|
|
In March, Birth Companions turned 30 – marking three decades of standing alongside pregnant women and mothers through some of the most difficult and complex situations. Over recent months, we have also launched new research, celebrated landmark moments for women's justice, welcomed new colleagues and major new funding, and continued to push for the changes that pregnant women, mothers and babies facing inequity and disadvantage need and deserve.
Read on for a roundup of our news, events and happenings from recent months. |
With love,Birth Companions |
New report: Spotlight on Probation |
Today we launch our latest Spotlight report, focused on pregnant women and mothers of infants under the age of two on probation supervision.
As we look to a future in which Sentencing Act (2026) changes should mean far fewer women sentenced to prison, it is vital that probation services are equipped to address the risks associated with pregnancy and early motherhood, and to recognise and meet the needs of mothers and their children. Currently, they are neither. |
|
|
|
30 years of Birth Companions |
This year is Birth Companions’ 30th anniversary, and we’ll be celebrating with you – our friends and supporters – all year long. To kick things off, we’ve published an anniversary timeline, tracing our evolution from a small band of volunteers in 1996 to a leading national voice on care, equity and justice in pregnancy and early motherhood, and demonstrating the real-world impacts of our work to change policy and practice. |
Breaking the cycle: A national inquiry into intergenerational care involvement |
The Birth Companions Institute and NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) have launched a national inquiry into intergenerational cycles of care involvement, supported by Jess Asato MP and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Care Experienced Children and Young People. Many care-experienced women and girls face social care assessments, and often infant removal, when they become parents themselves. We want to hear from people with lived, learned and professional experience about what's working, what's not working, and where we should be focusing our efforts for meaningful change. Our online call for evidence is now open. For any questions about this inquiry, contact katherine@birthcompanions.org.uk. |
Support from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation |
We were recently awarded a major three-year grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, to support the strategic influencing activities of our Birth Companions Institute and our Lived Experience Programme. |
|
|
|
Free webinar: Recognising and Responding to Pregnancy and Early Motherhood in the CJS |
Date: Wednesday 1 July 2026 |
Birth Companions is hosting a free webinar as part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)'s Think Child Campaign 2026, focused on recognising and responding to pregnancy and early motherhood in the criminal justice system. |
|
|
|
We have welcomed three new members of staff over recent months and are delighted to introduce them here. |
Fola Egbewole, Community Birth Support Coordinator Fola coordinates of our birth support for women in the community in London. She offers personalised care to women as they prepare for birth and during the early postnatal period and coordinates our team of volunteers who provide in-person support during labour. |
Silene Velasco, Engagement Officer Silene facilitates our Lived Experience Programme engagement activities, ensuring women's voices influence policy, practice, and services. Her responsibilities include supporting all engagement activities and providing practical and emotional support to enable full participation |
Hani Diriye, Communications and Campaigns Officer Hani supports on internal and external communications across our organisation, working to grow our public profile, create compelling content across all our channels, and support the development and delivery of our influential campaigns. |
|
|
|
Our service at HMP Eastwood Park is growing. We are now recruiting a Group Facilitator to help run our bi-monthly group for women at the prison who are separated from their babies. |
|
|
|
To mark Volunteers' Week, Denise Marshall, one of Birth Companions' founders, wrote about how the charity was founded and built by volunteers, and why they remain one of its greatest strengths. |
"A volunteer once described our support as a 'moveable village'; a network of women ready to gather around a mother and baby when it mattered most. I think that captures something important about the role volunteers have played in this incredible organisation." |
A huge thank you to all our volunteers, past and present. You have given your time, your compassion and your commitment in ways that make a real difference to women and babies. |
|
|
|
The Birth Companions Institute |
The Birth Companions Institute, launched in September 2025, is our centre of expertise dedicated to achieving better care, equity and justice for pregnant women, mothers and babies through research, public affairs, policy, campaigns, consultancy, the law and the media. In case you missed it, here’s a round up of some of our recent responses to developments across the maternity, family justice and criminal justice systems. |
|
Our Lived Experience Programme |
|
|
Members of our Lived Experience Team have recently reflected on their roles within two important co-design projects. |
Co-designing the National Integrated Care Framework |
"Being part of this work has been a deeply meaningful experience. Witnessing that level of commitment and consideration has genuinely moved me during my time on this hugely important project." |
Co-designing a First 1001 Days impact tool for women and babies in the justice system |
“The people that are working with women like us need to be informed on how best to offer support. Sadly, at the moment, too many of them are not.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raising voices, raising expectations training: July 2026 |
Bookings are now open for our next trauma informed engagement training on 15 July 2026. This two-and-a-half hour online interactive course is co-designed and co-facilitated with members of our Lived Experience Team, and aims to raise expectations around meaningful engagement work across the voluntary, public and academic sectors. |
Read more from our Director of Engagement, Kate Chivers, about why getting trauma-informed engagement right matters. |
Birth Companions is registered in England and Wales under charity number 1120934 at Birth Companions, Office 118, 372 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT, United Kingdom.
You received this email because you subscribed to our newsletter. |
|
|
|
