41 new adoptive mums celebrate their first Mothering Sunday since becoming a parent by adopting through PACT.
Parents and Children Together (PACT) helps hundreds of families each year through adoption support services across the south east of England. This Mothering Sunday, PACT CEO Natausha van Vliet shared a message;
"Mothering Sunday is a very special day for the whole PACT family. This year there will be 41 new adoptive mums celebrating their first Mothering Sunday since becoming a parent by adopting through PACT. It will no doubt be such an emotional day for them all, and we acknowledge the significance of this occasion for them and their families."
"We also have many mothers who we are supporting through our adoption support services, our Bounce Back 4 Kids domestic abuse recovery programme and our Alana House women’s community project. To them, and to all women caring for children, and those in the process of becoming a mother, we wish them a peaceful and happy day."
“We acknowledge that, for some people, Mother’s Day is a difficult day, and we hold those people in our thoughts too.”
PACT runs a range of information events to help prospective adopters find out more about adopting. The next available session is on Zoom on 27 April, where you can hear from a PACT social worker and a PACT adopter about the process.
Sasha, who adopted through PACT, shared her highlights of motherhood, from watching her daughter learn to clap to the 'magic' of her first saying 'mummy'.
"Seeing her joy at mastering new skills and exploring the world has been just amazing. Seeing her thrive and catch up, and being so settled and secure is more than I ever hoped to achieve in this first year. She has also been completely loved, accepted and adored by my family and friends, which has just made me realise how my decision to adopt was completely the right thing to do.”
Alongside their adoption support services, PACT also run Bounce Back 4 Kids, a support programme using therapeutic techniques to support children who have been affected by or witnessed domestic abuse, and Alana House, a community project in Berkshire for women facing multiple disadvantages usually as a result of trauma.
A group of women supported by Alana House run a community cafe in Reading for service users, staff, volunteers and invited guests. The cafe provides the opportunity for the women to learn and hone new skills, and all the cafe volunteers have undertaken barista and food hygiene training. You can support the work of Alana House by purchasing Love, Trust, Hope – Cooking to Strengthen a Community, a recipe book inspired by the Alana House Community Café, as well as Alana House's own blend of coffee.
PACT will shortly be launching its Marathon in May activity challenge, where participants walk, run, cycle or hike 26.2 miles over the month of May. Taking part helps PACT’s vital work with vulnerable women, children and families, and all participants receive a medal and certificate. Follow @PACTCharity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to be the first to hear more.