The Essex Peer to Parent Network have created a brand-new closed Facebook group for mums, dads, and partners across North Essex. Parents who are expecting a baby or have a baby under one year can now connect with others by accessing the free ‘North Essex Peer to Parent Community’ Facebook group.
If you can help to advertise this new resource to parents, please download our comms pack, which includes example social media posts and images, background information on the Essex Peer to Parent Network and the benefits of peer support and an A5 flyer about the new Facebook Group.
About the Group
Emotional highs and lows during pregnancy and early parenthood are natural and normal. However, sometimes the lows can feel overwhelming or confusing. Parents can feel unsupported or isolated from friends and family, have feelings of loneliness, anxiety, other worries such as financial or housing issues, or just feel like it’s hard to cope.
Connecting with other parents who have been there too can be very reassuring. Trusting relationships help us to share our worries, whether big or small, and offer opportunities for gaining tips and ideas to get through those difficult days. A friendly, confidential listening ear can make all the difference.
The North Essex Peer to Parent Community Facebook Group has therefore been created to offer a space where expectant and post birth parents meet together, prepare for labour and birth and feel confident during the early days of parenthood. Trained parent moderators are on hand to listen and offer relevant, quality information, including activities going on in North Essex, and services available during this life changing time.
Members will also be able to hear from local practitioners, find out about local events to promote wellbeing and will be encouraged to share their own knowledge and experiences too, to create a truly supportive parenting community.
Weekly virtual sessions
Members of the new Facebook Group (‘North Essex Peer to Parent Community’) will also be able to access a weekly online group session, run by trained peer supporters. The topic each week will be decided by the group.
Full details of these sessions, including how to join will be shared in the Facebook Group.
Please note: these sessions are only available to members of the Facebook Group.
How to join
You can search Facebook for the ‘North Essex Peer to Parent Community’, or go direct via this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/northessexp2pcommunity
Parents will be asked 3 quick questions when they request to join. This is to ensure the group remains relevant, and that members are either expecting a baby or have had a baby during the past 12 months and live in the North Essex area. We warmly welcome all parents who fit these criteria to join us!