gave her the opportunity to learn more about climate policies as she continues to represent the views of young people.
As a member of the Young Essex Assembly and the UK Youth Parliament, she led a nationwide youth consultation and delivered a speech in the House of Commons. As chair of the UK Youth Select Committee, she spearheaded a campaign on knife crime, consulting with government officials and receiving a BBC Teen Hero Award.
More locally, she volunteered in the library and care homes, and was chair of the Basildon Borough Youth Council where she led an anti-bullying project adopted by Essex Police, for which she received a Diana Award.
Nurturing ability
Also receiving support from Ajvir’s Fund is Lois Pankhurst, from Leigh on Sea, who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. She has been dancing since she was six and, following a rigorous audition process, was offered a place at the Royal Ballet School in London. Tring Park School for the Performing Arts also offered her a place on their Music Dance Scheme programme which she accepted. Lois was one of only three in her year to gain one of these prestigious opportunities.
Her principal at the Leonard Dance Academy, in Rayleigh, where she was a pupil says: “Lois is an exceptionally talented young lady. She is destined for big things and ballet is part of her soul. She is truly one of the most talented ballet dancers that I have had the pleasure of teaching.”
Lois’s mum, Melanie, adds, “It can be expensive to follow your dream and support from Ajvir’s Fund has been so enormously helpful. We enjoy keeping in touch and sharing Lois’s progress and success. We couldn’t be more grateful as without their support Lois would struggle to have the training that she needs to achieve her full potential.”
Investing in talent
“Providing financial support for Lois and Rachel was a unanimous decision for us. While they are following very different paths, there is a similar theme in their attitude to growing and succeeding, which aligns perfectly with our fund’s values,” Amrik explains.
The Ajvir Singh Sandhu Leadership Fund exemplifies how dedicated support and encouragement can help young individuals like these achieve their dreams.
ECF manages 180 charitable funds on behalf of donors who want to support a wide range of causes. A small number of these funds support individuals where finance is the barrier to them achieving their full potential or where they need help to overcome hardship. Where possible, it works in partnership with charities, schools, and other organisations to identify those who may benefit from support.
Last year, ECF gave grants totalling £185,958 to 131 individuals. These grants helped with the cost of education or training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, the arts, and sports. Additionally, they have provided opportunities to learn new skills and given support to those experiencing financial hardship, physical or mental health issues.
Get in touch
If you know a young person in Essex who needs support to achieve their ambitions and inspire others, please email Lisa Green.
T: 01245 355947
Improving Men’s Health
Women are often at ease with discussing their health issues, but men are notoriously reluctant to talk about such topics and to seek help when they need it.
This can mean that they have a higher rate of untreated conditions, including serious mental health problems which, tragically, can lead to suicide.
Essex Community Foundation (ECF) supports several local organisations which provide safe spaces where men can meet, share and learn skills and feel comfortable talking about their issues and concerns.
Over 50s Black Men’s Forum:
The Over 50s Black Men’s Forum (O5BM) was formed in 2018 as a non-profit community organisation to provide a support network for black men aged 50 plus who can be confronted by the double challenges of ethnic inequality and ageism.
Originally created by the black African community, the organisation has strong support and is currently run entirely by volunteers, with the aim of the supporting black men aged over 50 with issues including health, education, wellbeing, isolation, mental health as well as economic and employment matters.
Funding from ECF is helping the organisation with their online activities, social meetings, their regular forum meeting, small group walks and having guest speakers from various organisations to give helpful information and guidance on various topics.
Chidi Umeano, the Partnership and Engagement manager for the organisation, said: “We created our online platform to help give the support and services needed to reduce health, economic and social inequalities and respond to all the issues and concerns of the over 50s black male community. The platform is free to join and currently has a membership of 300 men.”
O5BM is the only organisation delivering holistic health service through provision of primary and secondary preventative education and intervention on all medical areas, as well as provision of five weekly mental health workshops and 160 Hours of physical activities per month across four locations nationwide, with two of the locations in Essex.
Essex Shed Network:
Men’s Sheds have made a huge difference across the country, providing places where men can get together, socialise, develop and use their skills and link with their local communities.
The Essex Shed Network has played an important role in helping such organisations become established in the county.
