LAURYN BRESLAN – Super Mums

LAURYN BRESLAN About

Lauryn Breslan, 22, from Newton Abbot, , Lauryn wanted to target 14 to 18 year olds, and had her first child, a daughter, at 17 mid way to show them babies are not accessories to dress through completing her AS levels. She had no idea up and show off and they are not a ticket to how hard it was going to be and believes that the benefits or a free flat but a real responsibility and sex education she’d had in school was insufficient. commitment. She is asking students to wait until ‘It’s all very well knowing about contraception but they are older before they have children. they don’t tell you what happens when it fails,” she says. With Fixers, Lauryn and her team created a flyer in the style of a classified ad job description to Lauryn and boyfriend Dan were determined to emphasise that being a parent is a full-time role, be the best parents they could and went on to requires being on call 24 hours a day and is ‘not complete their family with a son two years later. for the faint-hearted’. “For my Fixers campaign, I Lauryn also managed to pass her A levels and decided I wanted to change attain a diploma in beauty care while Dan works Lauryn decided to run workshops in schools as full time to support the family. part of her Fixers campaign, and is distributing the way people look at young her flyers during these sessions to reinforce her Despite the fact Lauryn and Dan are engaged to be message. parents. I also wanted to married and rent their own home, Lauryn discourage teenagers from finds people automatically assume they are on Her story has been broadcast on ITV News West benefits and in state supported accommodation. Country and published in the North Devon Journal, starting a family too soon. “I regularly get things shouted at me in the street. the Herald Express, the Western Morning People stop me to tell me their opinion on my life News, the Mid Devon Star, the Daily Mail Online I think young people should or give me dirty looks,” she says. and on the Palm FM website. realise that having a baby She has also been interviewed for BBC Radio “For my Fixers campaign, I decided I wanted to , BBC Spotlight and Heart FM Exeter - all to isn’t just a novelty; it is change the way people look at young parents. I challenge negative stereotypes of young mums. also wanted to discourage teenagers from starting something that will change a family too soon. I think young people should your life forever.” realise that having a baby isn’t just a novelty; it is something that will change your life forever.”

What happened... Voice: Lauryn knew she could talk passionately which has allowed them to reach an audience about the pitfalls and responsibilities of being a beyond teenagers. They spoke about what it’s Direct Outcomes teen parent amongst her friends but says she has like to be young parents, how they felt NHS staff been surprised how many people, especially those treated them and the challenges they faced. Skills & Confidence: Lauryn reports that through in positions of authority, who are not only listening The group was made up of a variety of health her project she has grown in confidence and feels to her but regarding her as a role model and saying care professionals, including midwives and child she is now able to formulate a reasoned argument they are learning from her and her group of Fixers. psychologists, and their message was well- which she can articulate, even in a public forum, She reports that she has enjoyed having her voice received. around the issue of becoming a teen parent. She heard and the experience has made her want more has also learnt how to present a workshop and people to know they can make a difference too. Benefits for Partner Organisations: Three schools engage young and adult audiences. and the NHS Equality and Diversity Working group Awareness of Groups at Risk: Lauryn has met in Newton Abbott are already benefiting from Resolution of Personal Issue: Before her Fix, groups of students aged 13 to 17 at three different the fix and Lauryn’s on going work. Teacher Fay Lauryn found that she was sensitive to other schools and is continuing with her workshops Churchill from Teign School said: “I think Lauryn’s people’s views and judgements of her as a through the contacts she has made during her project is extremely important and very valuable. young mum. She no longer feels she should be Fixers project. Our students certainly understood more about the embarrassed about being a teen parent and she situations they may get themselves into and the puts her new found resilience and ‘thicker skin’ Awareness of Wider Groups: Lauryn and her group boys realised the responsibility is theirs and not down to her journey as a Fixer. have also engaged with some 12 members of a just the girls’.” local NHS Equality & Diversity Working Group LAURYN BRESLAN – Super Mums

Long-term Outcomes:

Improved Life Chances for the Fixer: More People Seek Help or Take Action: The Completing a Fixers project has given Lauryn young students who have participated in a fresh focus aside from her full-time role Lauryn’s workshops have given feedback which as a mum. It has given her a massive sense shows they have a greater understanding of pride and achievement. She is extremely of the responsibilities of young parents and proud of herself and her project. She reports reported they would remember her message feeling more confident to speak in public with and ‘think twice’ before risking an unplanned impartiality since completing her fix. She pregnancy. One said: “It has helped me a lot intends to continue with her fix but also to to realise that young parents do have a big begin volunteering for a local organisation. responsibility and it’s not like what the media say.” Another said: “I feel like she is helping Increased Social Capital: Since becoming a others by making them think twice.” Fixer Lauryn and her group have presented to and worked with teachers and head teachers, Changed Social Attitudes: Lauryn challenges they have undertaken several interviews with every assumption made about young mums journalists and have engaged with NHS health and through sharing her experiences with care professionals who are specialists on the young people, health professionals and the issue of young parenthood. Ros Banfield, wider public via the media she has successfully Equality & Diversity Assistant, challenged negative stereotypes of young Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The parents. One of the students who attended session was excellent and everyone enjoyed Lauryn’s workshop said: “Lauryn is a far cry “The session was excellent it. It was definitely worthwhile and I hope we from how young mums are often represented!” and everyone enjoyed it. It have all learnt something from it. I feel that the work they are doing is extremely valuable and was definitely worthwhile by sharing their own experiences it is so much and I hope we have all learnt more ‘real’.” something from it. I feel that Furthermore, Lauryn had a personal meeting with her MP Anne Marie Morris who the work they are doing is congratulated her on her project and agreed to extremely valuable and by press for better sex education in schools. sharing their own experiences it is so much more ‘real’.”