​​​​​Things to do for mums, dads and carers, pregnancy to age 5

Join a Stay and Play drop-in or session in person

Online sessions

​​Stay and Play drop-ins and sessions (June-July 2023)

Area timetables for mums, dads and carers, pregnancy to age 5.

Activities are not held on bank holidays.

No pre-bookings required (unless stated), but there is a limited capacity at these activities while restrictions continue to ease.

Camden Dads drop-in days and times (PDF)

Baby Bonding drop-ins (0-6 months) (PDF)

Euston area

Kentish Town East area

Kentish Town West area

King's Cross and Holborn area

Kilburn area

Rhyme Time and activities in Camden libraries

Euston area 

Activities at Regent's Park Children's Centre, Hampden Children's Centre, and St Pancras Community Association (SPCA)

For more information for Regent's Park Children's Centre, please call 020 7974 8934

For more information for Hampden Children's Centre, please call 020 7974 2841

For more information for St Pancras Community Association (SPCA), please call 020 7380 1501

Please see Early Years Alliance for more information about Hampden and St Pancras Community Association drop-ins.

Monday

• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (SPCA)
• Baby Play for Under 1s, 1.30pm-3.30pm (Regent's Park CC)
• Baby Play for Under 1s, 2pm-4pm (SPCA)

Tuesday

• Toddler Time for Under 2s, ​​​10am-12pm (Hampden)
• Toddler Time for Under 2s, 10am-12pm (Regent's Park CC)
• Child Health Drop-in Clinic for Under 5s, 1pm-3pm (Hampden, from 20 June)
• Young Parents Together for parents under 25, with children under 5, 1pm-3pm (Harmood CC, NW1 8DQ) 020 7974 8961

Wednesday

• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (Hampden)
• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (Regent's Park CC)

Thursday

• Baby Play for Under 1s, ​​​10am-12pm (Hampden)
• Toddler Time for Under 2s, 10am-12pm (Regent's Park CC)

Friday

• Baby Bonding for 0-6 months, 10am-12pm (Hampden)
• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (SPCA)
• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (Regent's Park CC)

Euston Map                                                                                                             Back to top

Kentish Town East area

mostly at Agar Children's Centre

For more information, please call: 020 7974 4789

Monday

• Fun for All for Under 5s, 9.30am-11.30am
• Baby Play for Under 1s, 1.30pm-3.30pm

Tuesday

• Baby Play for Under 1s, 9.30am-11am
• Young Parents Together, for parents under 25, with children under 5, 1pm-3pm (Harmood CC, ​​​​​​NW1 8DQ) 020 7974 8961

Wednesday

• ​​​​​​Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm
• Child Health Drop-in Clinic for Under 5s, 1.30pm-3.30pm (from 5 July)

Thursday

• Toddler Time for Under 2s, 10am-12pm

Kentish Town East Map                                                                                             Back to top

Kentish Town West area

Activities at Harmood Children's Centre, Rhyl Community Primary School (Grafton Rd) and Gospel Oak Health Centre

For more information for Harmood Children's Centre, please call: 020 7974 8961

For more information for Rhyl School (Grafton Rd, NW5 4AX), please call 070 7485 1947

For more information for Gospel Oak Health Centre (5 Lismore Circus, NW5 4RA), please call 020 3317 3032

Monday

• Baby Play for Under 1s, 9.30am-11.30am (Rhyl)
• Baby Play for Under 1s, 10am-12pm (Harmood CC)
• Toddler Time for Under 2s, 1.30pm-3.30pm (Harmood CC)

Tuesday

• ​​​​​Toddler Time for Under 2s, 9.30am-11.30am (Rhyl)
• Supastars Drop-in for children with developmental delay, 10am-12pm (Harmood CC)
• Young Parents Together for parents under 25, with children under 5, 1pm-3pm (Harmood CC)

Wednesday

• Fun for All for Under 5s, 9.30am-11.30am (Rhyl)
• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (Harmood CC)

