C.I.C, Support Me and BeanBlock offer help with healthcare to Newark's Polish community

Polish families are being welcomed to a new Polish Village in Newark, to receive caring and accessible maternal support across a range of free classes, including a breastfeeding support group, stay-and-play and after-school club.

The new groups, launched by C.I.C, Support ME, strives to improve the health and emotional well-being of Polish families living in Newark.

In a first for Nottinghamshire, they aim to boost breastfeeding rates, promote mother-to-baby bonding, reduce isolation and provide support where Polish school children can learn and thrive together.

Launching at the central, family-friendly venue, BeanBlock, Support ME’s experienced, bilingual doulas and volunteers will listen to mums over refreshments and cake and provide free support across three new groups in this safe and welcoming setting.

“Many Polish families across the country are often isolated and don’t feel listened to or supported. Language barriers play a big role in preventing them from reaching out to health services”, said Anna Rutkowska, co-founder of Support ME.

“Very often they don’t know or understand the health system, often resulting in worse health outcomes.

“Support Me is now engaging with the Polish community of Newark and working to build bridges with health services and local councils to make bilingual education accessible and create a community and safe space for families.”

The unity of two local C.I.Cs working together will see the first-of-its-kind in-person Polish maternity support across the county, helping to bridge the disparity in postnatal support offered to Minority Ethnic communities.

“We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Support Me to provide Polish families in Newark with a Polish Village in BeanBlock”, said Aliki Kalathas, co-founder of BeanBlock.

“As a Community Interest Company ourselves, we are pleased to be able to provide another amazing Community Interest Company with the space they need to expand the amazing work they do.”

“One of the core missions of BeanBlock is to help families in isolation and bring the community together, something we feel Support ME also strongly achieves. We are very excited about what this partnership will bring to Newark.”

The first sessions begin tomorrow. Polish residents are invited to a celebratory launch party. Book at Newark HUB — Polish Village UK