Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies, who has been supporting a Rhyl-based charity which provides hands on help to expectant mums and mums with pre-school aged children, is delighted they are able to continue providing their in-demand services thanks to Shared Prosperity Funding (SPF) from the UK Government.
Blossom & Bloom was set up in November 2020 by founders Vicky Welsman-Millard and husband Lee, welcoming mums and babies who were experiencing homelessness and supporting them with emergency accommodation, kindness and care.
The service developed rapidly due to demand and in 2022 they offered outreach support to 20 mums and babies who found themselves in need of well-being support, advice or guidance.
In April this year they moved from Costigans Coffee Shop in the town to open their own Well-being Hub, which is situated inside the White Rose Centre. They provide daily accessible support and socialisation for both mums and babies in a safe and friendly environment.
However, funding difficulties were threatening the future of the Hub.
James visited Vicky and the team earlier this year to discuss the problems, and since that time has been liaising with them and with Denbighshire County Council in a bid to help secure the funding needed.
He is therefore delighted that they have now received a contract via Working Denbighshire, thanks to Shared Prosperity Funding (SPF) from the UK Government, and that they are able to continue providing their services. Working Denbighshire is an employability service which aims to support Denbighshire residents, aged 16 and above, who are in or at risk of poverty.
James said:
"I first visited Blossom and Bloom back in 2022 and was extremely impressed with the work they are doing.
“I was therefore concerned to learn of the funding difficulties they were facing earlier this year and was keen to help them in any way that I could.
“In recent months I have been liaising with Vicky and contacted Denbighshire County Council Working Denbighshire on their behalf, in a bid to speed-up the funding.
“It is great news that this is now in place and they can continue providing much-needed support to mums and expectant mums in Rhyl. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers.”
Vicky said:
“We are in such a better position now funding wise and are so busy.
“The Denbighshire Well-being & Engagement Collective - DEWC (a collaboration between West Rhyl Young Peoples Project, Blossom & Bloom, The Denbigh Workshop and Denbigh Youth (4 Denbighshire registered charities)) have now received a contract via the Denbighshire County Council Working Denbighshire umbrella to deliver community engagement activities to 200 people/mums between 1st September 2023 and 31st March 2024.
“We are hoping high engagement numbers will encourage Denbighshire County Council to continue our funding offer in the future.
“Thanks to the funding, staff are now in post and we are delivering socialisation, structured support, well-being courses (homelessness to happiness & best foot forward in parenting) along with continued daily drop-in & baby essentials swap shop.
“Blossom & Bloom encourage any mums with pre-school age children to pop into the hub for a cuppa, especially mums who are struggling and would benefit from a supportive environment and making friends.
“We are also accepting donations of baby essentials items such as prams, cots, next-to-me cribs, nappies, wipes, baby toys and like-new baby clothes and blankets.
“Please contact our well-being hub on 01745 314050 or email us at: [email protected]”
