Mums Matter is a National Mind programme that was created by Mums for Mums with babies up to two years old to help them to adjust to motherhood. Brecon and District Mind have been delivering it for nearly five years. It is a six-week face to face course that runs for groups for two hours each week; we also provide childcare. There is a strong emphasis on peer support and being able to have honest conversations about the inevitable challenges that come with being a mum – tiredness, perhaps a loss of identity, anxiety, guilt and loneliness.

Our next Mums Matter (6 week) course starts on Tuesday 10th September 2024 (You need to register for this course)

To find out more / register for the course, you can contact:

Main Office: 01874 611529 Email: mumsmatter@breconmind.org.uk

Sarah: 07535 385512 Email: sarah@breconmind.org.uk

You can also complete our referral form and send back to us.

Local Mums get a boost from The National Lottery Community Fund  for Brecon and District Mind’s Mums Matter Project.

Brecon and District Mind, has been awarded funding by the National Lottery Community Fund to continue to deliver its popular and successful Mums Matter courses for the next 18 months. The course has been running in Brecon since 2017.

Mums Matter is a free 6-week programme which was originally designed by a group of mums, with the support of National Mind.  Brecon and District Mind was amongst the first local branches of Mind to offer the course and it has gone from strength to strength.

It comprises of weekly 2-hour sessions delivered over 6 weeks in a group setting (around 6 to 8 mums). It is suitable for mums who may be struggling, including those with mild to moderate postnatal depression or anxiety. It is a great way to build resilience, connect with other mums and take a proactive role in looking after their mental health. Mums can self-refer or be referred by their Health Visitors.

Ros Sandhu, Lead Mums Matter facilitator explains, “Mums often feel very alone with their feelings when starting the course, but soon realise they aren’t the only ones who are, for example missing their pre-baby life or craving some time alone… to sleep! Later in the course we show mums some basic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques which can help to break a negative thought pattern that arise on tough days and how to ask others for what we need. There are also opportunities to learn some mindfulness techniques. Crucially we support women to remember who they are, apart from mums, and perhaps identify ways that they can reconnect with that part of themselves”.

Crucially there is a creche on site, provided by Little Cwtch, so that mums have time to focus on themselves and have some much-needed space to think. It was founded by Rowan Kennedy- Brown and is a well-established business which has been running in Brecon for over 10 years, offering a wide variety of opportunities and services in the area. For more information visit  the website, www.littlecwtch.co.uk.

Working in partnership with a local business, staffed mainly by women fits beautifully with the ethos of Mums Matter. As we say, “Incredible things happen when women support each other”. The peer support, connection and community is key to the success of the course. Louise, who has attended the course says, “At the heart of what the course offered was a safe space to talk honestly about the challenges that inevitably come with motherhood. We started by unpacking the messages that women get about what it means to be a mother (especially on social media now) and how we should feel / behave/ look in the 21^st century- believe it or not, we even manage to have a giggle! I came away from the course understanding that I just need to be a good enough mum and that trying to be perfect was going to make me unhappy, or even ill.”

Opportunities to Connect…

The funding from the National Lottery Community Fund has also allowed us to continue offering a weekly Mums’ Social Group on Wednesdays between 11.15 and 1.15 (term time only) in the Subud Hall in Brecon. It is open to all mums with children aged 0 to 3 in Brecon and the Surrounding areas. There is no need to book, you can just come along for a cuppa. Many of the mums who attend this group have either completed the 6-week Mums Matter Course, or are thinking of doing it, so it’s a great way to find out more about how Brecon and District Mind can support families in Brecon and the surrounding areas and and meet people.

Marie Davies, CEO of Brecon and District Mind welcomed the award saying:

“We are thrilled to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to continue the amazing work and support that the Mums Matter course has been delivering to Brecon and the surrounding area.  It is so encouraging to hear the feedback from the mums about the difference that this course has had on their wellbeing, so much so that some of the mums now Volunteer on the Mums Matter course and have set up their own Peer Support Social Group”

Guy Jones, Funding Officer for The National Lottery Community Fund said:

“We are very impressed with how well planned the project is.  Brecon Mind ran a pilot project first and used what they learnt from that to target mums and mums to be, recognising they can sometimes feel a bit isolated and appreciate some support. The project is going from strength to strength and we are looking forward to seeing what they achieve in the next eighteen months.”

Robert Roffe,  Head of Mid and West Wales region at The National Lottery Community Fund said:

“Congratulations to Mums Matter on their new grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. We are delighted to award them £98,927 to support mums and mums to be in Brecon and surrounding villages. We know many have already benefitted from their activities, including one to one help and support groups.  We look forward to hearing what Mum’s Matter achieve with this award which is made possible thanks to players of the National Lottery.”

Anyone interested in receiving any further information on the Mums Matter course should email mumsmatter@breconmind.org.uk or call 01874 611 529