Birth Companions
@birthcompanions.bsky.social
Birth Companions is a national charity supporting women facing inequality and disadvantage during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
www.birthcompanions.org.uk
www.birthcompanions.org.uk
We are pleased to be signatories on this important open letter to the Government, calling on them to protect families and children by scrapping plans in the Sentencing Bill to name and shame people delivering Community Payback schemes in their entirety.
Read the full open letter here: bit.ly/4qqotyX
Read the full open letter here: bit.ly/4qqotyX
October 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
We are pleased to be signatories on this important open letter to the Government, calling on them to protect families and children by scrapping plans in the Sentencing Bill to name and shame people delivering Community Payback schemes in their entirety.
Read the full open letter here: bit.ly/4qqotyX
Read the full open letter here: bit.ly/4qqotyX
We’re delighted to welcome Leah Hazard - midwife, author and women’s health advocate as our newest Ambassador. Leah’s bestselling books Hard Pushed and Womb have helped change how we talk about maternity care and women’s bodies. Learn more: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/leah-hazard-ambassador
October 22, 2025 at 12:31 PM
We’re delighted to welcome Leah Hazard - midwife, author and women’s health advocate as our newest Ambassador. Leah’s bestselling books Hard Pushed and Womb have helped change how we talk about maternity care and women’s bodies. Learn more: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/leah-hazard-ambassador
Thanks to your incredible generosity, we smashed our Big Give target and raised over £26,000 to support pregnant women, mothers and babies experiencing severe disadvantage. Donations were doubled through the Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund, until we hit our target, meaning twice the impact.
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October 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Thanks to your incredible generosity, we smashed our Big Give target and raised over £26,000 to support pregnant women, mothers and babies experiencing severe disadvantage. Donations were doubled through the Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund, until we hit our target, meaning twice the impact.
🧵1/4
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Less than 24 hours to go! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far and helped us hit our target. Match funding may have ended, but there is still time to donate and support us to stand alongside pregnant women, mothers and their babies facing incredibly difficult circumstances: bit.ly/439N5Sr
Birth Companions – Big Give
At Birth Companions we believe that no woman should go through pregnancy, birth and early motherhood alone. That’s why we offer practical and emotional support to women experiencing severe…
donate.biggive.org
October 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Less than 24 hours to go! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far and helped us hit our target. Match funding may have ended, but there is still time to donate and support us to stand alongside pregnant women, mothers and their babies facing incredibly difficult circumstances: bit.ly/439N5Sr
Just 48 hours left to donate through the Big Give! Our match funding may have ended, but we still need your help. This is our only fundraiser this year, and your support enables us to stand alongside pregnant women, mothers and babies facing incredibly difficult circumstances. DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
October 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Just 48 hours left to donate through the Big Give! Our match funding may have ended, but we still need your help. This is our only fundraiser this year, and your support enables us to stand alongside pregnant women, mothers and babies facing incredibly difficult circumstances. DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
The women we support tell us what it means to be seen, heard and cared for in some of the most difficult and isolating circumstances.
“Without them I couldn’t have the confidence to give birth. I am so grateful that there is a service that offers women a voice and support.”
DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
“Without them I couldn’t have the confidence to give birth. I am so grateful that there is a service that offers women a voice and support.”
DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
October 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
The women we support tell us what it means to be seen, heard and cared for in some of the most difficult and isolating circumstances.
“Without them I couldn’t have the confidence to give birth. I am so grateful that there is a service that offers women a voice and support.”
DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
“Without them I couldn’t have the confidence to give birth. I am so grateful that there is a service that offers women a voice and support.”
DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
DONATE NOW and make double the difference for pregnant women, mothers and babies experiencing severe disadvantage in the UK today.
Every £ you donate until midday on 15th October will be matched, until we hit our £10k target. DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF #BirthCompanions #BigGive
Every £ you donate until midday on 15th October will be matched, until we hit our £10k target. DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF #BirthCompanions #BigGive
October 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
DONATE NOW and make double the difference for pregnant women, mothers and babies experiencing severe disadvantage in the UK today.
