Manchester Talking Therapies join in with Baby Week celebrations
Manchester’s annual Baby Week took place from Monday 8 to Saturday 13 July 2024.
This six-day program was filled with FREE, fun-filled activities and events for expectant parents and families with children aged 0 - 2 years old. All the activities were designed to support a child’s development, whilst also being great fun.
Events took place across the city, in cultural venues, leisure centres, Sure Start centres, family hubs and local parks and were organised and coordinated by Sure Start centre staff from across Manchester. Free coaches were organised to enable families from every area of the city to attend the launch events in Central Manchester. The finale event in Alexandra Park attracted 175 adults and 186 children from across Manchester.
A variety of partner agencies came together to share information and services that are offered in Manchester in relation to the first 1001 days of a child's life (from conception to two years old). A flavour of these taster sessions included baby first aid, Children and parent service, dental health, swim sessions, dance like a mother, story time, messy play, walking parents’ groups, weaning talks, Mum matters, baby yoga and much more.
Perinatal Champions from our Manchester Talking Therapies service joined in with the Baby Week celebrations across the city for the first time this year, with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of Manchester families. The service offered compassion focused taster sessions, where parents and babies could enjoy mindful practice or breathing exercises and hear more about their priority pathway to individual, couples, and group therapy.
Meeting with parents at this event enabled Manchester Talking Therapies to break down barriers and outreach families who may benefit from the services offered. They also met with many of their partner agencies, establishing smoother referral pathways and encouraging referrals for parents who have young children.
Getting key information and messages out to parents to be, and parents of young children gives them the best possible start, with parents who are able to be emotionally available for their babies. Within Talking Therapies all expectant parents or parents who have children under the age of two years old are prioritised within the service.
There was some lovely feedback from families that captured Baby Week 2024. Comments included:
“It’s great to have all this activity available for babies.”
“I’m new to Manchester. I have found out so much about the services for me and my baby.”
Following the success of this year, Manchester Talking Therapies look forward to celebrating Baby Week again next year.
To find out more about Machester Talking Therapies, please visit: Manchester Talking Therapies | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk).
