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Our service offering has been shaped around the parents we support, with compassion and kindness at its roots. Our premise was to create safe, non-judgmental spaces in which parents can connect with peers and benefit from a combination of services at a vulnerable time in their lives.
Smile’s team has grown organically over the years, combining lived experience with professional insight. Our team is the lifeblood of the organisation and brings a blend of expertise with first-hand understanding of the reality of living through perinatal mental health challenges.
Ruth co-founded Smile in 2011 with Natalie and is the charity’s Operations Director. Like Natalie she had experience of perinatal mental illness and was adamant that more support was needed for families across Cheshire East at a community level.
Ruth looks after all things behind the scenes, from HR to finance, funding, team management, policies and safeguarding.
(Below is a video via Comic Relief of Ruth when she was selected to be part of the Queen’s Baton Relay 2022)
Speaking about why she set up Smile, Ruth said: “I desperately wanted someone else to talk to about how I was feeling to ‘normalise’ some of the feelings. I genuinely think this might have stopped me feeling as bad as I did back in 2010. Having peer support – people who have been there to talk to gives you hope and is different to engaging with professionals.”
She enjoys meeting families and always finds it really moving to receive testimonials from people who have benefitted from Smile’s services.
Her words of comfort for parents are: “You’re not alone, you can and will get better. There’ll be bad days and good days, but the good days will increase.”
Ruth counts setting up Smile as ‘up there’ in her achievements and proud moments and reflects that out of a negative experience came a positive and it’s humbling to be able to help others on their journey.
Caroline joined Smile in June 2023, having experienced her own challenges when she had her twin daughters and she recognises the importance of speaking up, building a strong network and finding others who are in the same boat.
Reflecting on the things she loves most about her role, she said: “We talk a lot about babies’ growth, but when we become parents there’s a lot of personal growth that happens. I love seeing parents overcoming challenges, deepening their bond with their baby and growing through different chapters of parenthood.”
She invites parents to ‘come as they are’ to Smile Group, as there’s no need to put on a brave face, and we definitely won’t encourage you to ‘enjoy every minute’. You’ll meet a group of parents who all know how difficult being a parent can be, but will help you to realise that much of what you’re feeling is normal, and you’ll get through it.
Caroline feels strongly that parental wellbeing is a priority as it’s easy for your own needs to fall down the list. She reminds parents accessing our services that they matter and helps them to find small ways to look after themselves, which can make a big difference.
Bella joined the team in 2024 as a Wellbeing Practitioner. As a previous service user, Bella deeply understands the impact of the support we offer and the difference it makes for new parents. She brings wealth of knowledge about mental health, as well as a genuine empathy for the experience of new parents. “Having Smile gave me and my little boy a bit of hope each week and allowed me to meet other mums I could be myself around. I don’t know where we would be without the kindness, warmth and support that group offered to us. I feel so lucky that I get to now work for the charity that is directly making a positive difference to the lives of families like mine.”
Helen joined the Smile Team in 2024 as our Group Facilitator. As a mum of 3, Helen experienced her own challenges during the perinatal period and now works tirelessly to ensure that the new parents she encounters have a different experience.
“When I had my first baby, life was not at all how I expected. I lacked a support network and quickly became isolated, anxious and depressed. Back then, there was little or no support for new parents struggling with their mental health. Working for Smile has made me realise that a lot has changed and that new parents can find safe, nurturing and supportive spaces where they can share their feelings and find a way through. I don’t want others to have to go through what I did, and it makes make proud to see the difference we can make to parents and their families.”
Nic joined the Smile team in 2024 as Business Development Manager. As a mum of 2, Nic has lived experience of perinatal mental illness having struggled with Postnatal Depression and Anxiety after her daughter was born in 2020.
“I feel so passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding perinatal mental health and supporting others who are navigating their way through it. After the birth of my daughter, I felt incredibly alone and like I was failing. Talking with others helped to normalise these feelings as I quickly realised so many others were going through something similar. I’m so proud to work for Smile, who supported me at a time I needed it most. Being able to come as you are and talk openly in a welcoming, judgment free space is so important.”
We don’t have any vacancies right now but if you’d like to get in touch, please send an email to hello@smilegroup.org.uk or contact us via this website.
Find out how you can give back and help Smile to support more families in our local community
We offer a range of carefully-developed services to meet the needs of families in our local communities.
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Vivamus magna justo, lacinia eget consectetur sed, convallis at tellus. Proin eget tortor risus. Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Cras ultricies ligula sed magna dictum porta.
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Vivamus magna justo, lacinia eget consectetur sed, convallis at tellus. Proin eget tortor risus. Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Cras ultricies ligula sed magna dictum porta.
Nulla porttitor accumsan tincidunt. Quisque velit nisi, pretium ut lacinia in, elementum id enim. Quisque velit nisi, pretium ut lacinia in, elementum id enim. Vivamus magna justo, lacinia eget consectetur sed, convallis at tellus.
Proin eget tortor risus. Nulla porttitor accumsan tincidunt. Cras ultricies ligula sed magna dictum porta. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus suscipit tortor eget felis porttitor volutpat. Quisque velit nisi, pretium ut lacinia in, elementum id enim.
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