About Born to Bond

Born to Bond is a non-profit organisation that supports families in building secure relationships with their babies. I previously led an Infant Mental Health NHS team and I founded Born to Bond to meet the need for such services in other parts of the country. I am experienced in offering training, consultation and supervision to staff teams and in working directly with families to support parent-infant relationship and mental health difficulties.

I'm a Registered Mental Health Nurse and Health Visitor, currently working within the NHS as a Specialist Health Visitor for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health. I provide direct support to families, helping them to foster secure parent–infant relationships and promote healthy attachments. I am a trained Circle of Security (COS) facilitator and am progressing towards accreditation as a Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) practitioner. 

My professional practice is driven by a commitment to empowering parents to provide the best possible start for their babies, ensuring that families receive evidence-based, compassionate, and effective support. I support the growth and development of Born to Bond with my professional experience and insight.

Hi, I am Ellie Merckel. I am a Board Member of Born to Bond, I work in the education industry and am proud to support the social enterprise and the work it does with families.

I am passionate about mental health and the importance of safe, supportive relationships. I joined the board because I believe in Born to Bond’s values and the difference its work makes, and I’m pleased to contribute to its continued growth and impact.

I support Charlotte and our team of to deliver training, workshops and consultations to families and professionals. You'll often find me in the background of Born to Bond, organising our training and replying to your messages.