Parents 1st UK enables individuals with lived experience to take action in their own communities and deliver effective volunteering and peer support during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. We believe that every baby deserves the best possible start in life and that every parent is worthy of high-quality support to make that happen. We offer and develop life changing peer support for mothers, fathers, co-partners, birthing people & babies, building confidence in pregnancy and beyond.
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Quality peer support, starting in pregnancy, enables parents to keep well, feel supported and prepare for the inevitable changes ahead.
Peer supporters are intermediaries – as peers they can reach those who feel wary of, or anxious around healthcare professionals. Their informal approach feels reassuring to parents who fear being judged. The support they offer helps to build parents confidence, reduces social isolation, helps nip early difficulties in the bud and reduces pressure on maternity and early years services.
It really can make the difference of a lifetime!
In 2020 we launched an online community where good practice in perinatal peer support can be celebrated and shared. We share all our knowledge and resources for operating Community Parent volunteer programmes for free and invite other organisations to do the same.
The website guides users through an evidence-based method for designing, adapting and implementing a perinatal volunteer peer support initiative and is designed for anyone and everyone involved with perinatal peer support. We also offer additional bespoke support and a range of workshops to help new initiatives to hit the ground running.
Alongside our national work, we also directly provide 1:1 and group peer support services in Essex. All our learning from our local programme is shared on our website and all resources used in daily practice can be freely downloaded and adapted to suit other local contexts.
Read more about why Parents 1st was created.