Two Cumbrian non-profit groups have joined forces to give mums of children with Down’s Syndrome a space to look after their own mental health.
Diff-Ability CIC and The Happy Mums Foundation CIC are bringing together their expertise in supporting parents of children with Down’s Syndrome (Diff-Ability) and hosting mental health peer support (The Happy Mums Foundation).
Groups will be held at 7pm on the 21st of each month – a memorable number for group members as everyone who has Down’s Syndrome (or Trisomy 21) has an extra chromosome 21.
Diff-Ability was set up in Carlisle in 2020 to give a voice to people with disabilities, learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity, as well as to provide activities families could take part in together.
Cristina Bowman, founder of Diff-Ability, said it was vital parents were given the space to share their feelings “’When Max was born I was in shock, it would have really helped me to have someone to chat to, to be able to share my experience,” she said.
The Happy Mums Foundation was set up by Carlisle woman Katherine Dalgliesh in 2015 to support mums with mental health problems connect and share their stories.
Sarah Penn, project lead for peer support at the Happy Mums Foundation, said: “We are really excited to be partnering with Diff-Ability to support the mental health of this particular group of mums – we will be using our experience in hosting support groups to create a safe and non-judgemental space where mums are valued as themselves”
Anyone interested in the group, or in either organisation, can contact: info@happymums.org.uk or diffabilitycic@gmail.com
