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Page 3 Page 5 Page 6 - 9 Page 10 - 20 Page 4 Our focus this quarter is: WILD Creative We are focusing on our creative work with WILD babies, children and parents, our creative partnerships. Our Q1 report April - June 2026 Contents UNCRC Reach & Engagement Data WILD Stories Our Theory of Change Page 2Why Young Parenthood
Babies of young parents don’t have a fair start. It was the same for their mums and dads. Only 5% of babies are born to young birthing people, yet they make up 60% of babies whose deaths are the subject of serious case reviews, and 42% of families who have recurrent child removals. They are vastly over-represented in the most miserable of statistics; sudden infant death, neglect, family violence, emergency hospital admissions, developmental delay, behavioural issues, premature birth, and non-accidental head injuries. Their basic right to life is not met; they are 60% more likely to die in the first year of their life than other babies. Babies of young parents are born to mums and dads who have experienced complex childhood adversity; higher rates of sexual abuse, care, school absence, mental ill health, criminal justice, domestic abuse, violent punishment, and poverty. All this leads to feelings of shame, unworthiness, lack of agency, and normalising violence. Their survival techniques, or ‘threat responses’, include family conflict, substances, involvement in criminality, hyper-vigilance, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, disordered eating, and diagnoses of complex mental illness. Young parent families face complex risks that contribute to lifelong health and mortality inequalities. And it’s getting worse. Here in Cornwall, 40% of WILD babies experience safeguarding interventions, and domestic abuse in WILD families has risen. The number of WILD mums presented at MARAC has increased, a disproportionate number of deaths of babies have young parent families, and WILD young dads have been involved in serious violence and convictions. We are seeing increasing experience of suicidality of new WILD mums joining WILD, reflecting a national rise in teenage maternal suicide, while experience of homelessness (inlcuding temporary and emergency housing) has increased. So, it’s no surprise they find parenting hard. Yet we punish them for it. Our youngest parents, some of them still children themselves, are misrepresented as ‘problematic’, and pathologised as individually responsible for the impact of generations of trauma, structural inequalities, poverty and discrimination.Why young parenthood? A fair start for young parents, and their babies
babies have safer daily and sleep routines parents are better supported to have a healthy pregnancy children have earlier help to prevent ill health parents better understand their baby’s needs Article 6 Every child has the right to life UN Convention on Right’s of a ChildMuch of our work is centred on the Rights of a Child, focusing on the changes we want to see: Article 19 Protection from Violence families have better safety planning babies are better protected from injuries family relationships improve violent or abusive behaviours are reduced Article 24 Every child has the right to the best possible health parents mental health safety is improved families feel a better sense of belonging and community babies’ voices are better heard and responded to parents better mentalise their baby’s needs parents better understand childhood trauma impact families can better cope with stressors families improve access to physical and oral health support families can better access enough nutritious food parents are more confident to breastfeed and wean parents can provide a healthier home environment Article 29 Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full children are better helped to develop early language skills babies and children have more access to physical play parents can better meet their child’s learning needs children have more access to nature
I belong I share joyful, fun interactions and rituals with others I have positive role models I feel valued, accepted, listened to and heardI feel love My parents make me feel loved I can rely on my family I enjoy positive relationships with other people I trustI understand (what humans need) My parents understand what babies need My parents understand the impact of parental behaviours My parents are not scared or scary My activities and routines help me developI can survive My rights to exist and thrive, free from discrimination, are upheld I am equal, protected and empowered I have a safe home, food, and clean air I can access safe spacesI can get help I can get help that meets my needs I can access services where I feel welcome I get help early, before things get worseI have inner strength My parents help me regulate my emotions My family reflect on our feelings I am helped to recover after I’m upset I have choices I believe in myselfTheory of ChangeThe following pages outline our baseline data from April 2026 - June 2026, and our WILD Stories have a creative focus for this quarter, each story is links back to our Children’s Rights Outcomes and Theory of Change. This combined data and narrative ilustrates: the issues we are addressing - areas of life where young parent families do not have a fair start how we help - the work we do with families the change we want to see - the indicators that tell us positive change has happened We work towards our Children’s Rights Outcomes using our Theory of Change...
