We are pleased to announce that at Gwalia Trust’s last Board Meeting, we approved a grant of £34,000 to fund a support project for new parents in Swansea.
The idea for the project stems from the findings of Public Health Wales’ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study which made a direct correlation between exposure to distressing events in childhood, such as neglect or living in a dysfunctional household, and negative and lasting effects on mental and physical health in adulthood.
The evidence revealed that chronic traumatic stress in early life can alter how a child’s brain develops and those with greater exposure to ACEs are more likely to perform poorly in school and adopt health-harming behaviours during adolescence, increasing the likelihood of mental health problems developing.
Subsequently, these poor health and social behaviours mean individuals progress more rapidly to develop physical illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
We hope that the funding will reduce the risk of poor outcomes for the next generation by providing parents with access to specialised support and coaching. This support will equip new parents with the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide safe and nurturing environments to raise children that grow up into healthier and happier adults.