A not-for-profit partnership between Maldon & District CVS and CVS Uttlesford, and the Essex Shed Network provides support to anyone in Essex who wants to set up a Men’s Shed and also helps existing Sheds to ensure their sustainability.
Sarah Troop, director for Essex Shed Network said: “We are able to share our knowledge and expertise which has been developed through setting up several Sheds from an initial community idea. We provide help with funding applications, governance, health and safety, drawing up a code of conduct and more. We arrange training as well as regular events which bring Shedders from across the county together, to share their knowledge and experiences with each other, which ultimately strengthens the Network.”
Nationally and locally the shed network has gone from strength to strength, bringing men’s health to the fore and tackling mental and physical issues and social isolation. It is now a recognised way of helping men re-engage in the community, using skills such as carpentry, metalwork and a whole host of other activities to aid wellbeing, giving many men a much-needed sense of purpose and achievement.
Turning Corners:
The Turning Corners football group has been running since 2019, with weekly sessions at Lakeside Sports Ground, where team members can open up about their struggles.
It was set up after its founder, Chris Shields, attended a group in Lancashire to support recovery from addiction and mental health. He decided he wanted to give back and help others in Essex facing similar challenges.
The success of the group has been recognised in several ways, with Chris being given a “One in a Million Award” from Active Essex. He was also nominated for a Civic Award and was a finalist for the “Stronger Together Community award”.
Chris Shields, founder and leader of the group, said: “The club is for people of all abilities, aged over 18 and we welcome people who have experienced or are experiencing substance misuse, poor mental health or social exclusion. Football is great way of tackling challenges such as substance misuse and alcohol-related problems.
“The men come from diverse backgrounds, black and ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum seekers. Weekly football matches are arranged on Fridays for 90 minutes where men take part in physical activities that improve mental health.
“Our aim is to reach out to men who would not necessarily engage with local mental health services and stand the risk of slipping through the net. We have 70 members in a WhatsApp group and one of the unique features of the football programme involves carefully selecting different men into groups. The group selection helps to create team spirit and a peer-to-peer support system that encourages and supports the members.”
BCCS:
Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society (known as BCCS) recognised that more has to be done to help boys with their health and have expanded their work to meet this need.
Bernadette Fisher, Director of BCCS, said: “We have been operating for 40 years, with our key aim being to ensure the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people who access our service. We aim to intervene and offer support, therapy, guidance or consultation as soon as issues are identified, so that we can ensure sustainable outcomes for a child or young person.
Our work has evolved into a holistic provision. “Whilst our biggest undertaking is the one-to-one work we do in schools with children, we also support staff and parents/carers. Our schools-based provision is only a part of our work – we provide therapeutic support to children, young people and families in our dedicated counselling rooms at our head office.
“We are proud and privileged to provide a caring, professional service to children irrespective of their background or religion and now work in a wide variety of schools – Catholic and non-Catholic – across Essex and East London.
“Our statistics highlighted that approximately 75 per cent of our caseload is girls and this continues to concern us. Working with schools to offer generic, nonintrusive, targeted support will mean that boys will have a positive experience of talking things through.
“We want to encourage boys to discuss the way language influences them. Phrases such as “man up” unconsciously shape what they feel is acceptable behaviour. We also look at the media’s approach to these topics, including public figures being “cancelled” for their statements or behaviour and the difficulty of talking about these topics without people feeling personally attacked.
“Conversations about male mental health are encouraged, including the concerning statistics around male suicide and the disparity between the numbers of men who are diagnosed with a mental health disorder and those feel able to accept interventions offered. Engaging with boys will continue to be our focus for the next academic year, the work having already begun in collaboration with our schools.
“It is really encouraging for boys to learn about organisations such as men’s groups and sports teams designed specifically to offer spaces in which men can feel supported to talk about their difficulties.”
Facts:
- Suicide is the single largest cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK.
- More than 90 per cent of people who die by suicide struggle with their mental health and/or addiction.
Hew Watt Family Charitable Fund hits grantmaking milestone
21st August 2024
Thanks to the generosity of one family, we have been able to award over £1 million to local voluntary and community groups in Thurrock.
The Hew Watt Family Charitable Fund was transferred to us nearly 20 years ago. Hew and Molly have both sadly died, but we work with their daughter, Trudy, to agree grants from the fund and support local causes as well as introducing her to emerging issues affecting people in Thurrock.
