Mothers affected by Newham Council’s decision to pull funding for a service which helped vulnerable women cope with challenges of being parents speak to Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

Mothers, volunteers and staff at Newham Nurture’s final day including Blessing (cream overcoat), Nirupama (purple polo shirt) and Belinda Ngugi (centre, purple dress) (credit LDRS)

For Blessing, Newham Nurture had given “light and hope” to her and other mothers “through their hardship and darkest days”.

Until last week, the project had supported women from low-income, migrant and marginalised backgrounds through pregnancy and up to two years after birth.

People who ran it say those mothers are women who might otherwise “fall through the cracks” and end up in “crisis”. Blessing said it offered mothers “people to rely on, people to talk to and give them encouragement”.

Yet, the project held its final session last week after Newham Council pulled its funding. The council said this was because it had to change how it provides services, and that it would help affected families.

But one mother said she found the closure “hard to comprehend”.

Programme manager Belinda Ngugi said she realised the need for a service like Newham Nurture after running a mental health project for mothers in the borough.

Ngugi told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she realised many of the women “were not being heard” in other, more universal services.

“We created this project specifically for those that are the most marginalised,” she said. “For migrant, marginalised communities, asylum seekers, and those with no legal support funds.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) at Newham Nurture’s closing celebration, one mother described how the programme had helped her.

She said: “I was very introverted. I couldn’t speak properly, I couldn’t go anywhere, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to breastfeed, I didn’t know anything in Newham.”

But she said that, at Newham Nurture, “I made lots of friends who helped me and supported me.

“My mental health was very poor, but people helped me – how to breastfeed, how to hold a kid.”

“I don’t know in the future what I’ll do,” she added, “but Newham Nurture will be in my heart forever.”

The project provided antenatal support for pregnant women, and “baby and me” classes for up to two years after birth.

Part of its funding was secured by its partner, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and, since 2023, part of it came from the council – some £120,000, according to Ngugi.

Ngugi said the project also gave advice to women who might find other service inaccessible.

She said: “We talk to them and inform them about their rights, and about the baby and the growth. We’re able to support them through their situation and their circumstances.

“Many of our women have gone through homelessness, trauma. Some of our women have been trafficked, there’s been domestic abuse. We cater to their needs.”

Ngugi added that Newham Nurture had also helped provide women with essentials such as baths and Moses baskets, or bus fare to NHS antenatal classes.

She also said that, being a women-only space, Newham Nurture was also a space for mothers to speak freely.

“We have many women that come to our antenatal sessions, they might come with a partner. If there’s a partner and it’s their first time, we split them out, and give the wife an interpreter.

“Since she’s been in the UK she’s not had an interpreter, so you can imagine the things that have been shared in that moment.”

The council said it “highly values the unique role that Newham Nurture has played in delivering support to families”.

However, a spokesperson said it had to come up with a “refreshed delivery model” for such services to align with government plans to roll out “best start” family hubs.

The spokesperson said this would “strengthen provision, ensure services are accessible and joined up, and improve outcomes for children and parents”.

However, they said this also meant the council had to recommission its services, meaning funding for Newham Nurture had ended.

The spokesperson said: “To meet procurement and governance requirements, services are being recommissioned through an appropriate and compliant competitive process.

“The council remains committed to supporting families and voluntary and community sector partners to deliver services that meet local peoples’ needs under the new best start family hubs model.”

Tope Medupin, NCT’s acting chief executive, said Newham Nurture was already “a showcase of what actually works”.

She also noted that NHS England’s “postnatal toolkit” – a guide for local services – describes how Newham Nurture “bridges gaps in healthcare access, empowers women and fosters trust by offering culturally sensitive and practical support”.

The project’s work also received recognition earlier this year, picking up a community organisation prize at the National Diversity Awards.

Medupin told the LDRS: “It’s important to highlight on a national level that the gaps in maternity services is very well documented.

“While, yes, there are universal statutory services – patchy depending on where you live – the reality of women like the ones accessing Newham Nurture accessing those services is slim to none.

“Those are the ones that fall through the gaps and then end up in places where they need to access crisis support.”

Nirupama, a mother on Newham Nurture’s steering committee, warned that the closure could end up piling pressure – and extra costs – on council and NHS services.

“We have catered to over 2,000 families,” she told the LDRS. “If 2,000 families were to go to the NHS, imagine the cost. And the costs of treating those mental health need.

“We are taking the burden off the NHS’s shoulders.”

The council said it was “working closely with NCT to support a safe and well-managed transition for families currently accessing the service”.

A spokesperson said: “We are also looking at each family’s circumstances individually, as we recognise that a simple signpost to a universal service will not be enough for everyone.

“Families currently receiving support from Newham Nurture will be contacted directly by the NCT team and will be supported to access their local family hub, children’s centre and other relevant services to ensure they continue receiving the right support.”

Speaking to parents last week, Ngugi asked them to keep supporting each other.

She said: “Take everything that you’ve gained here – the knowledge, the confidence, the courage, the friendships and the ability to speak up – and advocate for yourselves.”

Blessing added: “We are thankful for all the lives that have been impacted, we are thankful for all the mums that have created new relationships, and I believe they will carry on supporting each other, being each other’s friends.

“I know this is not the end, we will bounce back – we will find our way.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.