Tell us what difference peer support has made to you

Added by

Parents1st UK
on 27th October 2021

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Campaign

Help raise awareness of the value of perinatal peer support

What matters to me

Understanding peer support
Sharing my experience as a volunteer
Sharing my experience as a parent supported
Promoting the value of peer support

Interests

Volunteering and the difference it makes
Understanding the benefits of perinatal peer support

You want the best possible start for your baby, and we do too!

Whether you’re a professional, organisation, volunteer or parent we’d love to hear more about the peer support that is being offered across the UK! Tell us how you’re helping parents, or how peer support has helped you.

Our aim is to shine a light on the great work going on across the country and help other parents to be inspired to seek and offer support by raising awareness of the benefits peer support can provide.

Hearing real accounts of the difference it can make is so important to highlight how vital this work is and the need for continued investment in this area.

If peer support has helped you, or someone you know, please join the conversation below and share the difference it’s made. Simply click on the 'Make a comment' button to start.

Let’s help more parents benefit from the fantastic benefits that peer support can provide.

Comment added by shelleymcb | 2 yrs ago

From being a parent, training as a volunteer peer supporter to setting up an independent Not for Profit organisation that provides peer support for expectant and new parents - peer support has played a vital role in my personal and professional development. Having supported both parents myself and supervised volunteers with their peer support journeys, it still amazes me how safe & effective peer support can enable growth and confidence in such a reciprocal and authentic way. It is a unique dynamic and the feedback from parents, volunteers & professionals speaks for itself.

Philip | 2 yrs ago |

Test

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Comment added by Lisa Feeney | 2 yrs ago

Since joining Parents 1st over 10 years ago as a volunteer peer supporter I have never looked back. I have three children myself and had my first quite young, I remember feeling isolated and vulnerable at times. Because of this I felt I wanted to make a difference in my own community which is exactly what I have done. I find the role so rewarding, building that peer relationship with a expectant mum who is feeling a bit lost and seeing her confidence grow and to walk beside her on the journey becoming a new mum is so rewarding. I have now developed in my role and I am the coordinator of Essex Parents 1st, I am very passionate about peer support and have played a big part in the development of the programme over the year's. Its also very rewarding as a coordinator to see the journey the volunteer goes on with Parents 1st and watching them develop as a peer support worker.
Every day we make a difference !!!!

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Comment added by Jamie Harrop | 2 yrs ago

I had my daughter in 2016, at which point I was 22 years old. I felt so scared and lost sometimes because of the huge responsibility that I suddenly had over night, I know now that it's common to find it hard to connect with your baby but back then I thought there was something wrong with me and I was too worried to say anything. If I was aware of Parents1st I know the support definitely would of reassured me and been really helpful.
I become a volunteer peer supporter in 2019, the training itself personally took me on a journey of growth and a learnt a lot about myself. I am now a paid peer supporter and have been for a few months. I don't think there could be a more rewarding job if I'm honest, bringing a child into the world is the biggest most life changing thing anyone could do, so to be a part of that mothers journey is amazing. The mums I support often tell me they are so grateful to have someone that's just there for them to talk to when they need, and to be reassured that what they're feeling is normal so they don't feel so isolated.
I believe peer support is invaluable.

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Comment added by Terina Deville | 2 yrs ago

my journey from being a parent to a volunteer to a paid peer supporter has been a big eye opener for me. having 5 children of my own and one of them disabled. i have struggled and juggled with work life. but i love it, it is so rewarding to think ive put a smile on somebodys face is wonderfull to me. helping them talk through there emotions anxieties and physical health and leaving the visit with them smiling or laughing on the phone is so important and amazing. that is my reward :)letting them know people have been there too and they are not on there own. just a listening ear is so comforting to them. peer support workers are amazing people who only want to help and care for others to give them the best boost in there life at that moment:)

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Comment added by Sally Taylor | 2 yrs ago

One Mum said to me that the support she received from Parents 1st had made such a difference. At one point she wanted to give up, her Pregnancy Pal said all the right things and
encouraged her to do her best. The support, reassurance and knowing someone was there to talk really helped. She now feels amazing and really positive.

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Comment added by Sarah Kholia | 2 yrs ago

from my own experience of pregnancy's and motherhood, I really did begin to think if I had that extra bit of support what difference would that have made to me.
I started to volunteer in march 2019 and I did this for about a year supporting 4 - 5 mums in total. The reward of seeing these families thrive are second to nothing. I was employed by parents 1st may 2021 and the expansion of supporting families through one to one, antenatal online groups and starting to slowly meet up face to face has been incredible. we are able to network with agencies to further the support but sometime just being there for a chat is all the families need.
It has been an exciting journey so far, the learning, the experience, the fulfillment and enrichment is second to nothing. its a job I love and enjoy and come now so naturally to me and the benefits to families is one top on the list.
peer support is so special as its so relaxed yet so informative just by talking, sharing learning to make choices and confidence gives families the tools to a greater future. the goals are then never-ending.

Terina Deville | 2 yrs ago |

thats so lovely sarah x

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Comment added by Mandy Bradshaw | 2 yrs ago

I am just at the beginning of my peer supporter journey, as I have just completed my training and after an initial Zoom call with the mum-to-be that I have been matched with, I will be meeting her face-to-face for the first time at the weekend and I am really looking forward to it. On the Zoom call we spoke about things that she would like to cover at our next meeting, and I have gathered lots of evidence-based information and guidance so that we can talk through it all together. It has also been a great experience so far for me to meet and make new friends at the training, who will also be supporting parents and families at the same time as me. Looking forward to the months ahead and continuing on my volunteer peer supporting journey. It gives you a nice feeling to know that you may be making a positive difference to someone else's life. I think when I was pregnant with my first baby, if I had been supported by someone like a peer supporter some of my outcomes may have been different, especially around breast feeding and also babies sleeping patterns and the different stages that babies go through when they sleep.

Please sign in or register to make a comment.

Comment added by Emma | 2 yrs ago

Here at Derby Community Parent Programme CIC we are big believers in letting the feedback speak for itself.... this is one of our favourites from a parent who received one to one perinatal peer support from DCPP....

"Our position now our support is over is completely different to that when we started. We are almost debt free, moving into suitable, more affordable accommodation. We no longer have social care involvement and we’re in a much better place mentally too. I’ll forever be grateful for DCPP, the programme has truly changed my life, helped me make friends and most importantly made me a better parent."

Celia Suppiah | 2 yrs ago |

You've captured such an inspiring comment Emma - and one that reflects how profound peer support can be... it can be life-changing. How did the peer supporter feel to read this feedback? It must have been incredibly rewarding. I'm wondering also whether this parent might consider being a peer supporter in the future?

shelleymcb | 2 yrs ago |

The parent has already completed an expression of Interest to the programme to be considered for the next cohort of volunteer peer supporters :) The peer supporter was happy to hear the feedback and it boosted her confidence for future support also.

Please sign in or register to make a comment.