The Happy Mums Foundation has secured £70,000 in lottery grants to keep running face-to-face support groups for women facing postpartum mental health challenges in Cumbria, BBC Health reported. Director Lucinda Bray said the funding removes the immediate threat to the sessions.
The awards comprise £50,000 from the Postcode Lottery and £20,000 from the National Lottery. Bray said they would allow existing groups to continue while the foundation works toward a more sustainable financial footing.
Established in Carlisle in 2015, the foundation has supported more than 1,000 families across Cumbria. In October, it warned that financial pressures could force its in-person peer support groups to move online.
Bray had previously told the BBC that losing a safe place to meet and speak openly could harm vulnerable women’s mental health. She highlighted the importance of having somewhere to discuss suicidal thoughts.
The grants provide an immediate reprieve, rather than a stated permanent funding solution. Bray said the foundation would continue efforts to strengthen its long-term sustainability alongside running the groups.