Maternity Befrienders celebration event | News

Pictured left to right: Maternity Befrienders, Kate Ledgeway, Zainab Mayat and Emma Briggs

Women and birthing people supported by the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust’s Maternity Befrienders service came together last Thursday for a celebration event with maternity staff.

Held at The Art House in Wakefield, the event brought together befrienders, the women and birthing people they support, and Trust staff for a relaxed afternoon of crafts, wellbeing activities, refreshments and shared stories.

Launched in 2023, the Maternity Befrienders service supports migrant women and birthing people throughout pregnancy, birth, and the early postnatal period. The service is aimed at those expecting their first baby in the UK who may be asylum seekers, refugees, newly arrived migrants, or anyone needing support with English. Befrienders provide one-to-one emotional and practical support, helping individuals feel more confident, less isolated, and better able to navigate the UK maternity system.

Migrant women in the UK face some of the poorest maternity outcomes, including higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, birth trauma, and maternal mortality. In response to these challenges, a task and finish group was formed in Wakefield involving key stakeholders working with migrant families. Together, they developed the Maternity Befrienders model, securing funding in January 2023 through the CORE 20 PLUS initiative to tackle maternal inequalities in West Yorkshire.

Nyoka Assenso, the Trust’s Equity and Equality Specialist Midwife said: “It can be very difficult when you’re pregnant and new to a country, not knowing where to turn. Our befrienders go above and beyond to support women and birthing people, and the relationships they build are truly special. We are incredibly proud of all that the service has achieved so far.”

The event was a chance to celebrate the powerful impact of this unique service and to hear directly from those who have benefited from it about what it has meant to them.

Bushra Siddique said: “The first time I met my befriender I felt really supported. I had a complication in pregnancy so I was worried but she visited hospital with me and reassured me. I’m new here so I don’t know the processes in England but she really helped me – not just in my pregnancy but in my whole life. Maternity Befrienders are really helpful for every lady.”

To make a referral to the Maternity Befrienders service, professionals can email midyorks.vulnerablewomen@nhs.net. Eligible individuals should speak to their community midwife for more information.