Every £ you donate until midday on 15th October will be matched, until we hit our £10k target. DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF #BirthCompanions #BigGive
Every £ you donate until midday on 15th October will be matched, until we hit our £10k target. DONATE: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF #BirthCompanions #BigGive
From 8–15 October, every donation to Birth Companions via the Big Give will be doubled until the match funding runs out – unlocking up to £20,000 to support women and babies experiencing severe disadvantage.
One donation. Twice the impact.
🌟Donate today: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF
One donation. Twice the impact.
🌟Donate today: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF
October 8, 2025 at 11:03 AM
From 8–15 October, every donation to Birth Companions via the Big Give will be doubled until the match funding runs out – unlocking up to £20,000 to support women and babies experiencing severe disadvantage.
One donation. Twice the impact.
🌟Donate today: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF
One donation. Twice the impact.
🌟Donate today: bit.ly/439N5Sr
#HopeBeginsHere #WGMF
HOPE Boxes are now live across South East London! 🎉
We've been part of the Giving HOPE project since day one, working alongside the inspiring HOPE Mothers who designed these boxes.
We couldn't be more thrilled to see them rolling out to more areas across the country.
Read more: bit.ly/3KGgAVJ
We've been part of the Giving HOPE project since day one, working alongside the inspiring HOPE Mothers who designed these boxes.
We couldn't be more thrilled to see them rolling out to more areas across the country.
Read more: bit.ly/3KGgAVJ
HOPE Boxes launched across south east London, connecting birth mothers with their children - South East London ICS
On 30 September, midwives, social workers, community services professionals, researchers, and people with lived experience gathered at a moving but uplifting event to celebrate the launch of HOPE (Hol...
bit.ly
October 8, 2025 at 9:24 AM
HOPE Boxes are now live across South East London! 🎉
We've been part of the Giving HOPE project since day one, working alongside the inspiring HOPE Mothers who designed these boxes.
We couldn't be more thrilled to see them rolling out to more areas across the country.
Read more: bit.ly/3KGgAVJ
We've been part of the Giving HOPE project since day one, working alongside the inspiring HOPE Mothers who designed these boxes.
We couldn't be more thrilled to see them rolling out to more areas across the country.
Read more: bit.ly/3KGgAVJ
Save the Date! Our week-long Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund campaign kicks off on Wed 8 Oct, midday. This means donations will be doubled until we hit our £10k target. Keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates at 12pm on Wednesday. #WGMF
October 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Save the Date! Our week-long Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund campaign kicks off on Wed 8 Oct, midday. This means donations will be doubled until we hit our £10k target. Keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates at 12pm on Wednesday. #WGMF
We’re delighted to welcome Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti as Birth Companions’ new #ambassador - a writer for stage, screen and radio whose work has broken new ground and challenged audiences for over two decades. www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/gur...
October 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM
We’re delighted to welcome Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti as Birth Companions’ new #ambassador - a writer for stage, screen and radio whose work has broken new ground and challenged audiences for over two decades. www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/gur...
Read our full response to the Sentencing Bill on our new website: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/sen...
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Read our full response to the Sentencing Bill on our new website: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/sen...
Good, bad, or somewhere in between?
The government’s new Sentencing Bill has given us all a lot to think about.
bit.ly/42EIZS5
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The government’s new Sentencing Bill has given us all a lot to think about.
bit.ly/42EIZS5
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Sentencing Bill: Good, bad, or somewhere in between?
A response to the Sentencing Bill from the Birth Companions Institute
bit.ly
September 23, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Good, bad, or somewhere in between?
The government’s new Sentencing Bill has given us all a lot to think about.
bit.ly/42EIZS5
🧵1/4
The government’s new Sentencing Bill has given us all a lot to think about.
bit.ly/42EIZS5
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We’re gathered at @impurbanhealth.bsky.social for the launch of the #BirthCompanionsInstitute. Thank you to our brilliant speakers @mayasikand.bsky.social, @karenb-2.bsky.social, Ivie Itoje from @wen-uk.bsky.social, Brooklyn and Tuesdae from our Lived Experience Programme, and Hannah Rayment-Jones.
