"As a Mum myself I know how hard it can be to find time for a relationship when you have a baby. I'm delighted to be working with Smile Group to support new parents."
Kate Greenhalgh
Bolton-based visionary start-up, A Year of Dates, has teamed up with Cheshire peer support charity, Smile Group, to donate 10 percent of sales of its New Parents edition of date boxes to support families affected by perinatal mental illness.
Kate Greenhalgh founded A Year of Dates in September 2016 after her husband gave her a jar of date ideas as a romantic gesture.
Offering a collection of beautifully presented date boxes as well as birthday boxes with weekly thoughtful ideas in sealed envelopes, the company has launched a special date box aimed at new parents to help make time for their relationship when typically all attention goes on looking after the new baby.
Kate was keen to give back to a local perinatal charity and felt that Smile Group was a perfect partner. Smile was co-founded by Natalie Nuttall and Ruth Eglin seven years ago after they both had personal experience of postnatal depression and felt consistent support was lacking at a community level.
The charity is supported by Comic Relief and operates weekly peer support sessions out of children’s centres in Macclesfield, Congleton and Sandbach, as well as counselling and 1-1 home visits for parents who are unable to leave their homes.
Smile Group helps families to feel less isolated throughout the experience of ante and postnatal depression and anxiety by connecting them with peers as well as signposting services and providing access to holistic therapy taster sessions to promote wellbeing.
Commenting on the partnership, Kate said: “As a Mum myself I know how hard it can be to find time for a relationship when you have a baby. I’m delighted to be working with the Smile Group and I really hope this new addition to our product range provides some fun and laughter for new families.”
Natalie added: “So many parents coming through our services find that perinatal mental illness can put an added strain on relationships when they are already feeling vulnerable. It’s a challenge to make time for each other when you are struggling, yet it can really help bring couples together to support each other through a difficult time. We’re thrilled to team up with A Year of Dates as it sends a positive message to couples to find time to be kind to each other.”
For more information visit www.ayearofdates.co.uk and www.thesmilegroup.org
