GROUPS to support mums and mums-to-be with their mental health and emotional wellbeing are being set up across Cumbria.

The groups, hosted by the Happy Mums Foundation are free, and you don’t need a referral to access them.

Kids are welcome, and the groups are hosted by mums with their own experience of mental health challenges.

The Happy Mums Foundation is a social enterprise founded in 2015 by Cumbrian mum Katherine Dalgliesh after she spent time in a psychiatric Mother and Baby Unit in Manchester after the birth of her first child.

She found the support of the other women who were receiving treatment was a vital part of her recovery and sought to recreate this peer support when she returned home to Cumbria.

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Since then, the foundation has supported hundreds of mums and mums-to-be to find hope and acceptance, and to connect to other mums without shame or judgement.

The foundation is starting its very first Penrith group on May 17 at the St Andrews Parish Centre in the town centre at 9.30 am.

Executive Director and founder Katherine Dalgliesh said it had long been an ambition to take Happy Mums to Penrith.

“I’m so excited that we are finally able to start a group in Penrith – it’s something we have wanted to do for such a long time" she said.

We know there is a real need for places where mums can share the ups and downs of parenting, without judgement, so hopefully it will be just what mums in Penrith need.”

Then from June onwards an online group for younger mums will start meeting on the first Wednesday of every month, with the first meeting on June 7 at 7.30pm via Teams.

Volunteer facilitator of the new Penrith group Cristina Bowman said “I found it hard to be open about my own mental health as a parent but since being involved with Happy Mums I can really see the power of hearing and sharing experiences.

“I’m so pleased to be able to bring a support group to my community in Eden and I am really grateful for the support of the 4Eden My Community project.”