Thursday

• Child Health Drop-in Clinic for Under 5s, 9.30am-11.30am (Gospel Oak Health Centre)
• Toddler Time for Under 2s, 10am-12pm (Harmood CC)
• ​​​Baby Bonding for 0-6 months, 10am-12pm (Harmood CC)

Friday

• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (Harmood CC)

Kentish Town West Map                                                                                           Back to top

King's Cross and Holborn area

Mostly at 1A Children's Centre

For more information, please call: 020 7974 7024

Monday

• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm

Tuesday

• ​​​​​Young Parents Together, for parents under 25, with children under 5, 1pm-3pm (Harmood CC, ​​​​NW1 8DQ) ​​​020 7974 8961

Wednesday

• Baby Play for Under 1s, 10am-12pm

Thursday

• Toddler Time for Under 2s, 10am-12pm

King's Cross and Holborn map                                                                                 Back to top

Kilburn area

Activities at Kilburn Grange Children's Centre and Abbey Community Centre

For more information for Kilburn Grange Children's Centre, please call 020 7974 5080

For more information for Abbey Children's Centre, please call 020 7624 8378

Monday

• ​​​​​​Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (Kilburn Grange)
• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-11.30am (Abbey CC)
• Baby Bonding for 0-6 months, 1.30pm-3.30pm (Kilburn Grange)

Tuesday

• Fun for All for Under 5s,10am-11.45am (Abbey CC)
• Baby Play for Under 1s, 1pm-3pm (Kilburn Grange)
• ​​​​​Young Parents Together, for parents under 25, with children under 5, 1pm-3pm ​​​​(Harmood CC, ​​​​NW1 8DQ) ​​​020 7974 8961

Wednesday

• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-12pm (Kilburn Grange)
• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-11.45am (Abbey CC)

Thursday

• Toddler Time for Under 2s, 10am-12pm (Kilburn Grange)
• Fun for All for Under 5s, 10am-11.45am (Abbey CC)

Friday

• Baby Play for Under 1s, 10am-12pm (Kilburn Grange)

Kilburn Map                                                                                                              Back to top

Online activities

Camden Baby Feeding online sessions every Monday 10.30-11.30am (excluding Easter Monday).

Support with breastfeeding, mixed feeding and bottle-feeding

(Pre-booking required, please register here)

Phone assistance available by calling 07808 891 260

Camden Sure Start - Communication and Language video

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​​​​​​

Refer yourself to an NHS hospital maternity service

Bump to Baby group

Parents Matter Wellbeing Service

Babies Cry - You Can Cope

Camden Dads

Camden Kids Talk

Baby Feeding

Refer yourself to an NHS hospital maternity service

• UCLH
• Royal Free
• Whittington

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Bump to Baby group

A group for new and expecting parents, focusing on becoming a parent and bonding with your baby. 

Becoming a dad or mum is an exciting as well as challenging time. Over the 5 weeks you will meet other parents and talk together about:

• preparing for and managing labour
• bonding with your baby before/after the birth
• working out your baby’s sounds, signals and cues
• coping with crying and comforting your baby
• becoming a parent and your changing relationships
• where to go if you need a little extra help

Book a place

Bump to Baby video - A Parent's View

You can come along on your own or with your partner or a friend/family member:

• there are 5 sessions lasting 2 hours
• the group is FREE and runs in local Camden venues
• there are 10–12 parents at each session as well as two trained group leaders.

Bump to baby leaflet (PDF)

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Parents Matter Wellbeing Service

This is a community perinatal peer support service for new and expectant parents living in Camden, delivered by Family Lives. The service supports parents who are experiencing isolation to improve emotional wellbeing. Whether a first child or a new brother or sister, Parents Matter can work with mums and dads during pregnancy and up to 24 months after birth.

How we will support new parents and expectant mothers

The team of locally recruited peer supporters will visit parents in the family home and make contact via text messaging and using MS Teams. They will offer a listening ear to help ease the demands of parenthood. Staff and volunteers speak a range of community languages.

