A new maternal wellbeing support group is launching in Thirsk on Thursday 08th January 2026, marking the first community-based session delivered by Brighter Skies, the Yorkshire-based campaign founded by local parents Stef Scurr and Andrew Dunn.

The group, which will run from 9am–11am at Thirsk Community Primary School in partnership with Giggle & Grow Tots group provided by Community Works. It is designed to provide a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space for mothers and families navigating pregnancy, postnatal mental health challenges and parenthood.

The first session follows the official launch of Brighter Skies last year, after co-founder Stef Scurr shared her lived experience of surviving a severe postnatal mental health crisis. The campaign was created in response to gaps in perinatal mental health care and a lack of accessible, community-based support for families across Yorkshire.

The first Brighter Skies session is intended as a relaxed and informal ‘coffee and conversation’ gathering, offering parents the opportunity to connect with others and seek advice from experts in attendance, including members of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) perinatal team, as well as learning more about the plans for the campaign and helping to shape the future support through feedback and shared experience.

Brighter Skies exists because too many parents feel isolated, unheard or unsupported during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. Our sessions are all about creating a space where people can simply show up as they are, connect with others who understand, speak to professionals and know that support is available.

Brighter Skies was founded with the mission of improving maternal and perinatal mental health outcomes, combining lived experience with community action and advocacy. The campaign aims to complement existing NHS services by offering early-intervention support, peer connection and clearer signposting to professional help, while also campaigning for systemic improvements in perinatal mental health care.

Future plans for Brighter Skies include regular local support hubs, where families can access a whole host of support for all levels of care, from crisis situations to weighing their babies. These groups will be held in collaboration with health professionals and voluntary organisations, in order to drive for continued advocacy to ensure families receive timely, compassionate and effective mental health support during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

More information about Brighter Skies and its work can be found at www.brighterskies.org.uk