This August the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary is introducing a new initiative to support perinatal mums with their mental health and wellbeing.
The project is called ‘Tiger Cubs and Mums’ and aims to fulfil a community need to support local perinatal mothers. This might seem to be a diversion from what they do primarily as an animal Sanctuary, but they have found that a number of perinatal mothers visit the Sanctuary to find a sanctuary of their own, whether it be simply to relax and enjoy spending time with the animals or with other mums in the café.
Having received grant funding from the Isle of Wight Council they have set up a new perinatal mental health and wellbeing support group and will be holding weekly sessions at the Sanctuary which will focus interchangeably on 2 key areas – health and wellbeing and mindfulness with relevant guest presentations.
Organiser Zeb Fisher from Wildheart Animal Sanctuary has said:
“We are hugely excited about this new project, we have seen such a need in the community for perinatal mothers, as we understand it can be a challenging and difficult time for them. We have so many wonderful plans, which we can’t wait to share with our mums.”
The sessions will provide perinatal mums with the opportunity to meet and socialise with other pregnant and new mums, whilst engaging in a host of activities. Some of which include animal themed wellbeing and mindfulness activities, help with journaling for wellbeing, baby movement sessions with Angela Lorenz (Miss Poppins) and baby sensory, movement and dance. There will be a host of guest speakers on topics related to mental health and wellbeing.
Sessions will take place most weeks on a Wednesday morning between 10:00 and 11:30 in the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary café with tickets for the session being £3 (per adult per session).
Full details are available on their website.
Correct me if I am wrong, but pregnant women are strongly advised to stay away from cat litter and cat poop due to the risk of Toxoplasmosis, the parasite can be airborne.
Bit of a risk meeting and walking around the big cat zoo on a regular basis while pregnant.?
Sounds like an elaborate plan to get some fresh meat for the big cats.