The aims of the service are to:

• improve mental health and wellbeing of new parents
• reduce social isolation of families
• increase self-confidence of parents
• support a positive relationship between parents and their baby
• welcome mums and dads to parenting groups and signpost to local services and resources

Get in touch

If you are a professional and know a family who would benefit from this programme or you are a parent who would like to know more, please get in touch by emailing Lana at LanaA@familylives.org.uk or call 07713 708 524.

If you would like to make a referral to this service, please fill out this online referral form.

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Babies Cry - You Can Cope

ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying.

I  = Infant crying is normal
C = Comforting methods can help
O = It's OK to walk away
N = Never, ever shake a baby

Speak to someone if you need support, such as family, friends, midwife, GP, Bump to Baby team, Family Worker or Health Visitor.

ICON website

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Camden Dads

When dads and male carers spend time with their children and know about children's development, they:

• have a closer bond with their child
• talk and play more with their child
• are more confident as a parent

Children who grow up with warm, loving and actively involved dads and male carers...

• are happy and emotionally secure
• care and empathise for others
• do well in nursery and school
• have better relationships as adults

Feelings of anxiety and depression are very common in fathers, but sadly, this is not widely recognised, just as post-natal depression (PND) was not widely recognised in mothers 20 years ago.
Having a new baby and making the transition to parenthood is equally challenging for fathers and mothers. It is important that dads look after themselves too, and if you do feel low or anxious remember this is very common and it will help if you talk to someone.

Contact our Fathers Inclusion Lead to find out about children's centre services from pregnancy to age 5 - camdendads@camden.gov.uk

Please find Camden Dads drop-in days and times on our Stay and Play page.

Useful contacts

The Camden Parents’ Wellbeing Service
A team offering therapy to parents who are Camden residents or parents with a GP in Camden.
07795 968 949 / 020 3317 6670 — cpws@candi.nhs.uk

MIND in Camden
Working alongside people of all ages who are experiencing
mental ill health.
www.mind.org.uk

Mental health for Dads (PDF)

Camden Kids Talk

Let's make sure that children in Camden are given the best start to develop their speech, language and communication skills. Taking time to talk with babies and young children supports their wellbeing, play, friendship and early development.

Camden Kids Talk - Ten Tips For Talking from Whittington Health NHS Trust.

The ten talking tips have been made by Camden mums, dads and carers. They are designed to give families and those working with under 5s some suggestions to help babibes and children develop their speech, language and communication.

Tips for Talking (PDF)

Children's Language Development and Parenting Advice

BBC Tiny Happy People

BBC Tiny Happy People - Instagram

Would you like to check your child's speech and language progress?

Visit the Speech and Language UK Progress Checker for children aged 6 months and upwards.

If you would like to talk to someone, please contact Camden Duty Health Visitors on 020 3317 3032 or email camden.dutyhv@nhs.net

For Camden's Early Years Speech and Language Therapy Service, please call 020 3317 2367.

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Baby feeding

The Camden Baby Feeding Team, based in the Health Visiting and Children's Centre Service, provide support to parents to help them meet their infant feeding needs. Feeding support is available from when your baby arrives until you reach the end of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Fathers and partners are welcome at our Harmood and Agar groups. In certain circumstances, the Baby Feeding Team are able to visit you at home.

Contact the Camden Baby Feeding Team on 07808 891 260 (9am-3pm, Mon-Fri) or email camden.babyfeedingteam@nhs.net.

For out-of-hours support for baby feeding, please contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 (9.30am-9.30pm, 7 days a week).

Camden Baby Feeding Support

Monday - 10.30am-11.30am
Virtual Group - Link: Meeting Registration

Drop-In Sessions

Monday - 10am-12pm
Harmood Children's Centre

Tuesday - 10am-12pm
Kilburn Grange Children's Centre

Thursday - 1pm-3pm
Regent's Park Children's Centre

Friday - 10am-12pm
Agar Children's Centre (partners welcome)

Camden Baby Feeding Leaflet

CNWL - Baby Feeding Team information and sessions

​​​​​We offer:

• family support (home visiting and 1-1 advice)
• parenting support (1-1 and groups) and child psychotherapy
• mental health services for parents
• children’s speech and language therapy
• housing advice

Contact us for more details

Video - How Children's Centre Family Support Helped Me

These online services are also useful:

First Aid 

First aid advice for choking - whether it's a choking baby, child or adult - including what to do and when to get medical assistance.

