A Blackheath-based mental health charity for mums has scooped a national award

MumsAid has been recognised for its work supporting new and expectant mothers across the borough of Greenwich.

The group say they are "abslutely delighted" to be named as one of the 10 winners of the prestigious GSK Impact Award.

The award will also see them receive £30,000 in funding, as well as expert support and development from the thinktank and charity, The King's Fund.

The charity was selected from over 350 applications across the world following a "rigorous" selection and assessment process.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Delighted maternal mental health has been prioritised and that MumsAid has been selected from over 350 charities and named as one of just ten award winners in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GSKIMPACTUK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSKIMPACTUK</a> 2021 awards. <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKingsFund?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheKingsFund</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GSK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GSK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaternalMentalHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaternalMentalHealth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SupportingMums?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SupportingMums</a> <a href="https://t.co/jRShVXAwbD">pic.twitter.com/jRShVXAwbD</a></p>— MumsAid (@mums_aid) <a href="https://twitter.com/mums_aid/status/1386984148183789575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

MumsAid CEO, Miriam Donaghy, said: “The leadership development we will be receiving from The King’s Fund, together with £30,000 funding comes an important time as MumsAid’s specialist perinatal counselling services, now offered online, are in considerable demand.

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"This award could not have come at a better time for MumsAid to support more mums and their families.”

MumsAid was started in 2012 to help mums through the exciting and challenging pregnancy period.

Since its inception, it has delivered a growing programme of support to perinatal mothers, including psychotherapy, counselling and befriending supoort by trained peer volunteers.

In 2019/20, the team provided therapuetic support to over 320 mothers in Greenwich, which has one of the highest teenage conception rates in London.

The charity has also pushed to raise awareness and start discussions on the topic.

Lisa Weaks, assistant director of The King’s Fund, said: “More than one in ten women develop a mental illness while pregnant or in the first year of motherhood.

"MumsAid provides a real lifeline for new and expectant mothers, offering comprehensive mental health support to women and their partners across Greenwich.

"The charity works hard to ensure it offers highly accessible and flexible services and reaches everyone who needs them.

"Its work with young mothers, many of whom have had a difficult start themselves, is particularly impressive, as is the charity’s commitment to understanding the difference its work makes.”