On 10 March, we gathered at The Space in Congleton for something really special. We hosted a Thank You coffee morning to bring together the people who make Smile Group what it is.
Around 40 supporters joined us and seeing so many familiar faces in one room was genuinely heart warming. Volunteers, funders, corporate partners, individual givers and friends from across the VCSE sector all came together and it reminded us just how many people stand behind our mission
Celebration of community
This event was our chance to say a simple but heartfelt thank you. Thank you to the volunteers who show up week after week. Thank you to the funders and businesses who believe in our work. Thank you to the individuals who donate, fundraise and quietly champion what we do.
We were joined by representatives from Merrehill, Pitch Sales Solution, H21 Safety, trundl, Develop People, Roma, Sales Geek, Health Shield and Dairygold, as well as funders including The National Lottery Community Fund and Cheshire Community Foundation. Partners from CVS, 0-19+ team, Family Hubs, Congleton Rotary and other local charities also came along, and we were delighted to welcome a special guest, the Deputy Mayor of Congleton, Councillor Suzy Firkin.
Together, this community helped us support 287 parents in 2025, deliver 134 peer support groups, provide counselling to 53 people, offer one to one support to 119 parents and reach families through 2,563 contact points across the year.
The bigger picture
Even though the morning was a celebration, we also wanted to be honest about what families are facing right now and why our work matters more than ever.
Perinatal mental health challenges are incredibly common. 1 in 4 new mums and 1 in 10 new dads experience them and shockingly 50% go undiagnosed.
Demand for our support has risen by 242% since 2019. In the last three months alone, we have supported 151 individuals!
And this is not just happening at Smile. The Mothers for Mothers 2025 report reflects what we are seeing across the sector. More parents are turning to charities and community groups because NHS services are stretched and thresholds for support are high.
At the same time, charity giving is falling across the UK. The UK Giving Report 2026 by the Charity Aid Foundation shows a significant drop in donations. For a small, self reliant charity like ours, this makes the support of the people in that room even more important.
Looking ahead: our mission for 2030
We shared our goal for the future: to grow from supporting 287 parents a year to 500 parents annually by 2030.
It is a big ambition, but it comes from a simple belief. Every parent deserves somewhere to turn. Somewhere they feel understood, supported and not alone. With the continued support of our community, we know we can reach even more families who need us.
We hope everyone left the morning feeling proud of what they have helped us achieve and inspired about what we can do next.
Until next year…
What a morning it was. We would love to make this an annual event because it is so important to pause, reflect and celebrate the people who make Smile Group possible.
To everyone who joined us, thank you. Your support does not just help us run our services. It helps change the lives of hundreds of families across Cheshire East.
Get involved with our work or send us a email- hello@smilegroup.org.uk
Photos: Studio one photography
Venue: The Space, Congleton