A specialist nursing team is celebrating its 10th anniversary of ensuring young parents and their babies get the best start in life.
The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) was launched in 2015 in Rushmoor and Basingstoke to provide extra support to young parents and their babies.
The team of family nurses work with parents up to the age of 19, staying with them for two years to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and the best possible start in life for their babies.
The programme has since expanded to cover the whole of Hampshire, and now supports more than 180 clients.
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The nurses cover a range of topics during their visits, including maternal and infant health and wellbeing, bonding, healthy relationships, finances, parental trauma, mental health, learning needs, housing and domestic abuse.
Current FNP client Victoria, 21, from Andover, said: "My family nurse is really understanding and never makes me feel judged. She is always here to listen."
Another client, Olivia, 17, also from Andover, said: "I like having family nurse visits because I enjoy knowing my son is thriving and any concerns I have, (my nurse) Jodie will help me through them and support me."
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Hampshire Family Nurse Partnership supervisors Sam Parkinson and Vicki Pennal said: "We are often able to support mothers to make significant small changes or big positive changes which is very rewarding and can lead to good outcomes for them and their child.
"This frequently extends to fathers, who we always try to engage with, as well as the wider family too.
"Due to increased numbers of referrals the team has evolved and expanded from when it was first put together 10 years ago to cover the whole of Hampshire.
"This is a challenge, but we are delighted to offer this evidence-based programme to young mothers who benefit from it throughout the county."
Reflecting on her decade in the partnership, family nurse Sian Kemp said: "This job can be wonderful, fun, and heart-breaking.
"At the heart of this programme are the clients. Amazing young people who have been generous and accepting of these nurses who turned up for appointments in homes, coffee shops, on park benches (especially during Covid) and even at street corners."
