PRESS RELEASE: 28/11/22
CICS UNITE TO LAUNCH NEW POLISH SUPPORT GROUPS TO
FAMILIES IN NEWARK
Polish families are being welcomed to a new ‘Polish Village’ in Newark, to receive first-class, caring and accessible maternal support across a range of free classes, including a breastfeeding support group, stay-and-play and after-school club. The new group, launched by C.I.C, Support ME, strives to improve the health and emotional well-being of Polish families living in Newark. They aim to boost breastfeeding rates, promote mother-to-baby bonding, reduce isolation and provide support where Polish school children can learn and thrive together. Launching at the central, family-friendly venue, BeanBlock, Support ME’s experienced, bilingual doulas and volunteers will listen to mums over refreshments and cake and provide free support across three new groups in this safe and welcoming setting.
“Many Polish families across the country are often isolated and don’t feel listened to or supported. Language barriers play a big role in preventing them from reaching out to health services”, says Anna Rutkowska, co-founder of Support ME. “Very often they don’t know or understand the health system, often resulting in worse health outcomes.”
Support Me is now engaging with the Polish community of Newark and working to build bridges with health services and local councils to make bilingual education accessible and create a community and safe space for families.
Newark has a large and growing community of Polish families, whilst hundreds of Polish servicemen who died in the Battle of Britain or subsequently found their final resting places in Newark-on-Trent’s cemetery. Here, all but ten of the 90 Commonwealth and all of the 397 Polish burials were made. Newark’s Fountain Gardens is also home to an Irena Sandler statue, which celebrates her tireless work to protect and rescue Jewish children and their families, by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto.
The unity of two local C.I.Cs working together will see the first-of-its-kind in-person Polish maternity support across the county, helping to bridge the disparity in postnatal support offered to Minority Ethnic communities. These groups will place Newark on the map as a leader in fully inclusive maternal support for Polish families, enabling them to have the best opportunity to thrive at the earliest point.
“We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Support Me to provide Polish
families in Newark with a Polish Village in BeanBlock”, says Aliki Kalathas, Co-founder of Beanblock Cafe
“As a Community Interest Company ourselves, we are pleased to be able to provide another amazing Community Interest Company with the space they need to expand the amazing work they do.”
“One of the core missions of BeanBlock is to help families in isolation and bring the community together, something we feel Support ME also strongly achieves. We are very excited about what this partnership will bring to Newark.”
The first sessions begin on 01 December 2022. Newark’s Polish residents are invited to Support ME’s celebratory launch party and a visit from St Nick!
Booking for Polish Families click here – informacje dla polskich rodzin kliknij tutaj
Booking for organisations, media and health professionals click here
NOTES TO EDITOR:
Journalists are invited to the launch event on 01 December. For further details, or to organise an interview please contact: Emma Oldham (07939180489) / emma_web07@yahoo.com
For photos please visit Dropbox folder:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1doidj3gowkq45x5q50ot/h?dl=0&rlkey=euryfd30hyxfwn
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About Support ME CIC:
Support ME Is run by birth workers, mothers and volunteers who share a passion for improving perinatal and birth care for all communities and acknowledge and accept their cultural practices. Support ME creates a safe and inclusive space by offering culturally-appropriate support and guidance. Support Me offers antenatal, birth and postnatal support including pregnancy care, birth doula support and helping families manage their anxieties and emotions.
About BeanBlock:
BeanBlock is a community interest company, distributing all profits to extend community provision for families in Newark as well as supporting local family support charities and initiatives. It offers a safe and welcoming environment, designed bespoke for families, by families and offers an entire programme of community activities giving parents opportunities to make connections. BeanBlock stands out from the ever-growing crowd through its dedication to t local families’ mental health and resilience.
