Released on: 09 January 2024
New parents in Hartlepool can now access free mental health and infant feeding support, thanks to new funding secured by NCT.
NCT, the national charity for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, has been awarded funding from Hartlepool Borough Council to run trained peer-led infant feeding support groups across the community and in Family Hubs across the town.
NCT-trained peer supporters will start attending current health visitor and community groups from 2 January 2024, offering infant feeding information and support. They’ll also be available on the maternity wards at University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool.
The funding will also enable NCT to bring their pioneering Parents in Mind service to the area. NCT Parents in Mind is a service that provides targeted support to new parents struggling with their mental wellbeing, through NCT trained peer-led one-to-one or groups sessions.
In total, across the two new services an additional three local jobs have been created thanks to this work. The new roles include infant feeding peer supporters and perinatal mental health peer supporters.
Helen Lloyd, Head of Programmes at NCT, said: “As a new parent, it can be a struggle, mentally emotionally and physically to care for a baby. It takes time to feel confident and connected.
“From our national NCT Parents in Mind programmes that run throughout the UK, we know that with increased access to mental health and infant feeding support, new parents in Hartlepool can make decisions that are right for them and their family.”
The team are currently looking for infant feeding peer supporters and perinatal mental health peer supporters.
For more information about the service, please contact Janie Pengilly, Commissioned Services Manager at NCT at Janie.Pengilly@nct.org.uk.
