Mum’s book boost

Sessions help Hanan cope after son’s birth

A young Coatbridge mum has opened an exciting new chapter in her life thanks to the transformational power of books – and is now helping others to do the same.

Hanan Al-Hilli was “isolated and lonely” following the birth of her son, Noah, two years ago and felt perilously close to slipping into depression.

But the determined 22- year- old has created a new lease of life for herself thanks to support from Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire’s work strengthening services for children and families across Monklands.

“I took Noah along to Bookbug song and rhyme sessions for babies and toddlers at my local library,” explained Hanan.

“Noah enjoyed it – but it gave me a fantastic boost too. If it wasn’t for the group I would’ve easily slipped into a depression.

“Becoming a mum has been wonderful but it clearly brings a lot of changes, especially given that I was a younger mum.

“One of them was not being able to do a lot of the things my friends were doing. I felt I drifted away quite quickly from the life I’d been used to.

“Being around other mums, many experiencing similar feelings, was a real comfort so I asked about how I could get involved.”

Hanan has been supported by Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire ( VANL) to become a volunteer for the Bookbug programme – taking the benefits of books, song and rhyme into the heart of communities and helping others.

She said: “One of the groups is for young mums under 21 and their children. I recognise a lot of the fears and worries they are carrying when they walk through the door.

“The sessions are great, and not just for the kids. They create a natural network of reassurance and support for parents who faced the same worries as me.”

Hanan’s case illustrates how health and social care services are working closely with the voluntary sector, led by VANL, to “enable and empower people in communities to make a difference”.

The approach, know as Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative, sees early years practitioners – like health, social care staff and community leaders – test and spread new and better ways of working.

In the case of Bookbug sessions, which ordinarily take place in local libraries, a pilot was launched to take the initiative into groups, clubs and organisations throughout communities and Hanan was initially introduced to her local Bookbug group by her family nurse following Noah’s birth.

Catriona Wallace, head of early years at the Scottish Book Trust, who run the Bookbug programme, said, “Bookbug sessions are often a vital lifeline for new parents and their children, providing an opportunity to sing, play and bond with their baby through books and rhymes.

“We train people to deliver Bookbug in every community in Scotland, so that young families can have access to Bookbug wherever they live.”

For more information on volunteering opportunities throughout Monklands, contact the VANL team on 01236 748011.

Further details about Bookbug and its sessions can be found online by visiting www.scottishbooktrust.com/bookbug

Well read Hanan is now a volunteer with the Bookbug initiative