Social Research ¦ Market Research ¦ Behavioural Insight ¦ Evaluation ¦ SROI
Social Research ¦ Market Research ¦ Behavioural Insight ¦ Evaluation ¦ SROI
About the programme
Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and South Lincolnshire Mind (CPSL Mind) has delivered perinatal mental health services since 2013. In 2021, CPSL Mind received funding from the Department of Health and Social Care to design and deliver a new service focusing on the wellbeing needs of pregnant women and new mums from the local Muslim Community in Peterborough. The Starting Well funded programme – Connecting Muslim Mums – was a two-year collaboration between CPSL Mind, The Lantern Initiative and a range of other local community partners.
To date Connecting Mums had worked with 435 women, only 7 were from the Muslim community. Peterborough has a large Muslim community. Based on the 2011 census data, 9.4% of Peterborough population was Muslim, this increased to 12.2% during the 2021 census.
The purpose of the Connecting Muslim Mums programme was to support local Muslim women who were at risk of, or who were already experiencing, poor mental health during the perinatal period. Designed around the Five Ways to Wellbeing and the Five Ways to Good Mental Wellbeing and Islam, the course provided a safe space for women to connect and talk about problems and issues that they as Muslim women go through. Support was provided through a 6-week course, peer support sessions and / or 1-2-1 support.
About the evaluation
To support CPSL Mind, in partnership with The Lantern Initiative, in assessing the implementation and impact of the Connecting Muslim Mums programme, M·E·L Research were commissioned to carry out an independent evaluation.
Our design approach and data collection
We used a co-design stage which engaged with Muslim mums who took part in the Peer Designer and ethnographic research (Explore phase) to understand how best to engage with Mums and to gain feedback on what is working well and the pinch point of the programme. This co-design stage included a mixed methodology, namely, baseline and follow up surveys, focus group with mums, workshop with delivery staff and review of reflective diaries from pilot facilitators. Findings were presented to CPSL Mind and The Lantern Initiative prior to the official programme launch.
The co-design stage involved a mixed methodology approach with a heavier focus on the qualitative work using Most Significant Change. This technique prompts beneficiaries to identify outcomes for themselves by telling a story. This approach helps people to look at the value of a programme themselves, rather than the value someone else, who has no direct experience, places on it.
Our findings
The evaluation found that having a wellbeing programme that was designed by and focused on Muslim women specifically, was highly valued and filled a service gap – highlighting the need for such a targeted service. The evaluation also identified five key recommendations for future programme delivery.
The findings of the evaluation were disseminated through regular shared learning with the delivery team, a interim and final report which can be viewed here, an in-person celebration event and through a culturally sensitive video which can be viewed here.
