Mums who have struggled with perinatal mental health are diving into the deep end to raise money for charity. 

Staff from the charity Smile Group are taking on the Congleton Rotary Swimathon later this month.

Part of the team is Poynton resident Nicola Bates, who previously received support from the charity before joining them as business development manager last September, leaving behind her corporate job.

"I'm so passionate about perinatal mental health, breaking that stigma and helping other parents feel less alone, because it is incredibly isolating," she said.

"In my experience, I genuinely thought I was a failure and was the only one experiencing it.

"I had no idea how common it was."

Twins Molly and Grace will be taking on the swimathon

The perinatal period covers everything from conception right up until the child is about two or three years old.

Smile Group was founded in 2011 by Natalie Nuttall and Ruth Williams, who realised there was a lack of support available in the area.

Today, the charity offers regular peer support groups at four locations – Macclesfield, Congleton, Sandbach and Crewe.

They also offer home visits, talk therapy and family sessions at Ruby's Fund in Congleton.

To help fund these services, Nicola and her colleagues decided to sign up for the swimathon, which takes place later across March 19 and 22.

"When we were struggling with our funding last year we recognised the need to diversify our income," Nicola said.

"We are not funded by the NHS or the council regularly, we have to apply for grants.

"However, it's very competitive in the charity sector at the moment, so we need to up our fundraising efforts."

Smile Group's chair of trustees, Anna Maddox

Also taking part in the swimathon is Smile Group's chair of trustees, Anna Maddox, and her daughter Beth, as well as the charity's wellbeing practitioner, Caroline Staton, and her daughters, Molly and Grace.

The youngest member of the team is Nicola's daughter Hallie, who is just four-years-old.

"I'm so proud of her," said Nicola.

"She only started her swimming lessons last year so she'll still have to wear her armbands but she absolutely loves swimming so she's really excited to do it."

To donate to Smile's fundraiser, visit their JustGiving page here.