Background
With the Collaborative efforts of Croydon BME Forum, Asian Resource for Communities and Health Services in Croydon, the Maternity Project aims to uncover the reasons behind the barriers faced in maternity care and implement strategies and resources to remedy these barriers. The project hopes to enforce fair and just maternity health outcomes that provide support to, and ensure the safety of, minority ethnic women throughout their journey to motherhood.
Where every mother’s voice is valued, and every journey matters
BME women in Croydon continue to face poorer maternal health outcomes affecting their wellbeing, the health of their newborns, and the wider community. As part of an underserved population, many BME women experience significant health inequalities, including poorer physical and mental health, reduced quality of life, and lower levels of satisfaction with maternity care compared to their counterparts.
These inequalities are heightened by lower participation in clinical research, which limits the ability of healthcare services to design effective, culturally responsive interventions.
Recognising the urgent need for equity, Croydon BME Forum’s Maternity Project is dedicated to addressing the barriers BME women face when accessing maternity services. Our work centres on amplifying their voices, improving access, and ensuring that services reflect the lived experiences of the communities they serve.
Embedding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in healthcare services is essential to improving maternal health outcomes for BME women.
Project Phases
The first phase of the project identified the obstacles faced by black and other minority ethnic women when accessing maternal care. This involved gathering data through a series of consultation events.
The second and current phase is centred around uncovering the cause of the challenges underrepresented communities experience when seeking maternal care and contemplates practical solutions to these issues.
This led to the project’s launch of the Maternity Champions Programme. The programme bridges the gap between mother and midwife by providing a hands-on, pragmatic approach to maternal care, starting from pre-conception, through to delivery.
The Maternity Champions Programme
The Maternity Champions Programme provides comprehensive support for mothers throughout their journey to parenthood. This encompasses both emotional and practical assistance, workshops on key topics such as birthing plans and maternal mental health, and the role of cultural liaison to ensure inclusivity and sensitivity. The programme’s most notable impact is its delivery of continuity of care by ensuring that each mother is paired with a designated maternity champion.
The maternity champions programme has enrolled a cohort of first-time mothers who receive peer support and guidance throughout their transition to parenthood, by the maternity champions.
Since its launch, the programme has generated positive feedback from both participants and local services. Mothers have highlighted an improvement the support they receive, and, health professionals have praised the collaborative approach in promoting equity and fostering meaningful engagement in maternal care.
How to get involved:
If you are an organisation interested in partnering with us or a member of the community looking to enroll on the Maternity Champion Programme
Please contact us at:
Kharisa@bmeforum.org | Info@bmeforum.org | 020 8684 3719
