Between Us was a creative writing programme for new mothers in Halton, led by the Health Improvement team at Halton Borough Council (HBC) in collaboration with the Infant Feeding Specialist Lead and the Start for Life Wellbeing Team at Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The programme consisted of six creative writing workshops, specifically tailored for women who were new mothers. Facilitated by creative producer Dr Rachel New, the workshops provided a supportive environment where participants could comfortably express their experiences and emotions through writing. Two cohorts of women took part between February and April 2025, with one focused on experiences of breastfeeding and the other on maternal mental health and wellbeing. The workshops were hosted by Kingsway Learning Centre in Widnes, as part of the Halton Family Hubs offer.
LJMU’s Kerry Wilson, Reader in Cultural Policy in the Faculty of Society and Culture and Clare Maxwell, Reader in Maternal and Infant Health in the Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science were commissioned by HBC to evaluate the programme on a formative basis, using a mixed-method approach that prioritised and amplified women’s voices throughout.
Evaluation data show a profound impact on participating women’s wellbeing and self-efficacy after traumatic experiences of pregnancy and childbirth and perinatal mental health challenges. Headline findings include women experiencing a renewed sense of optimism, improved confidence, self-esteem and motivation. Participating women gave articulate reflections on the meaning(s) attached to and derived from the programme, in terms of its therapeutic value and impact; creative perspective-taking and reappraisal of personal experiences; cathartic qualities and inspiration to make positive lifestyle changes.
Analysis of public engagement with creative outputs, including a digital anthology of women’s creative writing and supporting public exhibition, shows genuinely empathic and emotive community responses to the Between Us collection, helping to raise awareness of the realities of early motherhood and to normalise challenging conversations.
You can read more about Between Us on the Local Government Association website and download the full evaluation research report here.