Beautiful New Beginnings bridges the gap between parents, schools and services. The North Liverpool-based early years organisation has grown hugely during the pandemic, supporting thousands of parents to become the primary educators in their child’s life from birth and bridging the gap between parent and professional, from pregnancy to school age.
As face-to-face support for both antenatal and post-natal services disappeared, Beautiful New Beginnings moved its business online, and has now pioneered a blended model, supporting parents across the globe. “There has been a huge need for people to feel connected,” says founder Carolyn Whitehead.
It has created a genuinely accessible place to support isolated parents, adding online membership packages, sensory bags and boxes, a baby massage oils range alongside the Seasons programme, which dovetails with the new mental health curriculum launching in schools.
“Working with the Kindred team has been a breath of fresh air,” says Carolyn. “To be surrounded by a community of people determined to grow and scale the impact of the good works they are doing is invaluable. We are so excited to be part of the first round of investments made by Kindred and cannot wait to impact more families in our area.”
The Beautiful New Beginnings team includes a number of professionals, from qualified teachers – including special educational needs – to a counsellor who delivers wellbeing sessions, a pregnancy pilates practitioner and a midwife for positive birth and labour information, plus hypnobirthing and breastfeeding support. A nutritionist and first aider advise on baby-proofing your home and baby first aid, alongside a dedicated breastfeeding worker.
Beautiful New Beginnings has expanded into a creative space online, using National Lottery funding to purchase equipment to create a platform for people to stay connected, and train parents to set up coffee mornings in cities from Leeds to Bristol and London.
Carolyn says: “There’s been huge demand for what we do. Price rises for ‘traditional’ support and reduced offers will be a real issue for many parents (and children). Many children are likely to be facing challenges with social skills and separation anxiety as parents go back to work. There are also issues surrounding speech and language because of the wearing of masks – we really feel there’s a need for 24-hour access to support out there.”
A full range of sessions includes: antenatal classes, baby first aid, breastfeeding, children coping with stress and anxiety, nutrition, pelvic floor exercises and incontinence, Pilates for pregnant women, signposting for early years, healthy minds sessions / mindfulness, sleep training, stay-and-play and baby massage, story telling, supporting parents to understand their children’s education and wellbeing sessions.