We have reached 489 young parents this quarter, engaging 302 young parents in an element of WILD’s work, 129 of these parents have attended at least one WILD group in Q1 Of the 302 parents joining an element of WILD’s work 267 are Mums and 35 are Dads. 83 parents are new to WILD since April, with 63 pregnancies. We have engaged 40 of these parents in an element of WILD’s Welcome Work so far. We have reached 392 unborn babies, babies and children working directly with 187, with 137 attending WILD groups. We have reached 82 wider family members, with 33 joining an element of WILD’s work Of the 308 parents we have engaged, 104 have a safeguarding related work record We are working with Housing colleages to engage and support 41 young parents in emergency or temporary accomodationReach & Engagement The following pages show the demographics of WILD families who we have supported Q1.All data in this report is percentage where full data is known, therefore likely to be higher instances of each data area due to unknown data.All stories in this report are anonymised as far as possible, but are not for wider sharing.All images in this report are shared with the thanks to WILD parents and their families, and are not for wider use.
% parents gender and sexuality Cis-gender TGNC Heterosexual LGTBQ+ 0 20 40 60 80 100Black, Asian, Mixed or Multiple he… Other White Cornish White British White OtherWILD Parents - summary of data %Substance data was recorded for 190 parents, 4% currently uses substances with 20% reporting to have previously used substances.Not Registered or Waiting List Yes Registered Yes Waiting List 4% Ethnicity % We are seeing increased numbers of LGBTQ+ parents, however these numbers are still lower than we might expect. 1 parent is Trans or Gender non- conforming (TGNC). Later this year we are releasing a film as part of a TGNC toolkit, lived experience participants have co-created this tool kit and film. Registered with dentist % Information about whether parents live in a smoke- free home was recorded for 187 parents, of these parents 84% report a smoke free home.0 10 20 30 40 Previously Smoked Currently Smoke Never Smoked We also record vaping, in comparison 43% of parents report they currently vape and of those parents 32% report also currently smoking and 13% report never having smoked before. 20%
WILD Parents - where I live %Living with family Social Housing Homeless - temp accom Private renting Supported a… Homel… Care pla… Homeles… Homeowner Cara… WILD Babies - who I live with % ‘Who I live with’ information is recorded for 118 babies and children. Around half are living in two- parent households, while 29% are living in single-parent households. A further 19% were living within wider family networks, this highlights both the role played by grandparents and extended family members in supporting young families but also the additional challenges and complexities young parent families may face in intergenerational homes with wider complexities such as the young parents own childhood experience. Over a quarter of babies and children live with a solo parent, of these 61% have contact with both parens and 39% with Mum only.
Parents support needsPsychological Social / emotional Learning Physical Behavioural Sensory 0 20 40 60 80 100 120Support needs for 150 parents are known, this graph illustrates these additional support needs as reported by WILD parents. Many parents experience multiple overlapping challenges, demonstrating the complexity of need amongst the families accessing WILD support. Of the 150 parents where full detail is known 55% report one support need, 24% 2 support needs and 20% 3 or more support needs. 55 parents are receiving support, however 82 are not and 3 are on a waiting list for support. Mental health Among parents for whom data was available (199), 106 were identified as having at least one indicator relating to suicide risk, self-harm, or bereavement by suicide. Over half of these parents (54%) experienced two of these indicators simultaneously, while 9% experienced all three. As we can see above at least 76% of parents have a support need in this area, and overall we know many do not feel they are getting help with their support needs. The strongest determining factor in infant parent attachment is parental mental health, and we know many of our WILD babies and children experience parental mental ill health, which WILD young parents may have also experienced in their childhood. Our WILD parents report: 16% Care experienced of 185 parents 60% History of Abuse of 193 parents 52% DA experienced of 190 parents The data highlights the significant levels of adversity experienced by many young parents accessing WILD support. Nearly one in ten parents report experiencing current domestic abuse concerns at the point of accessing support. And when the data is explored in terms of these indicators many parents experience multiple adversities. These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of trauma and adverse life experiences within our young parent families, and reinforce the importance of trauma-informed, relationship- based support for young parents, their babies and children.
