Established through a multiagency partnership working with Best Beginnings in Derwent to help local parents and volunteers to set up and manage a parent and toddler group.
The partnership work has allowed the local people to shape a relevant and responsive service, creating links with the wider community and encouraging participation. It also improves the skills and knowledge of the health and care providers and local volunteers who are developing professionally and personally.
Mad Mondays was established after a need was identified for group support of pre and post natal parents, within a community setting and supported by appropriate services. The sessions were designed to be open and welcoming.
A group of volunteers and local parents were identified from: local family health clinics, coffee and chat sessions with Best Beginnings, a breast feeding advice group at Revive and the local Community Health Education course run by Derby Primary Care Trust.
A multi agency partnership was formed with the aim to support and deliver activities to engage the families whilst working alongside the volunteers. Agencies involved were: Derby City Council Sport and Leisure; Best Beginnings Family and Child Support; Derby City Primary Care Trust including health visitors, midwives, nurses, Barnados Derwent Family Group Conferencing Project; Arts~Revive; and the Derby City Youth Service Young Fathers worker.
From this beginning, Mad Mondays was developed as a parent and child drop in session at the Revive Healthy Living Centre, allowing pre and post natal parents to engage in a variety of activities including arts and creative play.
The partnership work has allowed the local people to shape a relevant and responsive service, creating links with a wider community and encouraging participation.
The arts input have included making mobiles, musical instruments and documenting a child’s identity through casting hands and feet and photography.
Aims of workshops
- To promote positive health and well being through art
- To deliver fun , inclusive , accessible and challenging art activities that enable participants to gain confidence, self esteem and pride personally and within a group
- Promote activities that all the family can access and enhance their collaboration and participation together
- To create art that stimulates a child’s development and learning
Feedback:
Many parents identified that the arts activities were very beneficial, giving them the opportunity to focus on making things whilst talking to those around them. Some identified that it was the arts activities that encouraged them to return each week.
‘The activities are allowing us to learn new skills that we can then offer to our children at home – we’re also saving money as everything we use we can buy locally and cheaply’ Parent Volunteer
‘The arts help to promote good mental health and reduce stress, as it is very therapeutic’ Resident Volunteer
‘It’s a fun and social time, and it’s a particular joy watching children play and grow, and I’m doing something worthwhile with my time’ Resident Volunteer
Mad Mondays is an opportunity to aid new parents ‘feel good’ factor and create an inspiring and welcoming environment within a community.