September 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
We’re gathered at @impurbanhealth.bsky.social for the launch of the #BirthCompanionsInstitute. Thank you to our brilliant speakers @mayasikand.bsky.social, @karenb-2.bsky.social, Ivie Itoje from @wen-uk.bsky.social, Brooklyn and Tuesdae from our Lived Experience Programme, and Hannah Rayment-Jones.
Today we’re launching the Birth Companions Institute, a new centre of expertise dedicated to achieving better care, equity and justice for pregnant women and mothers, and their babies.
#BirthCompanionsInstitute #1001Days
#BirthCompanionsInstitute #1001Days
September 15, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Today we’re launching the Birth Companions Institute, a new centre of expertise dedicated to achieving better care, equity and justice for pregnant women and mothers, and their babies.
#BirthCompanionsInstitute #1001Days
#BirthCompanionsInstitute #1001Days
We’re delighted to welcome Dr Annabel Sowemimo as Birth Companions’ new ambassador.
A doctor, academic, activist, writer & founder of the Reproductive Justice Initiative, Annabel's work focuses on tackling health inequalities, racial disparities and improving access to care for marginalised groups.
A doctor, academic, activist, writer & founder of the Reproductive Justice Initiative, Annabel's work focuses on tackling health inequalities, racial disparities and improving access to care for marginalised groups.
September 15, 2025 at 7:30 AM
We’re delighted to welcome Dr Annabel Sowemimo as Birth Companions’ new ambassador.
A doctor, academic, activist, writer & founder of the Reproductive Justice Initiative, Annabel's work focuses on tackling health inequalities, racial disparities and improving access to care for marginalised groups.
A doctor, academic, activist, writer & founder of the Reproductive Justice Initiative, Annabel's work focuses on tackling health inequalities, racial disparities and improving access to care for marginalised groups.
We’re getting ready to launch something special next week, building on our 30 years of experience.
Keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates.
#BirthCompanionsInstitute
Keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates.
#BirthCompanionsInstitute
September 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
We’re getting ready to launch something special next week, building on our 30 years of experience.
Keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates.
#BirthCompanionsInstitute
Keep an eye on our website and social channels for updates.
#BirthCompanionsInstitute
The findings of this year's @npeu-oxford.bsky.social MBRRACE-UK report on maternal deaths are, more than ever, deeply challenging.
They present a stark picture of unmet need, widening inequalities and rising inequity.
Read Birth Companions' response here: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/mbr...
They present a stark picture of unmet need, widening inequalities and rising inequity.
Read Birth Companions' response here: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/mbr...
Birth Companions responds to the 2025 MBRRACE-UK report
MBRRACE Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care 2025: Birth Companions’ CEO responds to the latest report from MBRRACE-UK on maternal deaths.
www.birthcompanions.org.uk
September 11, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The findings of this year's @npeu-oxford.bsky.social MBRRACE-UK report on maternal deaths are, more than ever, deeply challenging.
They present a stark picture of unmet need, widening inequalities and rising inequity.
Read Birth Companions' response here: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/mbr...
They present a stark picture of unmet need, widening inequalities and rising inequity.
Read Birth Companions' response here: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/articles/mbr...
We're hiring!
Our new Criminal Justice Services Manager will manage and develop all aspects of Birth Companions’ criminal justice-based services, and line-manage our team of criminal justice support coordinators.
Find out more: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/pages/96-vac...
Our new Criminal Justice Services Manager will manage and develop all aspects of Birth Companions’ criminal justice-based services, and line-manage our team of criminal justice support coordinators.
Find out more: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/pages/96-vac...
August 18, 2025 at 2:18 PM
We're hiring!
Our new Criminal Justice Services Manager will manage and develop all aspects of Birth Companions’ criminal justice-based services, and line-manage our team of criminal justice support coordinators.
Find out more: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/pages/96-vac...
Our new Criminal Justice Services Manager will manage and develop all aspects of Birth Companions’ criminal justice-based services, and line-manage our team of criminal justice support coordinators.
Find out more: www.birthcompanions.org.uk/pages/96-vac...
