Q3 2024 Achievements: Progress and Growth at Pregnancy Sickness Support
As we close out the third quarter of 2024, it’s a great time to reflect on the strides we’ve made at Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS). From expanding our services and volunteer base to increasing community engagement and fundraising efforts, this quarter has been one of growth and impact. Here are some of the key highlights from Q3:
Supporting More Women with HG
Our helpline and support team has been busier than ever, with 593 new service users this quarter. Of the 7% who responded to our feedback questionnaire, 67% reported that the information and support they received helped improve their symptoms. We’ve also sent over 8,000 WhatsApp messages since July to offer immediate support.
Additionally, we’ve been working with partners like The Pelvic Partnership, The Pregnancy Nutritionist, and The Breastfeeding Network to develop new resources that address HG alongside other health issues. We’re also reviewing our services to better support younger women, particularly those under 18.
Volunteer Engagement: Growing and Thriving
Our volunteer community continues to grow and thrive, with 15 interviews completed and 12 new volunteers trainedthis quarter. We’ve set up 73 peer support matches and are planning for an online winter volunteer conference in January 2025. We’re already seeing great interest in the event, with 18 sign-ups so far, and we’ve secured Birthrights to deliver a community training session.
We also recognised the invaluable work of our volunteers, sending out 101 awards this quarter in appreciation of their contributions.
Community and Healthcare Professional Engagement
Our outreach this quarter has been extensive. We’ve collaborated with various organisations, such as ADHD UK and Surrogacy UK, and engaged in multiple HG Pathway development meetings with NHS trusts. We’ve also provided training for GPs, Perinatal Mental Health Teams, and Healthcare Professionals in various regions.
Notably, we’ve continued our efforts to secure CPD accreditation for HG Awareness Training for counsellors and continuing to lay the groundwork for an on-demand training portal to create a continuous revenue stream for our training initiatives.
Expanding Counselling Services
Our counselling team has been hard at work, providing 268 counselling sessions to 60 different clients since April 1st. While we’re sad to say goodbye to our Counselling Service Manager, Caroline Ridge, we’re confident that Terri Nash, our new Head of Counselling, will step into the role seamlessly, ensuring continued high-quality service.
We have plans to recruit more bank counsellors in Q4 to expand our service capacity, with Terri overseeing assessments, triage, and supervision.
Fundraising Successes: Breaking Records
This quarter marked a significant achievement in our fundraising efforts. We set a charity record with the Great North Run, raising £5,846, double the amount raised in 2023! Our participation in Swim Serpentine was also a resounding success, raising over £1,200, and we’re excited to expand our places for this event in 2025.
We’ve expanded our fundraising event portfolio to include major events like the Vitality London 10,000 and the Brighton Marathon, and are aiming to secure places in the London Marathon for 2025/2026.
Looking ahead to Q4, we are eager to continue building on these successes. Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout Q3—whether through volunteering, fundraising, or spreading awareness of our cause. Together, we are making a lasting impact for women and families affected by hyperemesis gravidarum.