Hew and Molly farmed in Orsett for over fifty years. Hew trained at Writtle Institute of Agriculture and later became a writer and broadcaster. He received an OBE for his services to agriculture.
Trudy said: “I was surprised and very pleased to learn that the Fund has reached the milestone of awarding £1m in grants since it was set up with ECF in 2005. Shortly after the deaths of my parents, the trustees of their charitable trust agreed to pass its management over to ECF, and I am so pleased that they did.
“We have been able to support some incredible local projects over the years, just as my parents would have wanted, most of which we would have never known existed.
“Thank you ECF for helping my family make a difference to a community we care so deeply about and keeping my parents’ legacy alive.”
Two of the projects that have received support from the Fund are Welcome to the UK and Essex Wildlife Trust.
Last year, we awarded a grant to Welcome To The UK to expand their work into Grays, supporting families from overseas to help them to engage positively with their local community. This includes English language classes, advice and support, and friendship groups.
In 2012, we awarded £35k to Essex Wildlife Trust for the new visitors centre at Thameside Nature Park in Thurrock. If you visit, you will find there is a room named after Hew and Molly and this was a great project to support in their memory given their love of nature.
Sir David Attenborough was invited to open the new centre in 2013. Trudy was deeply moved when, unexpectedly, Sir David paid a personal tribute to Hew, with whom he had worked. He said “Hew was a remarkable, marvellous and vigorous man. He was characteristic of the way that people keep public welfare in their minds to produce places like this.”
If you would like to talk with us about how we can help you leave a legacy to your community or work with you and your family in your lifetime, please contact Perry Norton.
Promoting Fairness
Justice, fairness and support for disadvantaged people were the strong principles that leading Essex solicitor Christopher Holmes championed throughout his life.
He put his beliefs into action, during his 48-year career with Birkett Long Solicitors and in his vast array of voluntary roles in the community.
As well as being the driving force behind the building of Colchester’s St Helena Hospice, Christopher also played a pivotal role in establishing Essex Macmillan Cancer Support and was a founding member of Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust.
In the role of Deputy Lieutenant of Essex, he was a positive force for good in the county’s important events, but he relished grassroots involvement too, including being a school governor, a trustee for the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and as a parish and district councillor. Such an outstanding record of public service was recognised with an OBE.
Sadly, Christopher died in 2010 from a brain tumour, which was diagnosed soon after his retirement from Birkett Long, where he was a highly respected and much-loved Senior Partner. But his passion for helping people lives on, through the Christopher Holmes Charitable Fund, established in his memory with ECF.
Martin Hopkins, Managing Partner at Birkett Long said: “Chris was admired for his tireless work, supporting so many local charities, always willing to be involved in his local community. It was typical of him that the role he seemed most proud of was being chairman of the Earls Colne Good Companions Group in his home village, a position he held from the age of 32.
“As one of Chris’s partners in Birkett Long he encouraged and supported me. He became a very good friend of my whole family, and we were lucky enough to spend time with him, both when he was well and to have the privilege of looking after him when he was unwell.
“Before he died, Chris discussed with me that he intended to set up a fund with ECF and that he wanted me, my wife Rachel and our three children to act as advisers to ECF in distributing grants from the fund.
“The longevity of the fund is clearly visible when you look at the numbers” explains Martin. “Chris’ legacy had a value of £630,000 when it was set up and was matched with £220,000 under a government programme that was available to Community Foundations at the time. Its latest value is £842,000 and since it was established, the fund has distributed 80 grants with a total value of more than half a million pounds. As grants are awarded each year, this latter number will steadily increase year on year.
The fund aims to support those who have suffered unfairness and injustice, with particular interest in disadvantaged children, to increase literacy and numeracy in schools, improve care at home for the terminally ill, better support for asylum seekers and improved rehabilitation of offenders. These reflect the golden threads which ran through Chris’s attitude to life, his sense of fairness, justice and support for marginalised people.
Martin said, “Chris always emphasised that the whole basis of his life was that he loved people from all walks of life. He said he inherited that from his parents, who were both community minded. Although he did not marry and have a family of his own, Chris said he felt lucky that families seemed to come to him.”
