An innovative scheme aimed at helping young mums in Thurrock has won a huge injection of European funding.

The Thurrock Community Mothers and breast feeding supporters programme, based in Calcutta Road, Tilbury, is receiving £163,000 from the European Social Fund.

Richard Howitt MEP was at their headquarters on Friday, to share the good news over tea and biscuits with project leader Celia Suppiah and local young mums.

The scheme was set up in 1991 as the Tilbury Community Mothers, by the Thameside Community Healthcare NHS Trust, in a bid to reach out to parents too nervous to ask for help or guidance from professionals.

Ten years on, 14 experienced mums are working with more than 130 families in Tilbury and Grays.

Mr Howitt, a member of the European Parliament's committee responsible for social funding, said: "As a parent of a one-year-old myself, I know only too well the stress and strains of bringing up a young family.

"It is particularly important, not simply that Thurrock attracts European funding, but that it reaches worthwhile projects like this one, that will really make a difference."

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