New report out today: Understanding Dual Contact for Women
In this @crimeandjustice.bsky.social Working Paper, our Head of Policy Kirsty Kitchen discusses the significant, but largely neglected, overlap between the criminal justice system and children’s social care.
bit.ly/3Ul7kb8
In this @crimeandjustice.bsky.social Working Paper, our Head of Policy Kirsty Kitchen discusses the significant, but largely neglected, overlap between the criminal justice system and children’s social care.
bit.ly/3Ul7kb8
Understanding Dual Contact for Women | Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
www.crimeandjustice.org.uk
August 7, 2025 at 8:29 AM
New report out today: Understanding Dual Contact for Women
In this @crimeandjustice.bsky.social Working Paper, our Head of Policy Kirsty Kitchen discusses the significant, but largely neglected, overlap between the criminal justice system and children’s social care.
bit.ly/3Ul7kb8
In this @crimeandjustice.bsky.social Working Paper, our Head of Policy Kirsty Kitchen discusses the significant, but largely neglected, overlap between the criminal justice system and children’s social care.
bit.ly/3Ul7kb8
Researchers on the NoRePF Study @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social are inviting health and social care professionals and students complete a short survey about immigration policy understanding, NHS charging and confidence in supporting migrant families.
Take part: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
Take part: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
July 28, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Researchers on the NoRePF Study @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social are inviting health and social care professionals and students complete a short survey about immigration policy understanding, NHS charging and confidence in supporting migrant families.
Take part: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
Take part: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Birth Companions
As the day closes, we have reconvened to discuss reflections and next steps. "Themes across breakout groups were remarkably similar. We need better connected systems, and understanding that giving families a voice makes things better for everyone." Angela Frazer Wicks @familyrightsgp.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
As the day closes, we have reconvened to discuss reflections and next steps. "Themes across breakout groups were remarkably similar. We need better connected systems, and understanding that giving families a voice makes things better for everyone." Angela Frazer Wicks @familyrightsgp.bsky.social
Reposted by Birth Companions
"We need to ensure that our systems can deal with complexity. The national care pathway will make a real difference if we can make it engage with complexity then it will be able to be more compassionate and empathetic."
@kirstykitchen @birthcompanions.bsky.social #CSC1001
@kirstykitchen @birthcompanions.bsky.social #CSC1001
July 15, 2025 at 11:28 AM
"We need to ensure that our systems can deal with complexity. The national care pathway will make a real difference if we can make it engage with complexity then it will be able to be more compassionate and empathetic."
@kirstykitchen @birthcompanions.bsky.social #CSC1001
@kirstykitchen @birthcompanions.bsky.social #CSC1001
Reposted by Birth Companions
A third of women who died during or in the year after pregnancy were known to Children’s Social Care.
Authors from @kingslsm.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk & @birthcompanions.bsky.social say urgent changes are needed to prioritise & improve mothers’ care.
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/study-l...
Authors from @kingslsm.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk & @birthcompanions.bsky.social say urgent changes are needed to prioritise & improve mothers’ care.
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/study-l...
'Support, not judgement': Links between children's social care involvement and maternal deaths revealed
A third of women who died during or in the year after pregnancy were known to Children’s Social Care – higher than previously reported, new research reveals. The authors say urgent changes are needed ...
www.kcl.ac.uk
July 11, 2025 at 8:21 AM
A third of women who died during or in the year after pregnancy were known to Children’s Social Care.
Authors from @kingslsm.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk & @birthcompanions.bsky.social say urgent changes are needed to prioritise & improve mothers’ care.
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/study-l...
Authors from @kingslsm.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk & @birthcompanions.bsky.social say urgent changes are needed to prioritise & improve mothers’ care.
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/study-l...
Reposted by Birth Companions
Important research from @nihr.bsky.social @birthcompanions.bsky.social @oxpop.bsky.social finding that a third of women who die during or shortly after pregnancy are known to children’s services.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
A third of UK women who died during or after pregnancy known to children’s services, study finds
Researchers call for better coordinated and holistic care for women who often come from abusive backgrounds
www.theguardian.com
July 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Important research from @nihr.bsky.social @birthcompanions.bsky.social @oxpop.bsky.social finding that a third of women who die during or shortly after pregnancy are known to children’s services.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...