"Experience with Sure Start"

I had my first son in November 2010, when he was born we lived in a little village and I found it hard to mix and meet other mums. I found breast feeding very hard and had a lot of issues with this and there was not a lot of support around. I suffered with post-natal depression and felt a big part of this was that I hadn't made friends local to me and didn't get out as much as I should and would like to, and didn't have people I could turn to.

In 2013 we moved to Rushcliffe and in July 2014 we had our second son. Due to the issues before I decided it was important to me to mix and make friends. I attended lots of baby groups one being the bumps and babies ran by Sure Start.

I received an email with information about training to be a breastfeeding peer supporter. I really liked the idea about helping others and meeting new people so I applied and got a place on the course.

The course was for 9 weeks and then there was a volunteering course for Sure Start added on to the end of this.

It was perfect timing for me, I'd been on maternity leave for 6 months and I was ready to start doing something I needed my brain for. I really enjoyed the course, I found it really interesting and useful as I was still breastfeeding my son.

After finishing the course I was given a place at the bumps to baby’s group as a breast feeding peer supporter. I was nervous about starting but I had so much support it all went so well. I still volunteer now as a breast feeding peer supporter. I love it and would go as far as to say it's one of the high lights of my week (sad I know! ). It's time I get to myself when I'm not a mum and not at my normally job. I get to help and support people and give back the help I found so invaluable. I've meet so many lovely people, those who come to the group and also help at the group and work for Sure Start. The staff I work with and all the staff I have worked alongside are really helpful and lovely. I've had the chance to do other courses and also get to help with other events when they take place. I've really enjoyed the whole experience of being a breast feeding peer supporter. Sure Start staff really helped me being part of the group and have always been there if there was anything I needed. Over all I have more confidence and it has helped me learn more about myself. It has also given me the confidence to put my name down for other learning opportunities that have come up.