Martin’s daughter, Polly Hopkins, has always been involved in the family discussions about which charities to support and says she was inspired by Chris and his fund to take up a career in the charitable sector herself.
Speaking at ECF’s spring reception held at Layer Marney Tower earlier this year, Polly said: “I am so grateful for my involvement from a young age with charitable giving. Chris’s legacy is a lesson in generosity, kindness and philanthropy that I have carried into my adult life. Currently, I work for a charity called GamCare, who provide treatment and support for those experiencing gambling harms. Chris’s passion for and commitment to helping those most marginalised by society has had a significant role in determining my career choice. My involvement with ECF as a teenager has had a profound impact on my career and has brought me much fulfilment personally.
“Our family could not have had such a positive experience, both managing the scale of the Christopher Holmes Charitable Fund and giving as much money as we have to so many good causes, without the support and expertise of ECF.
“By providing us with assurances about the charities we give to, and managing the fund’s finances for us, ECF have given us the confidence to protect and continue Chris’s legacy for many more years to come. ECF have made such an effort to ensure that not only my parents, but also me and my brothers, have had opportunities to engage with the fund’s work, as well as wider ECF projects.
“Before Chris died, he explained where he wanted our family to direct the money from his fund. Every grant decision we take as a family is intended to reflect his wishes and his desire to help those that society pays less attention to.
“We have supported Ormiston Families and their work on their Breaking Barriers project, providing tailored one to one support for children affected by the incarceration of a family member. We have funded the Breaking Barriers Project in Essex since it was piloted 10 years ago and it has been incredibly rewarding to see the project grow and develop, meeting the challenges of the last few years and continuing to provide valuable support to those families that were so important to Chris.”
The ethos of charitable support and social responsibility, held so dear by Chris, is echoed in the principles of Birkett Long, which has offices in Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester. The firm recently established a corporate charitable fund with ECF to give grants which will help tackle disadvantage and boost community cohesion, health and wellbeing.
Martin Hopkins said: “We are a business which has always been embedded in and committed to the communities we serve. We have raised thousands of pounds in support of local charities over the years and setting up a long-term fund with ECF was a positive step for us to ensure our giving continues in the future.
“I am delighted that our Partners have supported a significant initial donation to establish our fund and look forward to working with our Events and Fundraising Committee as we build that endowment and make donations to support charities in our communities.”
Caption: (L-R) Polly Hopkins, Nick Alston CBE DL, Chair of ECF, Tina Hart, Regional Manager at Ormiston Families and Martin Hopkins attending ECF’s Spring reception at Layer Marney Tower
Ormiston Families
One of the projects supported by Chris’s Fund and ECF is Ormiston Families. The charity works across the East of England, offering services to help children and their families who are affected by the imprisonment or offending behaviour of a relative. They provide early support for people experiencing mental and emotional problems and run a wide range of family services in local communities.
Tina Hart, Regional Manager at Ormiston Families said, “We have helped approximately 200 children across Essex through the Breaking Barriers programme. The impact of familial imprisonment can be long lasting. It disrupts family life, can lead to poor mental health, involve negative school experiences and cause a lack of trust in others, resulting in unhealthy relationships and behaviours.
“Breaking Barriers provides a safe space where children and young people can talk, play and express themselves. It enables them to explore their feelings and break down some of the barriers which may prevent them from maintaining positive ties with their imprisoned family member.
“Through tailored one-to-one support Breaking Barriers reduces anxiety around prison, supports emotional wellbeing and school attendance.”
In the UK every year it is estimated that 312,000 children have a parent in prison. Currently there is no statutory framework to identify these children, so the number is likely to be higher. It falls upon charities and services like Ormiston Families to give support to children and families who find themselves in this situation. Studies have shown that 65% of boys with a convicted parent go on to offend themselves. Ormiston Families believes this number is not predetermined and with Breaking Barriers intervention this number can be reduced.
Tommy’s Story, by Tina Hart, Regional Manager at Ormiston Families:
Tommy was 13 years old when his brother was arrested, charged, and imprisoned for a serious offence and it was at this point everything changed for Tommy.
Prior to this event Tommy was a happy teenage boy. He loved playing football and sports with his friends, he enjoyed a game of chess with his brother and was a good student.
