An organisation that hosts support groups for mums with mental health problems has received a national award.
The Happy Mums Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based near Carlisle, has won a prestigious national award from the charity Mind.
Happy Mums faced stiff competition in the Marsh Awards category “Doing it For Ourselves”, including from the Hillsborough Survivors Association.
Founded in 2015 by local woman Katherine Dalgliesh, Happy Mums has since supported hundreds of mums and mums-to-be, to find acceptance and hope in the face of mental illness.
Since being shortlisted in the same award last year, they have expanded their number and range of groups and launched their first big volunteer recruitment drive.
Accepting the award Chief Executive Katherine Dalgliesh paid tribute to the amazing projects also up for awards. ”We are humbled to even be shortlisted alongside such great organisations – it’s been six years of blood, sweat and tears but we are so proud of all we’ve achieved,” she said.
Peer Support Lead Sarah Penn dedicated the award to all the volunteers and group members who make Happy Mums the warm, kind and hopeful place it is, and also to the bravery, determination and vulnerability of its founder.
“We have such amazing people who help us do what we do – right from Katherine, and our colleague Katie to every mum who attends our groups,” Sarah said.
“The last year has taken a big toll on mums’ mental health, from home-schooling to isolation, and financial hardship and grief. Despite their own struggles our members always reach out to support others.”
Group member Claire Pope said, “it’s a safe place where you can say how bad you are feeling but leave feeling happier, leave feeling positive”.
Maryport mum Rebecca Todd said the group had given her “a sense of self again”, while Reka Katai, one of Happy Mums longest-standing volunteers, said mums “find it the place they can talk honestly and find a bit of hope”.
The Marsh Awards showcased nine projects across three categories with a star project being chosen in each: Doing it For Ourselves, Peer Support in Marginalised Communities and Innovative Peer Support.
Each star project received £500. Amazingly two of the three-star projects are based in Cumbria, with local community interest company ‘Aupeer’ winning the “Marginalised Communities” award, for its work bringing together autistic adults.