Babies experience of adversity%Current Previous 0 20 40 60 80 100 Neglect Physical CSA/E Emotional AttachmentThrough our developed record keeping based on ‘risk indicators’ we can build a picture of potential risks WILD babies may experience as directly linked to their parents vulnerabilities and adversity. For example our work focused in infant- parent attachment means we can identify attachment risk where there is a history of parental mental ill health. The graph show percentages of babies and children who may be at risk in these areas, where full detail is known.32% of WILD babies and children have current safeguarding involvement, the diagram illutrates the breakdown of those formal interventions. Around 40% have ever had formal safeguarding involvement, with 34 of the UBB, babies and children we have worked with in Q1 having a MARU referral in place outside of WILD. Formal safeguarding measures are not a sole indicator in our consideration of risk, and we always seek to mentalise the lived experience of the child and consider safeguarding in context wider than the social care arena, however this data and our work with social care colleagues is a key and focused element of WILD’s work. For families supported by our Building Futures work, those families who face the most complex barriers to parenting safely we see an increases to 52% experiencing current safeguarding involvement with 10 parents experiencing a previous removal. Safeguarding Interventions %SW assessment C&P Foster CHiN Plan CP Plan ICO / SGO PLO No known involvement Our Families Teams explore parenting challenges using a ‘no wonder’ approach which recognises the difficulties parents may face due to their own adversities and trauma, but focuses on strategies to consider their own parenting aspirations.
Creativity has always been at the heart of our work at WILD. While we support families with their basic needs for food, shelter, and safety, our work does not stop there. We also want our babies and young parents to be able to discover their skills, talents and potential. We want more for them than a ‘good enough’ life; we want them to have the best life possible. There is much research that shows how creativity can help people who have experienced complex adversity. Creativity helps: express difficult feelings without having to verbalise them change negative thought patterns build emotional resilience feel more in control use metaphor to create emotional defusion (making it easier to address painful things) Creative focus Many creative partnerships and projects over the last 34 years have taught us the power of creative expression and participation. Our creative activities have helped families to: build early language skills play together more regularly understand, express, and regulate emotions understand what has happened in the past tell their stories develop stronger family relationships feel a sense of belonging explore and celebrate their identity create calm and reduce stress develop confidence, power, and ambition We hope you enjoy following our creative journey...
WILD’s creative journey BBC New Creatives Young parents’ poetry on national radio Dads Make Stories Magic Young dads’ profiled in national reading campaign G7 Young parents’ film challenge to global politicians Still Waters Photography exhibition Gwelen Parents’ co-created coastal sculpture trail at Marazion Simple Truths National Arts Council exhibition curated by WILD dads Youth Music Innovation National winners for our digital music nature project Knitting, painting, sculpture, photography, poetry, film, theatre, sewing, music, stand-up comedy, dance...we’ve had a go at it all over the years. From babies’ sensory art play, to co-writing Kneehigh Theatre’s ‘Don John’, our creative work has had an impact on individual families, and on how the world sees young parent families. Over the last few years, this has included: Rant Club Music video challenging discrimination WILD Choir At the Tate, St Ives
“I like my tablet. I hold it lots because it helps my brain feel calm. Mummy has her phone and tablet too, and sometimes everything is on at the same time — the telly, my tablet, Mummy’s things. All the noises make my head feel busy and buzzy, like too many sounds trying to get in at once. When we go to group, there are lots of people and voices and moving. My tummy feels wiggly and my ears feel too loud. I look at my tablet then because it helps me feel safe and makes the world smaller. Amy from WILD comes to my house too. She talks to Mummy and plays with me. She tells Mummy about foods I might like to try, like things that are crunchy or soft so my mouth doesn’t feel funny. She talks to Mummy about things she can learn too, like courses that make her feel proud and strong. Mummy listens and sometimes smiles like she feels good. At group, one day at song time, Amy said to Mummy, “Can we make it quieter?” So Mummy turned my tablet down. At first it felt strange because the noise I always hear wasn’t there. But then I heard the singing. It was soft and nice. I could hear the words and the tune. I looked up and saw the grown‑ups doing the actions. I did them too. My hands felt happy moving. I smiled because it felt fun. My body felt lighter and not so buzzy. I liked hearing the song and doing the actions with everyone. It made me feel like I was part of the group, not just watching from my tablet. It felt good inside — warm and calm — like I could join in and still be me.”Reducing digital screen barriers as observed by WILD Worker Amy
Accessing Cultural SpacesOur recent collaboration with Penlee House connected local families with creative opportunities, community resources, and each other. Combining baby sensory experiences with hands‑on art workshops, the project concluded with a celebratory exhibition of the families’ work. The programme began with a visit to Penlee House, where families took part in a specially curated baby sensory session. This introduced parents to local resources and community spaces, while building confidence in visiting cultural venues with young children. Over the following six weeks, a local artist led workshops including screen printing, watercolours, oil printing, card making, and clay keepsakes. Parents enjoyed trying new skills, creating meaningful mementos, and taking time for self-expression. The relaxed atmosphere also encouraged open conversations about mental health, careers, education, relationships, and parenthood. From WILD Worker RosieEach family received their framed artwork to take home as a lasting reminder of their creativity, connection, and shared journey. Parents spoke positively about discovering new artistic techniques, strengthening bonds with their babies, and feeling a greater sense of belonging and confidence within their local community.The final session brought families, friends, and staff back to Penlee House, where participants saw their artwork professionally displayed throughout the gallery. A baby sensory area welcomed the children back into the space, helping make the celebration truly family-focused.
