THERE were smiles all round as young mums and little ones celebrated the launch of a new teenage parent super group in Winton.

Following declining numbers at teenage parent support groups across Bournemouth the super group is being launched in the hope of attracting more young families.

The group, which is operated by Bournemouth Borough Council via the Young Parents Team, will provide support and guidance to young mums and mums-to-be at the Salvation Army building in Latimer Road.

“We’re working in partnership with the Integrated Youth Service, local children’s centres and the Midwives Sunshine Team,” explained Tara Civil, manager of the Young Parents Team.

“We have been running teenage parent groups for 16-and-a-half years across the whole of Bournemouth.

“We found the number of young people attending was dropping for many reasons and we weren’t meeting their needs.”

Mrs Civil said the new set-up would be reviewed at the end of July but was confident the super group would appeal to more young mums and dads.

She said: “We stopped all the groups before Easter and are launching a super group here in Winton because it’s central and on the bus route.

“If it’s got enough to offer, people will come and I’m convinced they will.”

Becca Reynolds, who attended the launch on Wednesday last week with her one-and-a-half-year-old son Max, said she thought the group would appeal to young parents.

The 19-year-old said: “I went to a support group in Kinson and they were really nice. I definitely think people will come here.”

Roxy Lyons, aged 17, said she was looking forward to taking her four-week-old son Dylan to the group.

She said: “You get to meet with the other mums and there’s a very relaxed feel here.”

As well as the super group for young mothers, the centre will also be providing neonatal classes to expectant mothers.

For more information about the services available, call the Teenage Parent Team on 01202 580634.