A pilot peer-support programme run by a charity for vulnerable pregnant women and mothers has been given 370,000 to expand.
The Big Lottery Fund awarded the money to Family Action after anevaluation of the pilot in Southwark showed improvements in therelationship and mental health outcomes of mothers and babiesinvolved.
The programme targets mothers who are vulnerable to mental healthproblems including teenage mothers and asylum seekers. It involvesgiving intensive support to the mother throughout her pregnancy and thechild's first year. It is delivered by Family Action and members of thecommunity who have themselves had experience of mental healthissues.
It will now be delivered in deprived areas of Oxford and Hackney, aswell as West Mansfield and West Norfolk, where teenage pregnancy ratesare high.
