Booming great idea for mums (From Barry And District News)

Booming great idea for mums

BARRY'S blossoming mums-to-be are set to benefit from the runaway success of a local community project.

'Blooming Brilliant,' the scheme designed to offer support to pregnant mothers, has proved such a success that it is looking forward to a cracking new year.

The Barry-based project which was developed in partnership with the National Council - ELWa, helps equip young women with new skills, both during their pregnancy and after their babies arrive.

ElWa's Nichola Leach told the News: "The whole point of 'Blooming Brilliant' is that it gets young women who are all going through the same experiences to come together and support each other.

"But it is much more than just the opportunity to meet other mums-to-be, co-ordinators actually help the girls to further their education, developing relevant tasks for their girls to do on the computer, such as creating baby books and making birth announcement cards."

It is the informality of the training which makes it so successful. Stephanie Powell, who is one of the co-ordinators, added: "Basically these girls face a number of barriers and many are put off by the thought of formal training and education. By developing educational packages which are of particular interest to young mums to be they can learn without realising.

"With our move to new premises we will be able to help our new mums continue to learn after they have had their babies, with on site training and childcare."

Jody Boffy, who now has a six-month-old son Kain, said: "I was pregnant alone and this project really has been brilliant. I have met lots of people who I can talk to about anything, but I have also learnt the basics in working a computer, desk top publishing and general office skills. I really did learn as I went along."

Jody is now ready to take up a work placement in computers and is keen to continue with her training.

Another person who has found the project invaluable is Judith Hoskins, who has a four-month-old little girl, Laura.

As a result of getting along so well on the Blooming Brilliant project, Judith has now progressed on to Work Based Learning for Adults.