Local mum says SureStart was ‘integral to my survival’ through motherhood challenges
- Love Ballymena
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
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Becoming a first-time mum can be overwhelming, isolating and frightening. For one Ballymena mother, support from a local SureStart programme proved so transformative that she now describes it as being “integral to my survival” during some of the most challenging years of her life.
“The past four years have been the best of my life,” says Ballymena mum Paige*.
It is a statement she does not make lightly. During that time, she has also faced significant personal challenges, including bereavement and receiving a diagnosis of neurodiversity, while navigating the demands and uncertainties of becoming a parent for the first time.
A support network discovered before birth
Paige first connected with Ballymena and Little Steps Antrim SureStart before her son Noah* was even born.
The service, funded by the Department of Education and delivered locally by Action for Children, has supported families across Ballymena and Antrim since 1999. It provides a wide range of services for children from pre-birth to four years old, alongside support for parents and carers, operating across three sites in the area.
Initially, however, Paige assumed the service was not intended for families like hers.
“A friend’s mum mentioned SureStart to me and I immediately thought that we wouldn’t be eligible because, even though we live in the catchment area, we weren’t claiming any benefits,” she explained.
After researching the programme online, she discovered that support was available to all eligible families living within the service area and registered before her baby arrived.
Finding confidence in the early months of motherhood
When Noah was born in autumn 2022, the reality of parenthood brought challenges that many new parents will recognise.
Paige found herself struggling with feelings of isolation and anxiety. Despite support from her husband, she worried constantly about whether she was doing things correctly and felt disconnected from other parents.
Everything changed when she spotted an advert for SureStart activities, including baby yoga and baby swimming sessions.
“It was nerve-wracking,” she recalled.
“Walking into a room where you don’t know anybody – and feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing – but the staff were so warm and supportive.”
What began as attending a class soon developed into something much more valuable.
“I connected with one other mum in particular and we chat and meet up outside of groups all the time. She lives in Antrim and our paths would probably never have crossed only for SureStart.”
Support for parents as well as children
As Noah grew, Paige became increasingly involved with the service and its wider programmes.
By summer 2023, she felt confident enough to leave him for short periods in the SureStart crèche, allowing her to take part in activities specifically designed for parents.
One of the experiences she remembers most fondly was taking part in allotment-based projects involving planting and harvesting.
She said the opportunity to spend time outdoors and connect with others had a significant positive impact on her mental wellbeing.
Other programmes she credits with helping her family included weaning workshops, child first aid classes and parenting courses aimed at helping parents better understand their children’s behaviour and development.
The service also provided practical support around Noah’s speech and language development, guidance while navigating a possible special educational needs diagnosis and one-to-one nursery support.
“I have benefitted as a parent just as much from SureStart as my child has,” Paige said.
An emotional milestone approaches
With Noah due to start nursery this September, the family is approaching the end of their Sure Start journey.
For Paige, that milestone brings mixed emotions.
“Now we’re coming to the end of our journey – Noah starts nursery in September – it’s really emotional looking back,” she said.
“But as my confidence has grown, I’m trying to be that voice for other mums who are struggling like I was.
“SureStart is so much more than just ‘baby classes’. It’s been integral to my survival as a new mum.”
‘When we hold parents, we hold the child too’
Franci Simpson, Service Coordinator at Ballymena and Little Steps Sure Start, said Paige’s story reflects the wider philosophy behind the programme.
“At Sure Start we offer a holistic service. We see the child as part of a unit, a bigger picture. When we ‘hold’ parents, we hold the child too,” she explained.
“We want to normalise what it’s like having a child under four years old – the challenges but also the opportunities for learning and brain development. Everything is a wonder to children that age.”
She added that supporting families through both difficulties and milestones is at the heart of the service’s work.
“It’s our absolute privilege to support families like Paige’s. She’s so complimentary about us but she deserves credit for engaging and for being vulnerable.
“Being an advocate is a brave thing to do and testament to just how much she’s also grown during her time with SureStart.”
For families across Ballymena and Antrim, Paige’s experience serves as a reminder that support is available, often in places people may not realise are open to them. As her family prepares for the next chapter, she hopes sharing her story will encourage other parents facing similar struggles to reach out and take that first step.
Find out more
Families interested in learning more about Ballymena and Little Steps Antrim SureStart can:
• Search “Ballymena & Little Steps Antrim SureStart” on Facebook
• Telephone: 028 2564 2883
• Tap the button below to visit the service webpage and online information resources:
*Names have been changed to protect identity.
