A Fife project which provides young and expectant parents, often from deprived areas, with a weekly safe space to take part in creative activities has been praised.
Expecting Something, which is run by the Starcatchers charity, works with new parents under-25 and their babies in Lochgelly and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, and aims to use the power of the arts to support improved outcomes for the country’s youngest children.
Many young parents or parents-to-be in that demographic may be at risk, come from poorer areas or have limited life choices, meaning they can also be the most disengaged from their communities or have chaotic lifestyles.
Rhona Matheson, chief executive of Starcatchers, said the opportunity to participate in Expecting Something empowers these young parents, boosts their confidence, forges new relationships and develops stronger bonds with their babies.
Weekly sessions take place at the Lochgelly Centre, where Mark McDonald MSP, Scotland’s minister for childcare and early years, took time on Wednesday to express his support.
He said: “These young mothers are often the hardest to reach in terms of age and lifestyle and are in greatest need of support, so it was great to have the minister here and for him to see what we’ve been doing with the young mums and their babies.
“The opportunity to participate in Expecting Something affords these young people the chance to connect with their peers, express themselves, be creative, build in confidence and well-being which improves outcomes for themselves and their children.”
Although the programme is open to expectant mothers, most of the young Lochgelly mums taking part have young children and have been involved with many art forms from photography to puppetry.
Funding from Creative Scotland, the Scottish Government and the Lloyds TSB Foundation among others means cash is available for the local project well into next year, and Ms Matheson hopes it will remain a permanent fixture in Fife.
“We really want to embed it into the community here in Fife and also in Edinburgh because we know that it has a really positive impact on mums and babies,” she concluded.
“We want to make sure that continues.”
Following his visit, Mr McDonald tweeted his support of the scheme, saying he had “great fun at a fab wee project”.
https://twitter.com/markmcdsnp/status/783647989030150144
