An innovative project improving the lives of Portland’s pregnant teenagers has been named a winner at the Dorset NHS Health and Social Care Awards.

The Nacro Portland Young Mums To Be project is run by Nacro in partnership with Dorset NHS and came top in the Improving Health & Reducing Inequalities category at a glitzy ceremony in Dorchester.

The project was launched in February last year by youth worker, Jodie Waller (top right)and midwife, Sonia Harding (top left), after the pair realised that there was a real need for a service to support vulnerable young mums in Portland.

Jodie says: “We’re so proud of the programme because a lot of it was designed by the teenagers themselves. While they’re with us they learn about all aspects of having a healthy pregnancy and birth. The course is accredited, so they leave us with a qualification which can help them get a job or go onto further training.”

Jodie quit her job and worked unpaid for six months setting up the project with Sonia. Jodie says: “It was a very stressful time, but it was something Sonia and I really believed in. We decided to just go ahead with it and worry about funding later. I had a baby myself when I was 17 and was homeless with no support, so I feel very strongly about the issue.”

After setting up the programme, they went to Nacro who agreed to back the project and took Jodie and Sonia on as employees. The project has been transforming the lives of young mums in the area for almost a year now and is going from strength to strength.

Jodie says: “Sonia and I are amazed and overjoyed to have won this award and we’re so proud of all the young women who have helped shape the course and make it the success it is today. We really hope this recognition will help us get the funding we need to secure the future of the project, so we can carry on helping young parents to have safe, healthy and positive pregnancies.”