Updates from our outreach project with Home-Start Portsmouth

In December, we helped launch a brand-new initiative with Home-Start Portsmouth, called the Antenatal Results and Choices Outreach Project. Funded and supported by us, this two-year programme works alongside families, community and support agencies, and healthcare professionals in the Portsmouth area to support pregnancy, antenatal testing and outcomes for all families. We particularly want this project to engage with parents struggling with a difficult pregnancy or an infant bereavement, who may not otherwise have heard of ARC’s support services. The importance of this joint aim was voiced by Home-Start’s Perinatal Coordinator: 

“I think the ARC project is a lifeline for a very vulnerable demographic of parents who may otherwise fall between the cracks. The situation these parents find themselves in is uniquely painful, challenging and often overshadowed by taboo. These parents need someone to offer empathetic listening, hold space for them and the no doubt myriad emotions that come with their situation, and be an impartial but knowledgeable and trustworthy confidante.” 

Goals for the project are to: 

• Provide active listening for all expectant or grieving families. 
• Signpost families to additional help, from ARC to hospital, counselling and local support agencies. 
• Support everyone’s choices, no matter the path each family decides to take. 
• Provide compassionate grief support to help families who have had a TFMR. 

These first six months have focused on setting up the project, creating resources and establishing good working relationships. Jen, the ARC Outreach Officer, shared initial updates and feedback, which we are really proud of, including: 

1. Creating a leaflet for both families and healthcare professionals (digital and printed), to signpost parents for ongoing professional support. 
2. Undertaking training to better understand the complexities of the antenatal screening process (from ARC) and infant bereavement loss in difficult cultures and communities. 
3. Delivering briefing presentations to relevant healthcare professionals, Home-Start staff and volunteers and local stakeholders to explain the scope of this Outreach project. 
4. Running Family Hub Open Days and offering 1:1 support to 14 families (both in-person and via calls). The project has also supported grandparents, siblings and wider family members affected by TFMR via light-touch support, social media presence, local family groups and visits to the City of Sanctuary Refugee Hub in Portsmouth. 

Jen shared with us that alongside the emotional challenges that come with supporting families in such difficult circumstances, she has found it ‘an immense privilege to support families at one of the most devastating and heart-breaking times of their lives.’ 

Jo, Home-Start Portsmouth’s Head of Operations, has also underlined Jen’s ‘dedication to setting up the ARC project in Portsmouth… It’s been a pleasure to read the impact Jen’s work has had on families and professionals and I look forward to becoming more involved and working with Jen and ARC over the next year.’ 

Jen also shared some poignant feedback from some of the parents she has provided compassionate grief support for, which underlines the importance of this project: 

“I can unequivocally say that without the support from ARC, and specifically the dedicated care Jen provided, I honestly don’t know how I would have coped… I am truly lost for words when it comes to expressing my gratitude to her and to ARC for the invaluable support we received.” 

“[Jen] was a kind voice on the end of the phone, who showed empathy and care towards me. We arranged to meet up for a coffee and go for a walk and this was exactly what I needed. I felt very alone and isolated even though had I had family and friends around me… [Jen] really takes the time to understand you and what you’re going through. I honestly can’t believe this service is free and I would recommend anyone who has gone through a baby loss, to reach out and speak with Jen.” 

Finally, feedback from a Specialist Screening Midwife at the Queen Alexandra Hospital shows the invaluable benefit of partnership working and knowledge sharing: 

“It bridges the gap between when women can access bereavement counselling and finishing with the maternity service. We have found working alongside Jen invaluable, Jen has really taken the role and made it what it is. We really hope the service continues.” 

We look forward to supporting Jen and Home-Start in the next phase of the project and sharing further updates. For more information, please contact Home-Start: JenA@hsportsmouth.org.uk or ARC: katy@arc-uk.org