MumsAid is a maternal mental health charity that was founded in 2012 to address the lack of support for mothers during pregnancy and after birth. We believe passionately that pregnancy and new motherhood can be an exciting, but also challenging, time, and that the right support can make a difference, not just to mothers but to the healthy emotional development of their babies, and the broader wellbeing of their families and communities.
Since its inception, MumsAid has delivered a growing programme of support during the perinatal period which has included:
We also have an active social media presence aimed at providing support to mothers and raising awareness.
Our therapy is open to women of all backgrounds, but we have a particular focus on marginalised groups within our local community, including mothers from Black and Global Majority backgrounds, single mothers, those on low incomes and parents of babies with medical conditions and additional needs. We also run YoungMumsAid, a programme that offers therapy and outreach support for teenage and young mothers with complex needs. We work primarily in Greenwich but have plans to expand our reach to new audiences and areas.
Impact
MumsAid's work has a proven positive impact on maternal mental health. A 2020 evaluation by The McPin Foundation found that: “MumsAid clients significantly improved in all outcomes after receiving the service (wellbeing, confidence, bonding, perceived stress), these improvements were dramatic and appeared to be maintained after the therapy was complete. Clients provided almost universally positive feedback about their experiences, including how important the service had been for them. MumsAid is not only providing essential support for the local area but is potentially providing a service which could be expanded into other areas.”
We have been highlighted by Public Health England as a case study for good practice in perinatal mental health, and since 2018 we have received three prestigious national awards: The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) Award for Inclusivity and Diversity; The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing; and Overall Winner of the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards.
