Walking Mum’s Club
Support Walking Mum’s Club set up a network of support walks across Manchester for new parents and to expand to parents-to-be.Benefits
Identifying funding for local projects
Identifying funding empowers communities to deliver the solutions they have designed. Research has shown that staff who can offer mediation, guidance and support in the funding application and project process are as important to community groups as receiving the funding itself. Staff who have a good knowledge of the area and who needs support, enable funding to be accessed by more marginalised people and groups. Funding sometimes needs to come from multiple sources and Neighbourhood Health Workers save time being able to quickly identify multiple potential sources.
Peer support groups
Peer support refers to a process through which people who share common experiences or face similar challenges come together as equals to give and receive help based on the knowledge that comes through shared experience. Peer support groups aim to improve the well-being of attendees by providing increased social connections with their peers. Fostering relationships among people can help prevent significant mental health problems such as major depression and debilitating anxiety or help to cope with long term illnesses such as dementia. Peer Support groups offer a reassuring, confidential and safe place to talk to others about how problems or situations affect their lives.
Social activities – getting together with other people
Connecting with others is one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, five evidence-based actions which can improve personal wellbeing. Social connectedness has a strong positive impact on both physical and mental health. Increased social connectedness is linked to reduced mortality risk, healthier lifestyles and higher cognitive functioning. Socially well-connected people are more resilient, feel more able to take charge of their lives and less stressed.
Location
Citywide
Project Team
buzz Start Well Develop Well Team
Walking Mum’s Club - Walking Mums Club CIC Events | Eventbrite
Aim
To support Walking Mum’s Club to set up a network of support walks across Manchester for new parents and to expand the walks to parents-to-be.
Testimonial
Feedback from Becca, Project Lead, Walking Mum’s Club
"buzz reached out to Walking Mum’s Club (WMC) when we had just started out as a CIC in October 2020, in the early days, buzz helped to shape the WMC offering and provided invaluable insight into the sector, how to get started and moving (literally). WMC now work closely with buzz, benefitting from their knowledge of local networks, funding streams and insight in to the goals of the wider Manchester health economy. Moving forwards, members of buzz will act as trustees to WMC".
"Being a new initiative it has been reassuring to know that we have the knowledge and support of buzz, who will often respond to any question within a few hours. buzz have shared a wealth of resources and continue to link WMC with their many health and social care contacts and partners, promoting the work that we do via these channels and their social media pages".
"buzz have enabled WMC to connect our mums to different support networks. We are currently working together to bring these networks to our walks with buzz sourcing professional speakers through their contacts in the NHS. Our mums also greatly benefit from the wonderful initiatives buzz Start Well Develop Well team offer".
Evaluation
The walks continue to be very well attended. Some volunteers have been identified to deliver the walks to build capacity.
A funding application to Manchester Wellbeing Fund has been submitted. Training has been identified and we’re in the process of identifying different professionals to join the walks for Walk & Talk sessions, e.g. breastfeeding support worker, Midwife, Health Visitor, Paediatric First Aid etc.
Strategic Links
Identifying funding for local projects
Benefit |
Policy |
Empowerment |
NHS Five Year Forward View (Department of Health, 2014) |
Communities engaged in the design and delivery of local services |
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Addressing inequalities |
Fair Society, Healthy Lives (Institute of Health Equity, 2010) |
Peer support groups
Benefit |
Policy |
Increased mental wellbeing |
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Increased social connections |
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Shared knowledge & experiences |
Taking Charge of our Health and Social Care in Greater Manchester (GMCA, 2015) |
Help with problems/disabilities |
Healthy Lives, Healthy People (MH Government, 2010) Taking Charge of our Health and Social Care in Greater Manchester (GMCA, 2015) |
Lessen isolation and loneliness |
Manchester Population Health Plan |
Social activities – getting together with other people
Benefit |
Policy |
Social inclusion |
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Enabling resilient communities |
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Increased mental wellbeing |
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Helping people live healthier lives |
Healthy Lives, Healthy People (MH Government, 2010) The Manchester Locality Plan – A Healthier Manchester |
Contact
Dina Pieri, Neighbourhood Health Worker (South Locality), Start Well Develop Well
T. 07585 648 713
Brian Goodman, Neighbourhood Health Worker (North Locality), Start Well Develop Well
T. 0161 271 0566
Ben Talbot, Neighbourhood Health Worker (Central Locality), Start Well Develop Well
T. 07552249937
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