Proud Parents delighted with group
Date of release: 15 January 2025
LGBTQ+ parents and their children can now enjoy their own stay and play group in Wolverhampton – believed to be the Black Country’s first.
Hayley and Teri on their wedding day, holding Ralph
Proud Parents was established by Sunita Banga, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead Midwife at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, and the City of Wolverhampton Council.
The group was born from demand for a post-natal group from the Pride in Pregnancy group, which started in July 2023 for LGBTQ+ pregnant parents.
“It’s important to listen to what the families of Wolverhampton want and I’m proud to make this happen,” said Sunita.
“It’s wonderful seeing the attendees make real connections and possibly friends for life.
“I’ve had really good feedback from the parents and they enjoy attending the group with their babies and young children.”
Sunita collaborated with Denise Williams, Family Hubs Service Manager at the City of Wolverhampton Council, to explore the possibility of weekend stay and play sessions at one of the family hubs.
“I listened to the needs of pregnant parents at the Pride in Pregnancy support group,” said Sunita.
“Denise was in full agreement and began to look into how and where sessions could be facilitated.
“This collaboration between the NHS and Family Help Service led to the formation of the group Proud Parents.
“The sessions are being delivered by David Clinton from the Family Learning Support Team.”
Teri Nutt-Rudd, 41, attends with business analyst wife Hayley Nutt-Rudd, 31, who gave birth to their five-month-old son Ralph. The couple have been together six years and married in October.
Supply chain manager Teri said: “It’s good to speak to people in a similar situation, because it can be quite challenging at times.
“It’s also nice to see other types of families, and it will be good for Ralph to see other families that look like his family as he grows older.
“Hayley is attending a baby class with one of the other mums soon and we have a group chat where people are dropping in messages.”
Tom Fisher, 31, has been engaged to trans man Rob Oldfield, 35, for three and a half years and they attend with daughter Gracie-May, aged 18 months.
“It’s fantastic and there’s lot of like-minded people of similar backgrounds and LGBTQ+ community,” said former cocktail bartender turned stay-at-home dad Tom.
“We feel very welcome and Gracie loves it as she can run around and play with the toys and games.
“It’s definitely helped me because other groups are very ‘mum’ orientated – nine times out of 10 I’m the only man there – so it’s more difficult to relate.
“Coming to Proud Parents we felt part of the group before we had met anyone.”
Ten-month-old son Benny attends with mums Vanessa, 29 and Beth, 34, a couple for five years.
“It’s really good that it’s at a weekend so both partners can attend,” said Vanessa, who gave birth.
“It was good to find out about different playgroups and other things you can do, and to chat about the birth and having a baby.
“It’s the first group chat we’ve been part of that’s set up by the organiser.”
People from anywhere are welcome. Sessions are held on the last Saturday of each month at Bingley Family Hub, Norfolk Road, Pennfields, Wolverhampton, WV3 0JE, from 1pm-2.30pm.
Anyone interested should email david.clinton@wolverhampton.gov.uk
ENDS
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
