Alison Baum, CEO of Best Beginnings, has written about the support her baby charity has received from the royals, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. In this week's issue of HELLO! magazine out now, Alison explains how the royal national mental health campaign, Heads Together, has made a difference to tens of thousands of families. Alison set up Baby Beginnings after her sons were born with serious health problems. Her charity, which helps families through pregnancy and the early years, was chosen to be one of Heads Together's eight partner charities.
Alison's background as a scientist and BBC filmmaker has influenced her to create films for Best Beginnings, to "provide light-bulb moments of understanding, to let people know they are not alone and that talking helps," she wrote. The charity recently launched over 70 films called Out of the Blue, about maternal and infant mental health.
Kate and Alison Baum at the launch of Out of the Blue films
"It was wonderful to have the Duchess of Cambridge as our guest of honour at our launch," wrote Alison. "She spoke with honesty about her own journey into motherhood and spent over an hour talking with parents from the films. Through the Heads Together campaign and the press coverage that followed, Her Royal Highness has shone a bright light on the importance of maternal mental health and the early years. Our involvement in Heads Together has been utterly game-changing, leading to tens of thousands more families knowing about Best Beginnings and using its free evidence-based resources."
Kate hosts Heads Together runners at the palace
"It was wonderful to have the Duchess of Cambridge as our guest of honour," said Alison
Alison also reflected on the launch of the Heads Together campaign last May, writing: "I was so proud to watch my youngest boy, Josh, show the Duke and Duchess the new Heads Together avatar we'd created for Baby Buddy. Josh was born poorly and early and was diagnosed with viral meningitis at eight days old, and here he was talking with warmth and confidence to the future King and Queen."
Pick up this week's issue of HELLO! out now for the full commentary.