Promoting communication in young children

BBC - Tiny Happy People 

Parents Matter Wellbeing Service

This is a community perinatal peer support service for new and expectant parents living in Camden, delivered by Family Lives. The service supports parents who are experiencing isolation to improve emotional wellbeing. Whether a first child or a new brother or sister, Parents Matter can work with mums and dads during pregnancy and up to 24 months after birth.

How we will support new parents and expectant mothers

The team of locally recruited peer supporters will visit parents in the family home and make contact via text messaging and using MS Teams. They will offer a listening ear to help ease the demands of parenthood. Staff and volunteers speak a range of community languages.

The aims of the service are to:

• improve mental health and wellbeing of new parents
• reduce social isolation of families
• increase self-confidence of parents
• support a positive relationship between parents and their baby
• welcome mums and dads to parenting groups and signpost to local services and resources

Get in touch

If you are a professional and know a family who would benefit from this programme or you are a parent who would like to know more, please get in touch by emailing Liliana at lilianad@familylives.org.uk or call 07739 788 120.

If you would like to make a referral to this service, please fill out this online referral form.

Immunisations

Measles

• About measles
• Vaccinations and Measles

Please contact your GP for a childhood immunisation appointment.

Free Vitamin D available

Where to get your free vitamins

All pregnant women, new mums and children under 4 years can receive free Healthy Start vitamins in Camden.

You can also get the free vitamins if you are trying for a baby.

You or your baby should not use other vitamin supplements as well as Healthy Start vitamins. Talk with your health visitor or midwife for more information.

As well as vitamin D, the women’s tablets contain folic acid to help ensure your baby’s spine develops normally, and vitamin C which helps you absorb iron better.

The children’s vitamin drops also contain vitamins A and C which are needed for healthy growth and development.

Why is vitamin D important for pregnant women, new mothers and children? 

Taking vitamin D in pregnancy helps to ensure that your own needs for vitamin D are met and you also have enough to pass on to your developing baby. This provides your baby with some stores of vitamin D to begin with.

Low levels of vitamin D in children can lead to a condition called rickets, where the child’s bones are unable to support their body weight. This results in bowed legs or knock knees.

Symptoms of low levels of vitamin D are:

• poor growth
• delayed growth of teeth/weak teeth
• delayed walking
• bone and muscle pain

Severe vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle cramps, seizures, breathing difficulties, and heart failure in rare cases. 

Further information

The vitamins are available for all families in Camden, but families on a low income may be able to get additional payments to buy milk, and fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables.

To find out more, speak to your health visitor or midwife,or apply online at www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Pick up your free vitamins from:

• 1a Children's Centre, 1a Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4SR.
• Phone: 020 7974 7024
• Find us on Google Maps

• Agar Children's Centre, Lulworth, Wrotham Road, NW1 9SU.
• Phone: 020 7974 4789
• Find us on Google Maps

• Harmood Children's Centre, 1 Forge Place, NW1 8DQ.
• Phone: 020 7974 8961
• Find us on Google Maps

• Hampden Children's Centre, 80 Polygon Road, NW1 1HQ.
• Phone: 020 7974 2841
• Find us on Google Maps

• Kilburn Grange Children's Centre, 1 Palmerston Road, NW6 2JL.
• Phone: 020 7974 5080
• Find us on Google Maps

• Regent’s Park Children's Centre, Augustus Street, NW1 3TJ.
• Phone: 020 7974 8934
• Find us on Google Maps

• Gospel Oak Health Centre, 5 Lismore Circus, NW5 4RA.
• Phone: 020 3317 3800
• Find us on Google Maps

• Belsize Priory Health Centre, 208 Belsize Road, NW6 4DX.
• Phone: 020 3317 5800
• Find us on Google Maps

• Hunter Street Health Centre, 8 Hunter Street, WC1N 1BN
• Phone: 020 3317 2345
• Find us on Google Maps

Healthy Start

​​​Healthy Start: Help to buy food and milk for your family

Camden Healthy Start Leaflet

Pregnant women and families with children under four years old who are also receiving income support may be eligible for a Healthy Start prepaid card.

