MMHA member Mothers for Mothers awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Maternal Mental Health Alliance member, Mothers for Mothers has been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Mothers for Mothers are a group of mothers, who have suffered and recovered from depression, anxiety, isolation, loneliness or any other type of maternal mental health problem during pregnancy or after the birth of one or more of their babies.

For 40 years, they have offered support to women during pregnancy and until their youngest child attends school, from illness to wellness, through their four arms of support services:

1. 1. Reach helpline/support calls
  2. Home Visiting
  3. Art Psychotherapy and Counselling
  4. Peer Support Groups, including an antenatal support group.

Their four services work together to provide peer support, promote wellbeing and reduce social isolation to ensure women and children are well, enjoy healthy relationships and can engage in the wider community.

Mothers for Mothers’ services are designed, developed and delivered by women with lived experience of maternal mental illness. They believe it can be a great comfort to have someone available to talk to, who understands what a mother is going through.

Mothers for Mothers is one of 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

About The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse.

Representatives of Mothers for Mothers will receive the award crystal and certificate from Peaches Golding, Lord-Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol, later this summer. Furthermore, two members of the group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 (restrictions dependent), along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Mothers for Mothers CEO, Maria Viner says:

“Mothers for Mothers are delighted to have been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in our 40th year. This prestigious award is the highest recognition possible for VCSE groups in the UK and we would like to thank everyone who supports us in the work we do.

“This award recognises the dedication, commitment and passion of all of the women with a lived experience of maternal mental illness who have generously given their time, skills and compassion to support others.

“We are so proud that our wonderful team have been honoured in this way. It is very emotional to think about all the families that they have supported over 40 years. The women who we walk alongside on their journey to recovery are the inspiration for all that we do. This honours their bravery.”

MMHA’s Lived Experience & Strategic Opportunities Manager, Maria Bavetta says:

“We are so pleased that MMHA member organisation, Mothers for Mothers, has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The perinatal mental health sector relies on voluntary and community organisations to support women and families impacted by maternal mental health problems, and we are so proud to see Mothers for Mothers honoured in such a way. We would like to congratulate the whole team on this much deserved award!”