Young Parents’ Support Service (YPSS)
This was a small unit in the NHS in Stoke on Trent that gave targeted support to young and very vulnerable parents and parents-to-be. We worked with this wonderful unit and their young people over a number of years, giving retail vouchers with which the staff could make up ‘goody bags’ with essentials for the mother and the coming baby, tailored to the needs of the particular young person. This may be basics such as a nightdress, clothes to wear when they left hospital, a baby blanket, toys, basic hygiene needs. There were also blankets, quilts and knitted items made by our members and their friends.
It was evident that the impact that our vouchers had was out of all proportion to the monetary value, so in 2018/9 we named them as one of our charities for the year. By the end of the year we had £1000 for the project. Through the staff members, we asked the young people what they thought would be the best way to use the money. This is what they said, and how we responded
| What the Young People said they needed | The Difference we made |
| I didn’t have any clothes after my pregnancy, as all my money had gone on the baby | Primark vouchers:
I had some help with some Clothes from Primark, using the vouchers. It was really kind. |
| I need Knickers and a Bra and I can’t believe I am telling people this! | Retail vouchers:
Made me feel better – thank you! |
| I am moving into supported housing. I haven’t got anything or anywhere to put my stuff, and need to keep my baby’s things clean. | Wilko and Argos vouchers
I bought some plastic drawers to keep all my baby’s things clean, and other things |
| I had to leave where I was living in a real hurry. I didn’t have a phone. I couldn’t get hold of people and they couldn’t get hold of me. Just a ten pound phone would have been enough | Argos vouchers
Meant I’m able to ring the people who were helping me and so people could get in touch |
| We don’t have much money and so I spend it all on my baby. I was so nice just to have something myself. | Primark vouchers.
I got labour bag items, Nighty, and Slipper socks |
| My flat was so bad when I moved into it. It made me feel awfull. No one could help me with decorating and it took ages and ages to be done. I would really like it if your money could help us with things like this. Horrible to even be in it. | Wilko Vouchers
helped me buy paint to make it smarter. |
| I need black Maternity trousers they are expensive and my mum can’t afford them | New look voucher
I was helped with some school trousers when I was pregnant |
| I moved into a young mums unit. My bedding was horrible and I felt bad! | Primark vouchers
I got a new duvet cover with vouchers – and I picked this myself! |
| I felt really bad and really down about everything | We gave Starbucks and Costa vouchers so that a member of staff could take the young people out for a coffee out for a coffee occasionally.
We went to STARBUCKS for a ‘treat’. It feels really nice to be out of the house – talking and acting like normal. |
| My hours at work were cut just for two weeks with an agency. We don’t get benefits and just need help for some formula and maybe some food. | Supermarket vouchers
Because we were not on benefits the help with milk was difficult, so supermarket vouchers came in really handy. |
| We think that the computers we have to use to do benefits and housing applications on are old and they take ages and always go wrong. | Some tablets were bought, or donated by some local employers, for the young people to use for applications or looking things up. |
This project clearly met the needs of some very poor and vulnerable young people, not only in a material way, but also it boosted their mental health and self esteem. Sadly, the YPSS recently fell victim to funding cuts.
We are looking for ways for this valuable work to continue, perhaps benefiting young people in the Stafford area.