Providing peer-to-peer support for single mums.

The Auckland Women's Centre is a key service provider for Tāmaki Makaurau’s women and girls.

From counselling and health and welfare services, to community education classes and support groups, the centre facilitates empowerment and well-being for all wahine.

One such support group is its Single Mums on Sunday project, which brings single mums together in a safe and accepting space, giving them the opportunity to connect with other mums in a similar situation to themselves. The Auckland Women's Centre provides a fully staffed creche to look after the tamariki, as well as kai and food parcels for the mums to take home.

In 2019, the Auckland Women's Centre successfully applied for a grant from the Grassroots Giving Programme to support Single Mums on Sunday, which lost government funding in 2016.

Single Mums on Sundays Co-ordinator Suzette Jackson says that the support group is well-utilised and highly sought after.

"The Single Mum’s Project is going from strength to strength, and the mums tell me the kids love coming to the group too - they always get excited about Sunday mornings at the Centre!"

"One of the many wonderful things about SMOS is it gives the mums the opportunity to give peer to peer support to other mums, as well as receiving support themselves. Giving support increases their feelings of confidence and their resilience."

"I love the way they look after each other at the group – like one mum finding some children’s second hand shoes amongst the clothes AWC has left out for them and tasking them to a mum saying, “I think these shoes would fit your child”."

"Single mums are the unsung heroes of our communities, and we're so thankful for the Grassroots funding which has provided these mums with a sense of being connected to and accepted by others."

If you're interested in finding out more about the Single Mums on Sunday project, visit the Auckland Women’s Centre's website.

Photo supplied by Auckland Women's Centre.