Shine was founded in 2014. Run by Lauraine Cheesman, who experienced terrible postnatal depression and anxiety after the birth of her daughter, the charity offers creative art therapy courses, peer support and weekly drop-in sessions for struggling mums.

Our 12-week courses include a selection of tools and coping strategies and art therapy, as well as the magic of meeting other mums, experiencing the same thing, in a safe, confidential non-judgemental place. We also supply a creche during the two hour courses each week, to ensure the mums get some crucial time out and nurturing. There is no charge for these courses, and we now have four Shine Courses running in and around Cirencester, with mums being referred by health professionals.

Since we we started, we have supported over 250 mums and families, and branched out to start year-round weekly drop-in sessions and developed a closed Facebook group which has become a lifeline of support and advice for many mums.

We have been honoured to work with celebrities such as actress Daisy May Cooper, herself having struggled with depression and been through the Shine course, and we have been generously supported by the Big Lottery Fund, St James’ Place and Barnwood Trust and the Gloucestershire Community Foundation, amongst others. Lauraine is now deeply involved with Gloucestershire Health and Care services and the NHS Foundation Trust, attending focus groups and speaking at training events across the county, and was recently awarded a British Citizen’s award for her work in mental health.

Lauraine says: “I am inspired by nature and kindness.  I have always been creative, and having studied art at university it feels amazing to be sharing the benefits with so many mums today.  Having survived severe maternal mental illness myself, I am now passionate about reaching back to others on that same difficult journey, and through Shine we can arm mums with coping strategies and empowering information, enabling them to move forward with positivity and strength…finally able to help themselves. I feel so lucky to have met so many wonderful, brave mummies over the years and to be part of their journeys… and very proud of the nurturing, supportive community they have created.”

Lauraine has written about her own personal battle with depression and anxiety, which you can read here, along with several other stories from extrordinary Shine mums.

What being part of Shine means for mums…

THREE MONTH COURSES

Firstly, each course is three months long, providing enough time and space for mothers to connect with their peers, to speak to other women who understand their situation, to build friendships and to become part of a community.

 CHILD-FREE TIME

Secondly, through its adjacent creche, it truly offers mothers space and time away from their children, something that for many of them is almost impossible to achieve at any other time in their week. This is one of the many things that makes Shine so unique - I know of no other support group for mothers that also offers a completely free creche facility for over two hours, once a week. 

 HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY

Thirdly, the art therapy aspects of this course are vitally important – for most of the Shine mums, the soothing process of stitching, felting, scrapbooking or crocheting can actually help calm the nerves, keep anxiety at bay and focus the mind. Mums learn these skills in a safe, supportive environment and can then take these new projects home to work on when they feel worried, anxious or sad. Every single week this course literally gives women tools to help them cope with their mental illness.  

 PEER SUPPORT

Shine is run by entirely by women who have experienced postnatal depression and anxiety, while both the volunteers at the courses, and many of the community artists, are also PND survivors themselves. Using art therapy as a focus, mothers are encouraged to talk about and to face the challenges of their depression and anxiety with people who understand exactly how they're feeling and those who have been through it, and can advise, support and guide each other. True friendships and a supportive community are created in these classes, which are a vital lifeline for hundreds of women.

 COMPASSIONATE NETWORK

The support doesn't end once the Shine art courses have finished. Lauraine has built a strong and supportive Facebook group network, which connects nearly 250 local mothers, who all offer support and advice to each other every single hour of the day. On many occasions, these women have been there for some of their friends’ darkest hours - this network is literally keeping people safe and making them feel less alone. In addition, after the course, all Shine mums can attend the weekly Shine drop-in playgroups which have a nursery worker in attendance to help with the children and run throughout half terms and holidays, and welcome children of all ages, providing a further lifeline at challenging times.

 “I would have been entirely lost if it wasn’t for the support, focus and guidance I found at Shine. It was not only a space to talk about my depression and to find new friends who understood exactly what I was going through, as well as a chance to creatively explore my experience and start to understand it - but it has continued to be a supportive and encouraging network over a year since I finished the course.” (Shine mum)

Shine is not something temporary that helps for a little bit, it is access to a wealth of resources, to a network of support, to creative outlets, to vital time off for even the poorest mums. Its impact is long-lasting and deeply effective.