National work Where we work Where we work We strive to ensure that high quality peer support is delivered during pregnancy, birth and beyond. We achieve this by delivering services both locally (South Essex) and nationally. South Essex We directly deliver a Pregnancy Pal and Birth Buddy volunteer programme in South Essex (Basildon, Thurrock and Canvey Island). Click here to find out more about our Pregnancy Pals, birth support, groups and exercise sessions. Across the UK Informal peer support can make a unique and invaluable contribution to achieving healthier pregnancies, better births and healthier babies. It can also reduce pressure on public services by being embedded alongside maternity and early year’s services. Not everything needs to be professionalised…there is a way of working with professionals to enhance even further the value they bring. They complement one another. Parents 1st is all about unleashing the potential of parents to help other parents. Carrie Deacon, Head of Social Action, NESTA We strive to make this happen by providing training, resources and a wide range of support packages to commissioners and other organisations: How to best use perinatal peer support How to make it sustainable How to design and implement it Click here for further information. Our licensed affiliates We also create closer partnerships with organisations that share our ethos and vision. We have two licensed affiliate programmes operating in Tower Hamlets and Derby. Click here to find out more.