A BABY hub and breastfeeding support that offers free help for Petersfield mums is being relaunched.
The NCT (National Childbirth Trust) is reopen the doors to its baby hub at the United Reformed Church on Monday, September 4.
The group was launched 15 years ago and provided free breastfeeding, weaning and bottle-feeding advice to local mums before Covid forced a hiatus.
Organiser Scarlet Bryant feels the time is nigh for the group’s return as many mothers are finding it increasingly hard to get support or visits through the NHS.
She knows first-hand what a difference the hub can make as she regularly attended drop-in sessions with her baby.
She said: “We’re just trying to pick up the mantle and get it going again.
“I know that support in hospitals is getting less and less so we’re encouraging more mothers to come.
“It’s very much like a drop-in session and if you come along you can meet other mums and talk about what you’re going through. There’s no support like this in north Hampshire and it’s very baby-led.”
The Petersfield and Liss NCT group is keen to raise awareness of its services after a quiet spell and has a few plans in the pipeline to interest parents.
There are plans to restart its nearly-new sales events and it held a baby feeding and changing tent at the weekend’s South Downs Show.
The drop-in sessions at the URC will take place every Monday from 9.30am to 11.30am.
Scarlet added: “We’re a free service but we ask for a £3 donation or give what you can.
“The health service seems to have forgotten about us and what we do, but there’s so much demand and women need this service.
“We want it to be open for everyone and believe everyone should get the help that a lot of people privately pay for.
“I used to go with my baby and it was the one thing that kept me going.”
For more details call 0300 330 0700 or email [email protected]