Information for young parents
This page for young parents and young parents-to-be contains information about local services. It tells you where you can go for advice or support. It also highlights what you may be entitled to as a young pregnant woman or a new parent.
Antenatal care and parent craft classes
Pregnant and aged 19 or under? Live in the London Borough of Sutton or Merton? Having your baby at St Helier Hospital? If yes, ask to be referred to Sue or Caroline, lead midwives for young mums-to-be. You can ask at your booking-in-appointment, or ring the antenatal clinic at St Helier Hospital on 020 8296 2874. Sue and Caroline look after young mums and run special antenatal clinics and parent craft classes in Muschamp Children's Centre. Partners, family members and friends welcome.
Benefits and financial support
Sure Start Maternity Grant - If this is your first child, you may be entitled to funding through the Sure Start Maternity Grant. The grant will pay a lump sum of £500 and claims can be made from 11 weeks before the expected date to 3 months after the birth. For more information on this and to find out whether you are eligible please visit the Sure Start Maternity Grant Website or contact your local Job Centre Plus on 0845 604 3719.
Teenage parents benefit calculator - Gingerbread has created an easy to use online Benefit Calculator to help pregnant teenagers and young parents find out what benefits and tax credits they are entitled to. To use the calculator please click on teenage parents benefits calculator - Gingerbread.
Care to Learn - If you're under 20, Care to Learn can help pay for childcare while you're learning. Young parents can request an application pack from the Care to Learn Website or you can call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.
For more information on other benefits such as Tax Credits please visit the Benefits website on .Gov.
Support groups and children's centres
Sutton has 14 Sure Start Children's Centres which provide a variety of advice and support for parents and carers. Their services are available to you from pregnancy right through to when your child goes into reception class at primary school. Each centre varies but activities and services may include breastfeeding clinics, baby clinics, fathers groups, play sessions and family support sessions. For more information or to find out where your nearest centre is please visit the Children's Centre web page or contact the Sutton Family Information Service on 020 8770 6000.
Tots and Teens is a young parent's support group which runs on a Monday from 10am to 2pm during term time. The group offers parents under the age of 19 the opportunity to meet other young parents and take part in free short courses with accredited outcomes.
If you are a young mum or dad aged 16-19 in Sutton, Go4it offers personalised advice around education, jobs and training, work and college tasters, support to find childcare and advice on money matters. Contact Lorraine on 07703 972 314 or email Lorraine Dixon to find out more about how Go4it can help you.
Looking for childcare, leisure activities or family support services
The Sutton Family Information Service can provide you with information on local childcare, activities and family support services. Click on the link to search the Sutton FIS website or contact the Sutton Family Information Service on 020 8770 6000.