6:40am Saturday 7th November 2009
By Louise Robertson
Parents who have benefited from a Kingston-based adoption support group celebrated its fourth anniversary this week.
The Birth Parents’ Support Group meets once a month and offers parents from Kingston, Sutton, Merton, Sutton and Richmond emotional support after they have given their babies up for adoption.
Margaret Phelps, who set up the group, said the meetings provided a lifeline to parents struggling to cope after giving up a child.
She said: “Birth parents find certain times of the year particularly difficult and children’s birthdays, Mother’s Day and Christmas are among the worst. Often they are unable to confide in friends because of the fear of stigma or rejection so it’s important that we are there for them at such times.
“We provide a supportive, non-judgemental and safe group and birth mothers and fathers can drop-in when they feel the need of a listening ear or just to be with others who understand how they are feeling.”
For details about the group or other adoption services provided by the South West London Adoption Consortium, call the Kingston adoption team on 020 8547 6042 or email adoption@rbk.kingston.gov.uk.
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