Music, Connection and Belonging at WILD Every WILD session begins in the same way; with our hello song, followed by time together with our WILD song bag. Inside the bag are simple objects - a bunny, a bus, a lion - each one representing a familiar song. Passed gently around the circle, each baby, supported by their parent, chooses what comes next. It’s a simple rhythm, but one rooted in something deeper; connection, voice and belonging. We know that for many parents, this part of the session can feel difficult at first. Singing out loud, joining in with actions, or not knowing the words can bring up feelings of awkwardness or anxiety. Our team model and lead with warmth, but not every parent feels able to join in straight away. And that’s okay. Even in those quieter moments, babies are still watching, listening, and taking in their parent’s presence - building the foundations of attachment through shared experience. In one recent session, something shifted and we wonder why. During “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, a baby began to giggle — a joyful, uninhibited sound that rippled across the room. Parents smiled, then laughed, and workers gently encouraged them to bring their babies onto their laps and join the rowing motion. “Look how much Noah is enjoying that,” we noticed together. That moment opened something. It was as though the baby’s laughter gave everyone permission to let go of self‑consciousness, and simply be with their child.From there, the energy grew. The room filled with voices, movement and shared joy. Parents who might usually hang back joined in more freely, responding to their babies and to each other. The songs carried on, one after another, and the connection in the room felt different — more relaxed, more confident, more alive. Since then, our song times have been noticeably more vibrant, with parents increasingly finding their voice alongside their babies. Moments like this remind us that attachment isn’t built through instruction, it grows through shared experiences of joy, connection and being together. Sometimes, all it takes is one small moment - one giggle - to help everything else fall into place.Finding our voices From WILD Worker Rosie
Messy CreativityCreative and sensory-rich activities are an important part of how we support children and their parents. Many parents are nervous, because of fear of mess, confidence, or feeling judged. In a supportive, non- judgemental environment, we help parents feel comfortable and take part at their own pace. We model play, reassure parents that mess is a normal part of learning, and support positive parent-child interactions. We also prioritise the child voice, allowing children to choose how and when they participate.Messy, creative play supports communication, physical skills, problem-solving, confidence, and emotional development. These shared experiences help strengthen relationships, encourage communication, and build confidence for both children and adults. It is particularly valuable for families who may not have the space, resources, or confidence to offer similar experiences at home. Sessions often give parents new ideas and confidence to continue play-based learning outside the group, strengthening their relationships at home. From WILD Worker Beth
Art and BelongingWILD loved being part of Sterts Arts & Environmental Centre's Festival of Belonging, which explored identity, connection, and community through creativity. The project provided a welcoming space for parents to reflect on their experiences, build relationships, and consider what belonging means to them. Parents took part in discussions, creative crafts, poetry, expressive writing, and play-based activities with their children. They reflected on their parenthood journey, and met others with similar experiences. The informal, creative approach helped participants feel comfortable sharing personal stories and ideas. Families contributed to The Ticket Tapestry, a collaborative community artwork. Parents created tickets representing meaningful journeys, including becoming a parent, building relationships with their children, and everyday moments of connection. The project had a positive impact on parents and children; increased confidence, stronger parent-child connections, reduced isolation, and a sense of pride in contributing to a public exhibition. The supportive and non-judgemental environment encouraged participation, and helped families feel comfortable sharing personal stories and ideas. It highlighted the importance of safe supportive spaces, creativity, connection, and community. From WILD Worker Geri
