Mum Bub Hub receives National Lottery boost to help new mothers stay connected and combat loneliness during COVID-19 crisis

Mum Bub Hub, a social enterprise based in East London that aims to bridge the gap in before and after birth care for vulnerable and at-risk women, particularly in BME communities, has been awarded National Lottery funding as their service is needed more than ever during the COVID-19 crisis.

The £10,000 grant will be used to launch the Support Hub, an accessible online resource, which allows new mothers across the capital to get help and share experiences as they feel socially isolated after giving birth, with lockdown making this worse.

The new Support Hub will offer free perinatal education and personalised specialist help to women who are having difficulties accessing care due to financial troubles, waiting lists or for those who are unaware of how to get access to services.

The funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, will enable Mum Bub Hub to collaborate with experts in maternity care, including perinatal psychiatrists, prenatal and perinatal educators, holistic wellness coaches and doulas to provide the best support to new mothers.

Mum Bub Hub’s new support service comes at a good time, with the Pre and Post-Natal Depression Advice and Support (PANDAS) service reporting a 75% increase in calls from new mothers to their helpline in the first week of lockdown alone.

Mum Bub Hub, which champions a holistic approach to postpartum recovery and self-care, has also launched a natural and handcrafted product range, with all profits going towards social goals.

Nyree-Dawn Adams, Founder of Mum Bub Hub says: “Now more than ever, an accessible approach is necessary for the challenges pregnant and new mums are now facing with social distancing in place. We understand that women and birthing people are feeling even more isolated than ever and are having increased anxieties and concerns and need practical support about how to adapt to changing circumstances.”

A new mother, who recently met a group of mothers at an online Mum Hub Bub event, celebrated the group space, saying: “I’ve had a really nice experience, meeting like-minded women - it’s a really good opportunity to connect and have those conversations that not many of us get to have, those honest and authentic conversations about what motherhood really means and how we can help each other.

"It’s an honour to be able to speak to women about things that have helped me, which can help other mothers as well. It’s really nice to know there’s a space, a protected environment we can come to, without being judged and it provides us with the opportunity to show up and help each other through this beautiful transition of motherhood.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, almost £6 million of National Lottery funding has gone to more than 400 projects tackling loneliness and social isolation across England since the lockdown began, enabling them to provide people with much-needed support.

Helen Bushell, Head of Funding for the Southern Region at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to fund thousands of projects working in many different ways to help reduce loneliness and isolation in the UK. As we all adapt to profound changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling stigma around loneliness and making it okay to ask for help are more important than ever.

“Loneliness is affecting people from all walks of life in these difficult times. The incredible groups we fund are a powerful force for good – supporting people to connect, reducing feelings of isolation and helping communities come together in new and inspiring ways.”

Going forward, The National Lottery Community Fund will continue to prioritise getting funding to groups best placed to support their communities at this vital time and also towards those seeking to rebuild as the crisis abates.

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Last year it awarded over half a billion pounds (£511.1 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK and supported over 12,000 projects to turn their great ideas into reality. 90% of the grants it makes are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk