Family by the Sea is here to promote and remove barriers to physical, mental and community support within the perinatal period for all families in Thanet and East Kent, with a focus on our marginalised groups. The perinatal period is the before and after birth. We want to educate and validate the matrescence and patrescence: the emotional, hormonal, physical and social transition to becoming a parent. We will provide inclusive offerings to our community with an individualised, holistic and continuity of care pathway. Holistic is treating a person as a whole, supporting their matrscence and patrescence lifelong journey. Our physical and mental health are intertwined and we believe in supporting with all aspects would have a ripple affect on other areas of family life. We believe support to all parents would bring a cascade of change to their children and their families. We believe this vital support would bring connection and change to our community.

What we'll deliver:

• Free birth preparation
• Free baby preparation
• Free inclusive feeding preparation with a lactation consultant
• Free weekly inclusive feeding support with a lactation consultant
• Free weekly parents support coffee morning with a clinical psychologist
• Low cost weekly baby massage
• Low cost weekly singing for mental health
• Low cost weekly family process arts

Why it's a great idea:

Perinatal mental illness affects up to 27% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions. NHS England 50% of births in the East Kent Trust were a casearean or instrumental delivery. We support informed, consented birth choices. We would like families to be educated on their birthing choices, understand the cascade of intervention and be supported during the post partum recovery period (minimum of 2 years for physical healing). Statistics shared by the East Kent Maternity Trust 2022 We would like all parents to have access to qualified support at no or very low costs. NHS resources are currently under staffed and under funded in the East Kent Trust. We currently have no NHS ante natal offering, appointments can be short and rushed due to the heavy caseloads for our midwives and health visitors. Feeding choices are often taken away due to lack of support and education. We would like families to have a continuity of support with appropriate signposting.

Steps to get it done:

• We will immediately be able to offer free support to families.

We offer other sessions which would be at a cost that will also support our running costs and subsidise sessions. This includes play sessions, birthday parties and hot desking with creche facilities. We are in the process of becoming a CIC which would allow long term funding and open up more project opportunities to support our community. We will be working with our local pelvic health professionals to promote, signpost pelvic health support in the post partum including the Mummy Mot. We are working with other funding routes to support this physical health project. We believe parents have this support alongside mental well being support will bring change to a post partum. We would like to start a teen mental well being programme as well as perimenopause education and support circles. Both are areas we are passionate and are currently facing an epidemic of mental health effects. We will work with other local charities and non profit organisations to further our holistic offering.