Parents 1st UK CEO, Celia Suppiah, explains the unique contribution that peer support offers during pregnancy, birth and beyond and how it supports Better Births outcomes through a continuum of personalised, informal support in the video below...
Celia has a background in midwifery and has over 30 years’ experience as a public health nurse. Her commitment to early prevention peer support began in Essex in 1990 when, working as a health visitor, she recognised that many parents feel fearful or wary of professionals. This led her to eventually leave the NHS and establish a ‘Community Parent’ volunteer peer support initiative.
Drawing on the strengths of local mothers living in disadvantaged communities, she found them uniquely placed to offer a different kind of support to parents during pregnancy, birth and the early years. The Essex programme became a national model of good practice and Celia began supporting other organisations to develop similar Community Parent programmes across the UK.
In the video below, Celia talks about why there is a need for change, why community-based peer support offers a different type of support that complements professional support. Collaboration and coordination can ensure a unique combination of support operates side by side.
Celia explains the huge difference that peer support can make during this critical life transition. The unique value of peer support, embedded alongside professional services, needs to be better valued and recognised.