You could receive £8.50 per week if you have a baby aged under one year, £4.25 per week if you are pregnant, and £4.25 for each child aged under 4 years old.

The Healthy Start card can be used to buy milk, fresh, tinned or frozen fruit and vegetables (without any additives), fresh, dried and tinned beans and pulses, and infant formula.

To check if you qualify and to apply for a Healthy Start prepaid card, please go to the Healthy Start website. If you are unable to apply online, phone the National Healthy Start team on 0300 330 7010 (please note this is not a free phone number and you will be charged).

To apply you will need to provide:

• name
• address
• date of birth
• National Insurance number
• baby's due date (if you are pregnant)

If you don't know your National Insurance number, the Government has some information here on how to find a lost National Insurance number.

What support could I receive?

See below for the types of support available and who is eligible:

Vitamins (women's vitamins and/or children's vitamins drops)

• pregnant women aged under 18
• pregnant women aged 18 and over
• parents with babies aged under 1 year
• parents with children aged between 1 and 4 years

Healthy Start Prepaid card (£4.25 per week)
(if also receiving income support)

• pregnant women aged under 18*
• pregnant women aged 18 and over
• parents with children aged between 1 and 4 years

Healthy Start Prepaid card (£8.50 per week)
(if also receiving income support)

• parents with babies aged under 1 year

*Pregnant women under 18 are eligible for a Healthy Start prepaid card, whether or not they are receiving income support.

Important information for any families currently receiving Healthy Start vouchers

Are you currently receiving Healthy Start vouchers?

Healthy Start is changing - it is moving from vouchers to a prepaid card.

You need to reapply online or by telephone now to continue to receive Healthy Start payments. If you don't reapply for a prepaid card, you will stop receiving Healthy Start vouchers from 1 April 2022.

To reapply please visit The Healthy Start NHS website.

If you are unable to apply online, you can also reapply by calling the National Healthy Start Team on 0300 330 7010.

Further support: You can contact your local children's centre if you need further support in reapplying for a Healthy Start prepaid card.

Families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has agreed to temporarily extend the Healthy Start scheme to people who meet all of the following criteria:

• have parental responsibility for at least one British child who is less than 4 years old
• have a family take-home pay of less than £408 per month
• are excluded from claiming public funds due to a current (or lack of) immigration status

Please note this temporary extension does not include pregnant women.

NRPF families can apply to Healthy Start by requesting an application form from healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk.

To apply, parents/carer will need to provide copies of:

• their passport/Home Office reference number or case ID (if known)
• proof of address
• child's or children's birth certificate/s
• bank statement

If you do not have a bank statement, please provide documents that demonstrate you meet the financial criteria. The Healthy Start Team will contact you as soon as possible if they require further information to help process the application.

There may not be one set of documents that evidence the eligibility criteria. Please contact healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk in you have any questions.

What is the Young Parents Team?

• Are you aged 24 years old or younger?
• Do you live in Camden?
• Are you about to become a dad or mum?
• Do you already have a child under five?

If you answered yes to all of these questions the Young Parents Team (YPT) could support you.

The YPT offers emotional support and help to young dads and mums through individual, couple or family therapy, before and after the birth of their child.

Some of the things that we support people with include:

• Anxiety, worries, fears, low mood, post-natal depression; frustrations, excitement
• Difficulties in the parents’ relationship
• Child development, understanding your baby, managing challenging behaviours
• Working with any other professionals that may be supporting you
• Linking families to other services that can help, including employment and benefits support and family support services.

The team is made up of experienced workers who are trained in psychological therapies and have expertise in child development and individual, couple and family relationships.

You can find more information about the YPT on their Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust webpage.

Contact us for more details by emailing our Children's Safeguarding and Social Work Team at lacamhsadmin@tavi-port.nhs.uk or by calling 020 7974 3371.

