Here are some best practice examples of Mellow groups delivered in the United Kingdom and around the world. When we engage with a new country or area we want to work directly with you to tailor the training and support we provide to your specific needs. We don’t know if our programmes will work in your area but we would like to work with you to try them. Please contact us to find out more.
Already, Mellow Parenting programmes are considered to be culturally adaptable, flexible to local needs and have produced good results in many areas shown on the map and described below.
If you deliver Mellow groups and would like to showcase your work, please contact us. You must ensure you have full permission prior to including photos/videos of parents and their children.
Explore the mellow world
Scotland
Scotland is the home of our birth.
The original Mellow Groups were delivered to Mums with Babies in the Alloa Family Centre, back in the late 1990’s.These mums helped shaped the programme, resulting in Mellow being written for Scottish families and the various difficulties that presented themselves to these families.
We are proud of our roots, and even now, when new programmes are being developed, we deliver with Scottish families to try and test their validity.
We have many practitioners trained across the length and breadth of Scotland, from the Highlands and Island, across to Orkney and down to Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.
We are also proud that our programmes are culturally adaptable therefore very useful in many other services around the world.
Moldova
In 2016, we began working in partnership with Partnership for Every Child Moldova to support families through the introduction of Mellow Programmes. Our joint work focuses on preventing babies at risk of being abandoned and improving support for vulnerable parents in the community to enable them to more optimally care for and meet the needs of their children.
Moldova is a small country sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine less than half the size of Scotland with a population of 3.5 million. Moldova emerged as an independent republic following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, its economy relies heavily on agriculture but it is also increasing known for its vineyards and vast wine cellars. Two-thirds of Moldovans are of Romanian descent
Moldova’s current Strategy for Child Protection focuses on actions to reduce the number of children in institutions, prevent separation of children from their parents, and a gradual ban on placing children under the age of 3 in residential care. Current family support services are inconsistent and do not address the full range of identified needs.
We have trained nearly 40 practitioners in Moldova so far. In 2019, whilst training 7 new male practitioners, Mellow Parenting was featured on Moldavian News, spreading the word to help increase the number of groups delivered across Moldova:
Awarded one of our first Mellow Centre of Excellence awards in 2015!
From the very first group facilitated, the evaluations have shown that attending the groups has made a difference to the parents. Comments on evaluations have included:
“You will never know the difference you have made to me.”
“It was really life changing, gave me more confidence. It’s probably the best thing I have ever done.”
Southern Trust – Portadown, Craigavon – since 2015
In Russia and Tajikistan Mellow Programmes have been used to support the deinstitutionalisation of children, on going reform of child protection systems and the development of new community social services.
Russia
In Russia and Tajikistan Mellow Programmes have been used to support the deinstitutionalisation of children, on going reform of child protection systems and the development of new community social services.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, Mellow Parenting has transformed relationships and made a positive impact on community cohesion within the Maori society.
Turkey
In Turkey 4 facilitators have been trained in 2016. Two of them have delivered Mellow Bumps, Mellow Mums/Toddlers and Mellow Dads/Toddlers groups and they were accredited as practitioners. They became “Mellow trainers” in 2019. They are now in the process of implementing Mellow programs throughout the country.
Right: Professors Tolga Dagli and Figen Daglie
Germany
In Germany, the programmes have engaged vulnerable groups whose needs were not being met through mainstream services.
Other
Australia, Iceland, North Macedonia, Peru, South Africa, Sweden, UAE, Wales & Ireland.
