Parents praise Comic Relief funded family group

4 hours ago

Ethan SaundersAbbey Hulton and Bentilee

News image — Kelsey Franklin lives and works in Abbey Hulton and feels that groups put on by Thrive at Five are crucial

BBC A women with brown hair, thick black rimmed glasses and a white t-shirt. She is looking at the camera smiling. in her arms is a new born baby girl who is also smiling. — Kelsey Franklin lives and works in Abbey Hulton and feels that groups put on by Thrive at Five are crucial

Financially-stretched families say the support of a charity that puts on free sessions for parents with young children has been invaluable.

Thrive at Five, which receives grants from money raised through Comic Relief, helps people in deprived areas by offering support in family hubs around the country.

Two of the Staffordshire hubs, in Abbey Hulton and Bentillee, provide groups where families with children under five can socialise.

Carla Capstick, the charity's program director in Stoke-on-Trent, said: "It's really important that those children get a good start in life, so we are here to focus in on how children can be ready for school."

Kelcey Franklin recently had her second child and started attending the charity's parent, baby and toddler sessions.

She feels that the support they offer is much-needed. "Abbey Hulton is a majorly deprived area," she said. "I live and work in the area. I know from both angles the struggles that we face.

"Everything costs and arm and a leg. When you are on maternity leave, you are trying to do things with your own baby, it gets really hard."

The Comic Relief money helps fund activities that Capstick said aimed to "improve child outcomes in areas that need them the most".

A women with ashy blonde hair in a ponytail. she is wearing a pink t-shirt with blue writing on it. In her arms is a young toddler in a brown knit jumper. They are both looking at the camera smiling. — Gemma Peverill has found a support group through attending sessions put on by Thrive at Five

At the groups, new parents can connect and learn from one another, and chat to charity workers who have been through parenthood themselves.

Gemma Peverill has been attending the groups with her four-year-old for some time. She said: "More than anything its social, it's a chance to connect with other parents".

She added the groups not only provided respite but allowed her child to start to learn how to make friends before beginning school.

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