Parents praise Comic Relief funded family group

Financially-stretched families say the support of a charity that puts on free sessions for parents with young children has been invaluable.

Thrive at Five, which receives grants from money raised through Comic Relief, helps people in deprived areas by offering support including in family hubs around the country.

Some of the sessions work out of Abbey Hulton and Bentilee, which provide groups where families with children under five can socialise.

Karla Capstick, the charity's programme director in Stoke-on-Trent, said: "It's really important children get a good start in life, so we are here to focus on finding ways to ensure they have the strongest foundations to help them thrive."

Kelsey Franklin recently had her second child and started attending the charity's parent, baby and toddler sessions.

She feels that the support they offer is much-needed. "Abbey Hulton is a majorly deprived area," she said. "I live and work in the area. I know from both angles the struggles that we face.

"Everything costs and arm and a leg. When you are on maternity leave, you are trying to do things with your own baby, it gets really hard."

The Comic Relief money helps fund activities that Capstick said aimed to "improve child outcomes in areas that need them the most".

At the groups, new parents can connect and learn from one another, and chat to charity workers who have been through parenthood themselves.

Gemma Peverill has been attending the groups with her four-year-old for some time. She said: "More than anything its social, it's a chance to connect with other parents".

She added the groups not only provided respite but allowed her child to start to learn how to make friends before beginning school.

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