Young Parents Team leaflet (PDF)

Good Work Camden can help you find a job, training or volunteering 

If you are a mum, dad or carer with a child under 5 years, or parent to be, Good Work Camden can help you to:

Find work 

• look for jobs, local and part time
• fill in application forms
• write a CV and supporting letters
• apply for jobs and prepare for interviews
• discuss your childcare options

Look for courses

• look for a local course with creche
• look for apprenticeships
• book a place on a training course
• look at funding options for your course

Volunteering

• find a volunteer placement to build skills and experience
• join our Parent Champions programme

Contact Good Work Camden

Email: jobhub@camden.gov.uk 
Phone: 0207 974 1666

Good Work Camden website

Don't forget! Children's Centre Services also run courses on becoming a parent and caring for your child under 5.

Video - How the Camden Employability Service can help you

Good Work Camden - Jobhub Poster (PDF)

You can check which benefits are available to you on GOV.UK 

Support we offer 

If you have children under 5 or you’re pregnant, we can help you: 

• understand which benefits to claim 
• apply for benefits or appeal against a decision 
• get support with the costs of a new baby 
• get support with housing costs 
• make a claim if you or your child has an illness or disability 

How to get support 

Fill in our online form if you need help or advice with benefits for your family. 

Our Welfare Rights team will contact you to talk about the support we can offer.  

Get benefits help or advice

Parent Champion volunteering

Early Years volunteering

 Become a Parent Champion volunteer

Volunteer for a few hours a week; meet other parents to talk about local services and support them to use their local children’s centre.

Volunteering can benefit you too.

The Camden Parent Champions programme offers full training and support for all our volunteers. Your experience as a parent champion volunteer will help:

• build your confidence
• develop your communication skills.

And can help you to find work, training or take up an apprenticeship. 

For more information contact Camden Parent Champions:
Phone 020 7974 8961 or email camdensurestart@camden.gov.uk

Or come and talk to us at your nearest children’s centre.

Parent Champions leaflet (PDF) 

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Come and join the Early Years volunteers

Several organisations in Camden provide opportunities for parents to volunteer and support other parents with young children. 

Camden Baby Feeding Team volunteers

Run by CNWL NHS Foundation Trust

• supporting mums within the breastfeeding and baby feeding drop-ins and other groups
• time commitment: 2-3 hours a week.

For more information email camden.babyfeedingteam@nhs.net

Camden Blossoms volunteers

Run by Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

• supporting and advising parents to look after their own wellbeing and give their children the best start in life
• providing one to one support and running parent support groups
• time commitment: 2-3 hours a week.

For more information contact 020 7561 5297 or blossoms@manorgardenscentre.org

Camden Family Support volunteers

Run by Home Start Camden and Islington

• providing regular one-to-one support, friendship and practical help to families with at least one child under the age of 5, who are under stress, or experiencing difficulties. Support is provided from within the family’s home. 
• time commitment: 3-4 hours a week.

For more information contact; 020 7424 1603 or info@homestartcamden.org

Camden Parent Champions volunteers

Run by the Integrated Early Years Service

• promoting Early Years Services to parents within Camden 
• reaching out to parents and talking to them about the importance of early education
• time commitment: 1-2 hours a week (flexible).

For more information contact 020 7974 8961 or camdensurestart@camden.gov.uk

Camden Supporting Families volunteers

Run by Little Village

• supporting the sorting of donated items, including quality checks, organising stock and meeting families
• providing marketing and fundraising support
• time commitment: 4 hours a month (flexible)

For more information contact camden@littlevillagehq.org

Parent Champions

Run by the Anna Freud Centre

Getting involved in the work of the Centre can vary depending on your time and interest. Opportunities could include:

• representing the Centre at events and conferences and sharing experiences with journalists
• helping improve how existing services are delivered and getting involved in designing or developing new projects
• talking to funders about mental health and well-being and training professionals so they understand the needs of parents 

For more information contact Myrvete.gashi@annafreud.org

Early years volunteering opportunities leaflet (PDF)

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Find childcare

Free childcare funding