Thurrock Mama Meet -Up

Mama Meet Ups – Project Delivery Summary:

Our Mama Meet Ups (Walks) pilot project set out to provide 12 weeks of gentle, supportive peer-led walks for mothers in South Ockendon, Thurrock. Due to overwhelming demand and consistently positive engagement, we extended the project to 28 weeks, offering 28 in-person sessions designed to reduce isolation, support maternal wellbeing, and help mothers build meaningful social connections within their community.

Our sessions were led by staff who are representative of the communities we aimed to engage—helping to create a safe, relatable, and culturally affirming space.

Each walk offered:

• A gentle, family-friendly route in a scenic local location

• Opportunities for mothers to socialise, share experiences, and build friendships

• A welcoming atmosphere for mums of all fitness levels

• Free light refreshments provided by Akonor, an authentic African takeaway serving freshly home-cooked, affordable meals

To make our meet ups even more accessible, we introduced Saturday sessions at Thurrock Garden Centre, which included access to soft play—an ideal option for mothers unable to attend during the week.

Across the project, we delivered:

• 28 weekly peer-support walks

• Saturday family-friendly sessions to increase accessibility

• 166 individual bookings from participating mothers

• A consistently warm, supportive environment where mums could connect, move their bodies, and enjoy time outdoors

This extended pilot not only highlighted the need for culturally responsive maternal wellbeing spaces in Thurrock, but also demonstrated the power of regular community connection in improving mental health, reducing isolation, and encouraging active lifestyles for mothers.​

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Special thanks to Akonor and Active Essex