Tommy had lived in Essex all his life, his wider family to whom he was very close, all lived nearby. Following the arrest and imprisonment of his brother, Tommy’s life imploded at an age when an adolescent is establishing their identity and autonomy. Tommy was having to question everything he thought he knew.
Due to the nature of the crime, the story was reported in the media and widely shared on social media platforms. The local community and even their own family turned against Tommy and his mum, leaving them isolated and carrying the stigma of a crime they themselves had not committed.
It was for this reason Mum took the decision to relocate to where no one would know who they were, and they would not need to tell anyone about what had happened to them. As you can imagine this is a huge burden to carry.
We often talk about loss, the hidden harm to children affected by the imprisonment of a loved one, and how the feelings are not dissimilar to a bereavement, minus the care and empathy.
Tommy had suffered a great deal of loss. The loss of his beloved brother, his family, his home and the place he grew up, school and friendships and even the loss of the financial security due to Mum having to close her business.
When we met Tommy, he was struggling to engage with education due to a deterioration in his mental health, he was reluctant to accept support. Eventually he did agree to meet with a breaking barriers practitioner, on the understanding that they played chess with him and didn’t ask questions.
On his own terms Tommy shared that he found it difficult to talk about his feelings and he felt angry with his brother saying, ‘he’s ripped the family apart’.
Following the initial session Tommy began to refuse to see the practitioner, but she would show up every week as planned and sometimes she would speak with Mum offering a listening ear and advise on what she could do to help Tommy.
Like most parents she was desperate for Tommy to make friends, go to school and be happy again.
Tommy came to realise that at Ormiston, we don’t give up easily and he began to engage again. It was then that he explained how much he wanted to go to school, but each time he tried it felt like an invisible barrier was there that he just couldn’t get past. Tommy asked if this was something that we could help him with.
Tommy’s goal was to understand his feelings of anxiety, recognise the triggers, the physical signs and symptoms and learn some strategies to help him manage these feelings.
Tommy told us he was feeling under pressure to return to school before he was ready, and this was causing him more anxiety. He asked the practitioner if she could advocate for him at a school attendance meeting. The practitioner helped Tommy to write down what he wanted to say, and she would be his voice.
This was a huge turning point for Tommy, he was able to tell someone what he was feeling and have his voice heard and listened to.
By the end of our intervention Tommy told us he was ready to return to school in the new term. He went to an attendance meeting and with the support of Mum and his breaking barriers practitioner was able to talk to school about a manageable return to school plan.
He was given access to the school gym at times when it was quiet so he could get out and engage in an activity that he enjoyed, and which was good for his mental health. Tommy also began to reach out to friends old and new.
Tommy asked Mum if she would reach out to their family as he missed his cousins. Mum agreed to find a way to make this happen. Tommy now goes out regularly. He takes his dog for walks and he plans to go to college.
At the end of the intervention, Tommy told us that he enjoyed his sessions, and it has made him want to do more things. He said, ‘I’ve gone from sad to happy’.
Networking for private client professionals
The Mersea Island Vineyard was the venue for our latest private client professional advisers lunchtime networking event. Since 2022, we have held ten of these networking events at venues around the County, including Layer Marney Tower near Colchester, Marks Hall near Braintree, Hatfield Place near Chelmsford and Southend Airport. Around 50 guests joined us in Mersea, and the event was kindly sponsored by the Chartered Accountants, Streets Whittles.
Since we started these events, in total around 475 private client advisers have attended, representing approximately 60 local businesses. At each event, we aim to explain the broad reach of our work supporting several hundred charitable and voluntary organisations in our communities across Essex each year. Advisers hear first hand from donors and supporters who are already working with us about a topic of specific interest to advisers.
At the Mersea Island Vineyard event, ECF trustee Sandra Hollis, who is chair of our fund development committee and Andy Payne Worpole, our director of policy and programmes, discussed the challenges that local charities have faced over the last five years, looking at what the future might hold and how we are helping them. Previous topics have included how we work with advisers and their clients to donate locally with confidence that their gifts are making a real lasting difference.
Perry Norton, head of development said, “These events are a great opportunity for private client professionals from across Essex to meet and network, learn about issues in local communities and listen to talks from those who work with us.
