A SUPPORT group for pregnant women who experience social adversity and isolation has been awarded £10,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All fund.

Solace Peer Support, based in Bournemouth, provides holistic peer support to women during pregnancy and the initial postnatal period, in addition to birth partner support.

The impacts of social deprivation during pregnancy and the initial postnatal period can impact in across all aspects of life, both short and long term.

Emma Arran, Director of Solace Peer Support said: “Building social support and reducing isolation at the earliest opportunity can significantly improve the experiences of pregnant women and new mums with challenging circumstances.

“For some women their journey through pregnancy, birth and the initial postnatal period, is shaped by high levels of social adversity, trauma and isolation.

“Giving your child the best start to life can be very difficult when facing the stress of homelessness or poor housing, extreme poverty and a range of other social challenges.”

The group are looking to recruit peer support workers and strongly encourage applications from people with related ‘lived experience’ or experience in working in support roles in health and social care.

Solace Peer Support will be holding a training course at the end of this month to help support women overcome social adversity during pregnancy.

The Level 2 Perinatal Peer Support course, made possible thanks to funding from Matrix Causes Fund, will be run Tuesday January 28, Wednesday January 29 and Friday January 31 from 9.30am to 2.30pm at a venue in Boscombe.

Participants will need to complete all three days and the assessment tasks to achieve the qualification. The venue will be confirmed on booking.

For more information please contact Emma Arran: emma_arran2@outlook.com.

Home Start South East Dorset have joined forces with Solace Peer Support to provide a Bumps and Beyond group at West Howe Children’s Centre.

The group is part of a number of Haven Support groups run by Home Start South East Dorset in the local community and funded by the Dulverton Trust.

Emma added: “This is a support group for pregnant women and new mums; the focus of the group is promoting self-esteem, reducing isolation and promoting access to other support at the Children’s Centre and wider community.”

For more information about Home-Start and referrals to this group please contact Bumps to Beyond group by email to: office@homestartsoutheastdorset.org.uk.