Smile supported more parents than ever in the last year with a blend of tailored services and is inviting you to join our Raise a Smile regular giving programme to help us to reach more families. While demand for our services continues to increase, the stark reality is that the rising cost of living and pressure on our small team has a significant impact on our cost-base. We’re incredibly proud of our service but we’re honest too about the reality of growing a charity and how challenging it is to ensure it remains sustainable. Smile is free to parents at the point of access (though donations a ..read more

As a Cheshire-East perinatal mental health charity, Smile Group provides a blend of support for expectant and new parents experiencing emotional challenges. Due to the ongoing demand for our service, we have an opening for a volunteer role at our weekly Macclesfield peer support groups, which run out of Ash Grove Children’s Centre on Fridays, 10-12 noon. Smile offers parents compassionate support in trusted spaces with four weekly peer support groups (Nantwich, Sandbach, Congleton and Macclesfield) as well as 1-1 support, talk therapy and monthly family sessions. Our team includes skilled well ..read more

Social responsibility is not a new term. Most organisations have an understanding of it, and some embrace it wholeheartedly, mostly by choosing to give back to a cause that has emotional resonance or perhaps a personal connection. As a small perinatal mental health charity in Cheshire East, Smile Group’s resources may be limited, but our passion is overflowing. We often assume that businesses on our doorstep are aware of us, and our Ops Director, Ruth, has certainly thrown herself with great momentum into the local business network, developing great relationships and creating partnerships with ..read more

It’s a simple premise, yet easily overlooked. When we founded Smile we saw a gap in perinatal mental health support at a community level. To be honest, nearly 12 years ago the phrase ‘perinatal’ was relatively unknown and talking openly about emotional wellbeing challenges in early parenthood didn’t seem to be comfortable conversations at baby groups. Fast forward 11 and a half years and we’re at a busy family meet-up – one of our monthly ‘Saturday Socials’ at Ruby’s Fund in Congleton, which invites mums, dads, partners, babies, toddlers and siblings to come together to chat, drink a hot brew ..read more

Congleton-based health and safety consultancy and training provider, H21 Safety Ltd, has chosen Smile Group as its Charity of the Year. The team of dedicated and qualified industry professionals at H21 Safety provide dynamic safety solutions and services, taking away the many health and safety headaches that organisations experience. H21 Safety met Smile Group through the East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and are proud advocates of the importance of giving back to the local community. They were so impressed with the charity’s work to support families affected by perinatal mental health challen ..read more

Cheshire-based perinatal mental health charity, Smile Group, hosted a celebratory ball to mark its 10th anniversary, with 100 attendees at De Vere Cranage Hall Estate near Holmes Chapel. L-R (Nat, Sue, Ruth & Bronya from the Smile team) The event successfully raised £2,889 and was an opportunity to reflect on the charity’s achievements, having supported more than 1,000 families experiencing perinatal mental health challenges across Cheshire East in the last decade. Supported by local business partners*, the Anniversary Ball brought together the team, parents, trustees, volunteers, stakehol ..read more

Cheshire-based perinatal mental health charity, Smile Group, is delighted to welcome four new Trustees to its Board.  Victoria Markham-Bean, Neil McPherson, Dan Rowe and Lee Shore have all become Trustees of Smile, bringing their own specific skills and experience to the team.  Victoria Markham-BeanNeil McPhersonDan RoweLee Shore Victoria is an HR Advisor who benefitted from Smile’s support services when she became a mum. She brings a wealth of HR experience and is keen to support the charity’s fundraising efforts. Based in Sandbach, Victoria looks forward to bringing lots of enthusi ..read more

Co-founder of Smile Group, Ruth Williams was a Batonbearer for Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay on Sunday 17th July. she was selected for her dedication to maternal mental health work  Ruth Williams, 42, co-founded Smile Group, a charity in East Cheshire that benefits from money raised by Sport Relief, to support parents who are experiencing perinatal mental health challenges by offering group support, talk therapy, wellbeing walks and home visits.  To recognise and celebrate Ruth’s passion and dedication to making a difference in her community, she was nominated to carry The Quee ..read more

Smile Group is thrilled to be hosting its debut 10 Year Anniversary Ball on Friday 30th September. Attendees are invited to don their glad rags for a fabulous evening at De Vere Cranage Hall, Holmes Chapel, to mark the momentous milestone.  Having started from humble beginnings on Mother’s Day 2011, Cheshire mums, Ruth Williams and Natalie Nuttall noticed a glaring gap in community support after personal experiences of postnatal depression. The charity now runs weekly support groups in Macclesfield, Congleton, Sandbach and Nantwich as well as 1-1 talk therapy, home visits, monthly family ..read more

Date: 14th June 2022 Time: 1pm-2pm Venue: Smile Group, C/O Mendy & Watt, 7 Middlewich Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. CW4 7EA Join us to review Smile Group’s progress in the past year and to consider our next steps. There is also a formal aspect of the meeting to vote in new Trustees. To confirm your attendance, please email contact@smilegroup.org.uk We look forward to welcoming you to the meeting! (See parking details below). The post You are invited to Smile Group’s AGM appeared first on Smile Group ..read more