A crowd fund appeal has been launched to create a Happy Baby Community in South London to help give vulnerable mums and babies a chance to grow and flourish.

Imagine having fled war or modern day slavery, or being a survivor of non-state or state-sponsored torture and rape.  That you are alone in a country where you don’t speak the language and that you are also pregnant, and bringing a baby into the world in which you have suffered so much.  

Envisage you are 38 weeks pregnant and have nothing for your first baby. Hundreds of women, babies and families face this each year. Many of them are our neighbours, writes Jo Wittams.

In 2017 a small, dedicated group of Homestart Croydon volunteers, including three qualified to provide mother-centred support, recognised that there was an unmet need right on our doorstep in Thornton Heath. Expectant mothers, many very young, are placed in our town with nothing and, despite the hard work of Migrant 

Help and other organisations, support can be inconsistent. By providing antenatal and postnatal information and guidance, alongside babycare essentials, the group has created a caring and non judgmental environment for over 65 women and their new babies. 

In order to reach more women, it needs to expand. So far over £15,000 has been raised through a Crowd funding appeal towards the £29,683 target.

Even a small donation is hugely appreciated and just £7 enables a mother and her baby to travel to the group; £19 provides a whole day of skilled support for a mother and baby. 

Please donate using this link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/happy-baby-community