Parents 1st is a Charity which specialises in peer support during the key life change of pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent. We provide peer support to families across Essex, more specifically, less advantaged communities. The approaches we use are based on clear and strong evidence of what works across the UK. As we all know, pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent is a life changing experience. We pride ourselves in providing knowledge and increasing the confidence of new parents as they settle into their new roles. Babies thrive in a happy and responsive environment, so it is important to create a setting where new parents can feel positive and confident in themselves and their abilities. Every parent deserves support, and every baby deserves the best possible start in life! The heart of our work is ‘bridging the gap’ between more isolated or vulnerable parents and professionals’ services. We achieve this by harnessing help from within, building on the skills of experienced and trustworthy parents who live in these communities. Our passion is promoting community owned and effective peer support programmes that are delivered by and for local parents. We have developed an innovative ‘Pregnancy Pal and Birth Buddy’ programme in South Essex and support over 800 expectant and new parents each year. Our volunteer Pregnancy Pals and Birth Buddies are mothers, fathers, grandparents or carers who have personal qualities and life experience. They are ambassadors for their communities and are drawn from the same areas as the expectant and new parents they support. They establish trusting peer relationships as early as possible during pregnancy and offer support throughout pregnancy, during labour and birth if needed, and onto early family life. We also run a variety of coffee mornings, classes and workshops to provide extra support and important information to our local communities. From exercise sessions, antenatal classes and first aid to support specifically for dads, we have something for everyone! If you require support, you can visit our website below, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions!
