London charity helps young mums thrive

Young mothers and their children take part in stay-and-play sessions in south-east London

Young mums experiencing poor mental health are being helped by a charity in south-east London that was formed with funding from BBC Children In Need.

Mental health charity MumsAid, which offers specialist counselling, set up Young MumsAid 10 years ago to provide support to teenage mothers and their babies.

Kelly Jordan, from the charity, says Young MumsAid aims to give those it helps "a different life to the one they’ve had".

Tyler, who had her son when she was aged 17 during the Covid lockdowns, says the weekly sessions "reduce being alone, especially being a young mum - it’s really hard".

Tyler had her baby during the Covid lockdowns

At the charity's weekly stay-and-play session, 22-month-old Hazael is stomping and roaring dinosaurs around a tray of squidgy shower gel.

Meanwhile, Eddie, aged three, bounces on a little trampoline, while two-year-old Jordan pushes a mini-pram around the courtyard.

Their mothers join in with the play, or talk quietly with the charity workers and volunteers who also attend the sessions.

Most of the mums have been referred to the charity by midwives, social workers or healthcare professionals. They often live in unsuitable or insecure housing, with many having faced difficulties during their lives.

"The majority of the girls we work with are struggling with their mental health. The majority have been through trauma themselves," explains Kelly, who is the charity’s advocacy worker.

She says what the women tend to need most is "someone to be kind" and "a safe space where they can go, without judgement for a bit of advice".

The charity therefore provides specialist support for pregnant young women and new mothers, aged up to 21 years, to give them and their babies the best chance in life.

Young MumsAid was set up 10 years ago

Lacey sneaks out of the stay-and-play session to talk to us, leaving her son Jordan with Kelly and the team.

"Everyone has different reasons for coming to the group but we’re all based around mental health and therapy and if we need to talk, Kelly’s there. Or I feel like the other young mums understand what you’re going through because they’re going through it as well," she says.

Before long Jordan comes over, upset to be away from his mum. Lacey bundles him up on to her lap along with baby Finley, who is one month old, to soothe his tears.

“I love being a mum,” says Savarnah

Savarnah has been supported by Young MumsAid for two years, since her daughter Zolani was born.

She says: "Therapy with MumsAid was a big part that helped me process what I was going through. Because I was going through 101 things at the same time, while caring for a baby."

"I love being a mum," she adds, as Zolani comes over for a cuddle.

The BBC Children In Need funding, which arrived 10 years ago, allowed MumsAid to start an advocacy service for the young mothers.

Kelly says: "What the counsellors realised is that the young girls could not fully move forward in their therapeutic journey because they needed practical help.

"One of them didn’t have a washing machine, they didn’t have anywhere to live - so it was very hard to emotionally and therapeutically move forward without someone practically helping."

“They go the extra mile," says Heather about Young MumsAid

Heather has been guided through various issues by the charity since she became a mother.

"They go the extra mile. They literally go above and beyond," she says.

"This young mum’s group has been amazing - they’ve just done everything."

Seven-month-old Nakiyah-Rose appears to agree, as she smiles and coos through our interview.

Ultimately the charity wants to break generational trauma and improve the life-chances of these children. It offers consistent support through the children’s early years.

The mums talk about going into further education and eventually finding jobs that will work around childcare or its cost.

The support network from Young MumsAid gives them a good start on that journey.