“The feedback we have received is that they are interesting to attend and really helpful for advisers as they think about their individual clients and how they can help them to give money to charities in their local community, either in their lifetime or by leaving a legacy if that is something they want to do.
“We are grateful to Streets Whittles for hosting our latest event and all our past sponsors for helping us to hold these events, and to our venue hosts for enabling us to bring people together who have an interest in making a difference in their local community.”
Dan Insley, partner of Streets Whittles, who heads up the firm’s Mersea office explains why they felt it was important for them to be a sponsor:
“In providing funding to ECF for this event we are supporting both a long-standing client and one of the region’s most influential charities. In collaborating with the vineyard as the venue we are celebrating the best that Mersea Island can produce and by focussing on the private client side of our practice, we are acknowledging the importance of the many Mersea residents who trust us to advise them.”
If you would like to receive an invitation to our next event, or if you would like to discuss being a sponsor in future, please contact Dee Davies (dee@essexcf.org).
Putting Parents first
Expectant mums and new parents in Basildon, Thurrock and Canvey Island, who are struggling to cope, are being given life-changing support from a local charity dedicated to helping them and ensuring the best start in life for their babies.
Since 2010, Parents 1st has provided a Pregnancy Pal and Birth Buddy peer supporter programme, helping more than 1,000 parents a year.
Grants from the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF), have supported the charity’s work in Canvey Island, one of the most deprived areas in Castle Point, enabling a peer support worker to give vital one-to-one help to vulnerable mothers and partners.
Celia Suppiah, chief executive of Parents 1st said: “Becoming a parent is one of the most important stages of life. For many it is the most joyous experience, but for some it can be an isolating, worrying and even frightening time.
“The mothers, fathers and birthing people we work with often lack a support network and many have challenges including mental and physical ill health, money and housing worries and relationship issues.”
Coping with a pregnancy and a new baby in such circumstances can seem impossible, but the help being given by Parents 1st has proved to be a lifeline for hundreds of parents living in disadvantaged communities in Essex.
Celia said: “Becoming a parent is a critical life transition and skilled, non-judgemental, peer support during pregnancy, birth and beyond is life-changing for mothers, fathers and babies.
“Our aim is to ensure the best start in life for babies and help parents to become more resilient. The most vulnerable parents are often not confident enough to attend groups, so having a peer supporter on a one-to-one basis, who has “been there” and is by their side, can make all the difference.”
Celia used to be a midwife and when she was working in Tilbury, she became acutely aware that many mothers there felt judged and were not comfortable in busy formal appointments with a health professional. She said, “What mothers have said to us time and time again is that what we can provide makes them feel really listened to and that is fundamental in our work.
“We can be a go-between with services including health visitors, GPs and midwives and have referrals from them, as well as some self-referrals. The difference is that we can develop a more long-term warm relationship with parents and go on the whole journey with mothers and their partners. It is a privilege when mothers let us get to know them and we can see their anxiety reducing and their confidence lifting.
“We provide empathy, tell them it is okay if they feel they are not coping. We offer alternative suggestions and help them set their own goals. We also have activities where parents can get together and form bonds which often turn into support networks.
“We are very grateful to ECF for the grants we have received towards our Pregnancy Pal and Birth Buddy programme. Our one-to-one support is offered by both volunteers and paid peer support workers. Supporting a woman or birthing person during pregnancy, and being by their side during labour and birth, is a unique and life changing experience for our volunteers and staff.
“Our peer support worker in Canvey Island meets pregnant women and their partners at the midwife clinic, helping with access to local services and activities and sharing a range of information about health and wellbeing, preparing for labour and birth, Healthy Start vouchers, baby bonding and breast feeding. She also runs informal antenatal information groups and coffee mornings, where pregnant parents form lifelong local friendships.
“When we see that a mum has created her own support network, we know that we have done our job.”
Zoe Brampton, Grants Manager at ECF said, “We know that being pregnant or a parent of a new baby can sometimes be stressful, especially if you are on your own and with no family to lend a hand. Parents 1st offers a lifeline for the families they support, and we are pleased that we have been able to help them expand their work.”
If you would like to support local charities or set up your own named charitable fund, call Perry Norton at ECF on 01245 355947 or email perry@essexcf.org.uk