By Julie McLaughlin
A local group has received £10,000 of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Mourne Mamas is a community-led support network for mums in the Mourne and Down area. The group began in February this year and now has more than 170 women involved.
Having received the cash windfall this summer, Mourne Mamas is using the money to provide programmes for mothers in the area. Group chairperson Claudia Newell said the funding will be “a huge help in keeping things going for mums across Kilkeel, Annalong, Newcastle and the wider Mournes.”
She said she and the other organisers, Ruth Newell and Heather Annett, were “absolutely over the moon” to learn the group had received the funding.
“The funding has allowed us to launch ‘Mourne Mamas: Together We Thrive – Community Connections Project’, a year-long programme of monthly events designed to reduce isolation and support mums’ wellbeing,” Claudia said.
“Each event gives local mums the chance to connect, make friends, and take part in workshops on everything from self-care to parenting skills. An incredible 93 per cent of our members said they had felt isolated at some point, so our hope is that this project will make a real difference – helping mums feel supported, confident, and connected.”
Claudia started Mourne Mamas because she wanted to connect with other mums after having her own daughter.
“After having my little girl, Margot, in June 2024, I quickly realised there weren’t many options locally for mums to do the kinds of things we really wanted,” she said. “There are wonderful church tots groups, which I loved attending, but I found myself craving something a bit different too.”
“I wanted spaces where mums could come together to try new hobbies, learn new skills, and simply have fun – sometimes with our babies alongside us, and sometimes with the chance to step out on our own for a little ‘me time.’ Mourne Mamas was born out of that need to connect, create, and build friendships with other mums in the community,” she said.
Going forward, Mourne Mamas plans to have weekly events, as well as public events and other activities for mums of all ages. Some of the events planned for this autumn include Baby Gym sessions, Mini Maestro music classes, fitness sessions, and a Little Pumpkins Party.
Events and tickets are listed on their website: www.mournemamas.com.
“Some sessions are free, others may have a small cost, but they’re all worth it. We bring in friendly facilitators and demonstrators, and many events are baby-friendly, so you don’t need to worry about childcare. It’s a lovely way to try something new and meet other mums in a relaxed, supportive space,” the Mourne Mamas website explains.
To celebrate their official launch this autumn, the group is hosting two special events in October.
The first is a grand opening for their new Mama Hub on Tuesday, 7 October, between 10am and 1pm. Based at the Bracken Centre on Kilkeel’s Ballinran Road, the hub is described by Claudia as “a welcoming space designed especially for mums with little ones aged zero to two.”
People are invited to stop in for a coffee, meet the Mourne Mamas team, and take a look at the new space. “It’ll give mums a chance to connect, relax, and find support in those early years,” Claudia added. This is a free event, but attendees are asked to RSVP via the website for catering purposes.
Then on Friday, 17 October, from 7.30pm to 10pm, there will be an official launch night for Mourne Mamas at The Wild Hare in Newcastle. Claudia described it as “a glamorous night out, where all ages of mums of Mourne are welcome for food and mocktails,” with influencer Anna McAlinden speaking on “how to style a post-partum body shape.” Tickets cost £15 and are available through the Mourne Mamas website.
Other events in the pipeline include a ‘Cosy Indoor Car Boot Sale’ on 29 October, from 10am to 1pm, and a ‘Merry Market’ on 28 November, from 6pm to 9pm. Both will take place at the Bracken Centre.
“We’d love to see as many local families as possible at these, and it’s a great way to bring people together,” Claudia said. “We’d love people to know that Mourne Mamas is for every mum. Whether you’re in the thick of newborn days or chasing after teens, there’s a place for you here.”
She concluded: “You don’t need to come with a friend, be part of a group already or worry about having it all together. Just come as you are — you’ll always be met with a smile, a cuppa and a very warm welcome.”
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