We are a group of mums  in Glasgow’s East End who have been o suffering with postnatal depression. When everything seemed hopeless, it was the Quarriers Maternal Wellbeing Service that was our salvation. Here was a service that identified our struggles, didn’t judge, wasn’t a box-ticking service, offered the necessary support, and gave us a sense of community when loneliness consumed us.

This service helps to heal lifetimes of trauma and abuse. Yet, come the end of September, this crucial service is set to shut down due to funding problems. This closure will risk lives. 

The impact of such a closure would indeed be devastating as the Quarriers Maternal Wellbeing Service fills a gap where even the NHS often falls short. It exists as a lifeline for struggling mums and their children, who are left largely vulnerable otherwise. Everybody should also be aware of the efforts of its staff, amongst them Rhonda and Alison, who continue to guide us mums with patience, understanding, and a unique skill set. 

Around 1 in 10 women develop postnatal depression within a year of giving birth in the UK (source: NHS UK), and often help can be hard to reach, if not impossible. This service has been vital in mitigating the effects of such a mentally grueling condition in those important first months, helping us to develop stronger bonds between mums and our infants, healthier relationships and indeed, healthier mums. 

The closure of this service would be devastating for mums, their children and the local area.  Mothers and their children will find themselves without help and support during extremely difficult times, and we wonder where will new mums that are struggling go for help, when the NHS is not offering any support. This service offers help that often nowhere else is able to provide, and it should be replicated across Scotland, not closed! 

We ask you to join our cause and petition to keep this essential service alive, for the present and future mums in our community who are in dire need of it. Every signature counts and serves as a little bit of hope for our mothers and their children. Sign this petition and help conserve the Quarriers Maternal Wellbeing Service.