Recognition for Maternity Befrienders’ work in support of migrant women

Maternity Befrienders with their sanctuary award

Pictured left to right: Katie Ledgeway, Zainab Mayat, Emma Briggs, Chelsea Tomlinson

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust’s Maternity Befrienders are celebrating after winning a prestigious Maternity Stream of Sanctuary award for their excellent work in support of migrant women in the perinatal period.

The Maternity Stream of Sanctuary award celebrates organisations who go above and beyond to support and welcome asylum-seeking and refugee families. As the certificate states, for the Maternity Befrienders, it constitutes acknowledgement of their outstanding service, provided with a unique and client-centred approach, going above and beyond to demonstrate the three principles of the award: Learn Embed and Share.

It is widely reported that migrant women in the UK experience some of the poorest outcomes in maternity, including higher rates of miscarriage, still birth, birth trauma and maternal mortality. For this reason, Rebecca Thomas, Lead Specialist Midwife for Reproductive Trauma West Yorkshire PATHs and Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, set up the service in 2023 following the release of the Maternity of Sanctuary resource pack. Rebecca said: “Knowing that migrant women typically face more barriers and higher risk pregnancies, I created a task and finish group with stakeholders who work with women and migrant parents in Wakefield. Collaboratively, we came up with the Maternity Befrienders model, for which I secured funds in January 2023 through CORE 20 plus for tackling maternal inequalities in West Yorkshire.

“Maternity Befrienders are trained support workers who offer at least one hour per week additional time to women new to the country to help them to navigate local maternity services, to support their maternal mental health, and offer more time for translation of resources. They also run groups to provide antenatal education and prevent isolation, offering a supportive network alongside vital support and advice.”

The Trust’s Director of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Dr Anne-Marie Henshaw, added: “We feel incredibly proud to have received this special award in acknowledgement of the support we offer vulnerable migrant women in the perinatal period. This achievement reflects the dedication and compassion of our Maternity Befrienders and of all who made this possible.”