Billie’s experience: “I love coming to WILD and so does my one-year-old Danny. He especially loves circle time when we sing and sign! I haven’t got much support from my family as I have disabled siblings and caring for them takes a lot of my parents’ time. I feel like I haven’t got any friends and feel like groups will be really intimidating and people will judge me. I feel bad sometimes as I know Danny would love them. I spoke to Sadie at WILD about how I feel quite lonely and struggle with meeting people and making friends. We met at the park so Danny could play and we could chat. I told her how I struggle to know what to say and worry that people think I’m boring. Sadie reassured me and we spoke about how to start chatting, and how to develop friendships with people I already know and like. Sadie asked me to go to library song time. I’ve always thought about it but felt too nervous. Danny LOVED it! He played with musical instruments and moved to the music that we made. He even clapped along to the nursery rhymes he knew. He’s only just learnt how to do that! The library was nice and the other parents there were friendly. I have been back to the library on my own every week since! I have felt a bit more confident to try new things since. I have started going to Park Yoga on a Sunday morning at our local park, on my own! I have also invited 2 WILD mums over for a play at my house. I hope these relationships develop into long term friendships!”Accessing Cultural Spaces As told to WILD Worker Sadie
Some of the WILD team spent time at Trelissick with families, alongside colleagues from Healthy Cornwall and a Parenting Lead from Cornwall Council. The day was intentionally designed to feel accessible and welcoming from the start - Trelissick was chosen because it’s on a public transport route, and we offered the session as a whole family space, inviting parents to bring someone important in their baby’s life. That mattered. It meant we were joined not just by mums, but dads, grandparents, friends and even expectant parents - a wider circle of people who all play a role in a baby’s world. We kept it recognisably WILD. We began with our hello song, shared the song bag, and sat together for a healthy snack. These routines might feel simple, but they are powerful. They support attachment and bonding, helping babies and parents feel safe, build confidence, and experience a sense of belonging — especially for families who are newer to WILD. This trip held lots of firsts: first visits to Trelissick, first WILD session for some families, and for our youngest participant, just 11 days old, one of their very first experiences of being out in the world. Spending time outdoors crates a different kind of space. Families wandered, played, and rested under the shade of the trees, with room for conversations to happen naturally and without pressure. For some parents, this was about gently stepping outside their comfort zone, trying something new, being in a new place, or meeting new people...but doing so in a way that feels safe and supported. We know that these experiences can have a real impact on parental wellbeing and mental health. Being outside, connecting with others, and feeling part of something can reduce isolation and build confidence, which in turn strengthens the parent–baby relationship.There was space for conversations to happen naturally, side‑by‑side. We modelled and noticed sun safety, gently embedding Lullaby Trust guidance in a way that felt practical and relevant, not taught, but shared. This is what relational support looks like: moments of connection where learning sits within everyday experience, not separate from it. Partnership made this possible. The National Trust supported the visit, and each family received a pass to return extending the impact beyond the day itself. Healthy Cornwall and the Parenting Lead brought a shared focus on reducing barriers and building psychological safety, meeting families where they are. Together, this created something that felt more, a space where families were welcomed, and feel that they belong.Creative working partnerships
It was so lovely to listen and learn from their stories/ experiences. And likewise I think it’s a gift to be able to share the love that the little ones bring.” WILD Parent Intergenerational Music “We so enjoyed the afternoon everyone was so lovely and your mums made an extra effort to include our residents with the children. The singing was wonderful too. ” Care Home Activities Co-Ordinator “When everyone was singing Stand By Me, I looked around and saw a Mum singing to her child, lots of smiling faces, and an elderly couple who were holding hands and wiping away their tears. It was such a wholesome moment” WILD Worker “It was so lovely to see the older generation enjoying seeing the little ones and being able to reminisce on their childhood and play with them” WILD Parent “ “ Our Falmouth WILD mums and children ran a music session at a local care home, where they all sang, played ukulele, and one of the residents even accompanied on piano... From WILD Worker Charlie
Creative Young Parents Hall of Fame