Leave this website quickly.

About this poster

This poster outlines the process through which the supporting birth parents project was created.

Download this poster.

The Supporting Birth Parents Project's poster from the Stories of Change Conference.

This poster is split into six sections, which read as follows:

In the beginning

  • Engagement with Birth Parents
  • 1-2-1 meetings to capture lived experience
  • Promoting the Project
  • Sourcing safe spaces to meet
  • Community engagement

Listen and learn

  • Feeling heard
  • New peer support group
  • Individual support sessions
  • Film co-produced with parents
  • MSP for Public Health meets parents
  • Support in HMP Grampian

Making a difference

  • Parents report feeling less isolated
  • Friendships formed
  • Increased confidence and self esteem
  • Phase 1 report and film shared
  • Findings shared with professionals
  • 2nd film co-produced with parents

Recommendations

  • The creation of a dedicated Birth Parent Service offering impartial support
  • The importance of trauma-informed practice
  • Consistency of services and personnel
  • Improved communication and the use of accessible language
  • Improvements to Letterbox contact
  • Need for more supportive assessments
  • Improvements to final communication once court proceedings have concluded, acknowledging the emotional impact on the birth parent and signposting to support services

In our own words

It feels like I have finally found someone who understands what I’m going through.
Instead of just feeling exhausted, I am now feeling a sense of happiness.
I count down the days to Thursday when the group meets.

Hope for the future

  • Dedicated services
  • Sustainable funding
  • Ongoing support
  • Education and early intervention
  • Systemic change
  • Keep the promise