Mother and Baby Group: A Volunteer's Experience

Over the summer, an HWSF volunteer set up and hosted a mother and baby group at her home. She hopes to continue hosting these get-togethers, bringing together British and Syrian mums with their children. Here is what she had to say about the experience:

Caring for young children is joyful but it can also be isolating at times, especially when you don’t have family nearby. I think many mums experience this and appreciate the importance of having a network of other parents nearby to support them. 

This is why we decided to have get-togethers for the Syrian mums with pre-school children in the Hitchin and Letchworth area. We planned it as a group playdate with some British mums who have children of a similar age. There were toys for the toddlers and tea and biscuits for the mums. The children played together and made friends in the garden while we mums had a chat. 

While there are other local mother and baby groups, some of which the mothers already go to, this smaller group made it easier for the Syrian mothers to join in the conversation and practice their English. We hope that the mothers will now spot each other around the area – at the baby clinics or school gates – and have a friendly face to talk to.

All the mums involved said they enjoyed the group so we hope to make this a regular gathering.     ---- Rose, HWSF Volunteer