Press – Project MAMA

project mama in the press

14/04/2020 https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/supporting-mothers-in-difficult-circumstances-through-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

10/3/2020 https://www.bristol247.com/lifestyle/family/the-charity-supporting-bristols-migrant-mothers/

06/06/2019 https://thebristolcable.org/2019/06/communities-standing-up-college-students-skaters-and-migrant-mums-warmley-forest-skatepark-mama-project-plastic-free/

12/3/2019 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-bristol-47539726/migrant-women-given-maternity-support-by-project-mama

projectmamauk

Layla Ismail, the Manager at Refugee Women of Bris

Layla Ismail, the Manager at Refugee Women of Bristol, has been a fervent supporter of Project MAMA since it was just a twinkle in founder Fiona’s eye. Project MAMA and RWoB continue to work together to provide culturally safe support to mamas-to-be through challenging, and sometimes even dangerous, circumstances. Today Layla is delivering training to the PM team on Female Genital Mutilation and how we work as MC’s in a safe and approprite way. We have so much love for Layla, Negat, Azza and the team, thank you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Illustration: @miss_magpie_spy⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#projectmama #refugeesarewelcome #supportsurvivors #doulasupport #traumainformed #resilience #motherhood #equalcareforeverymama #refugeewomenofbristol #cultrualsafety #bristol #refugeeswelcome #bristolcityofsanctuary #endfgm #fgmawareness

I think we’re really feeling it this week at Pro

I think we’re really feeling it this week at Project MAMA, alongside thousands of others who are working triple time, trying to keep themselves sane and their children safe. I think we all need this reminder to continue to love ourselves in spite of it all and make space to celebrate everyday wins, no matter how small.❣️❣️❣️

Happy Maghi celebrations ☀️ Maghi is the Punj

Happy Maghi celebrations ☀️

Maghi is the Punjab name of the Hindu festival or Makar Sankranti, to mark the winter solstice. Celebrations include dances, bonfires, feasts and kite flying.

For Sikhs it is a community gathering, a pilgrimage to commemorate the forty Sikh martyrs who gave their lives to protect the tenth Guru of Sikhism.

#maghi #mankarsankranti #hindufestival #wintersolstice #sikhism #ritual #ceremony #traditions #celebratingtraditions

Hello and happy new year to you all. A little late

Hello and happy new year to you all. A little late to the new year party this end - there’s been a lot to process and adapt to with another shift in how we work and reach our mamas during this lockdown.

The positive news is that we are already supporting 15 Mamas having babies in 2021. With additional pressures on maternity, and of course the challenges parents to be are facing currently due to the impact of Covid 19, now more than ever we are committed to ensuring mamas have continuity of care, tailored support and nurturing love.

We are wrapping up our Covid project at the end of January which we’ve been running since last March, before the first lockdown. We know the end to this isn’t great timing now that we are in another lockdown so we are thinking of new ways to give Covid specific support and ensure no mama gets left behind.

Sending peaceful wishes to you all wherever you are and hope 2021 is a happy and healthy one.

From us all at Project MAMA. X

#happynewyear #newyear #projectmama #bristolcharity #lockdown3 #2021 #supportingfamilies #supportingrefugees #equalrightsforall #noborders #supportingwomen

Away in a Manger I like my nativities with a si

Away in a Manger

I like my nativities
with a side of heresy
with midwives and mothers
and empty mangers
and full arms
i like wise women
over wise men
attending to bloody people
born and crucified
showing up in places
church leaders won’t go
i like heralding feminist agendas
and trouble
and god’s good news
which is kind of repetitive
since they’re all the same thing
proper churches
want proper nativities
because women’s bodies
are shameful
whether bearing christ
or just bare
and instead of silent nights
i like loud protests
because
be silent
is not a phrase about joy
but about control
so give me a christmas
without white supremacy
and bright sexism
where the story of a baby
becomes a story of a woman
and my nativity looks like
god’s
and not like
man’s

Poem by Kaitlin Shelter
#poemsfortheresistance

Wherever you are in the world, stay safe and well. ✨

Illustration by @honeytohive

We had an amazing response to our online auction a

We had an amazing response to our online auction and very pleased to share that the auction raised an incredible £5322!

THANK YOU to our volunteer Esther for setting up and managing the auction.

THANK YOU to all the contributors for generously donating and sharing their work / services / events for the auction.

THANK YOU to all those you placed a bid! The donations you made were so generous. We hope those of you who had the winning bid enjoy your gifts and experiences.

This money will be going directly to the women and families we support.
You can find out what we’ve achieved this year on our previous post as we reflect on 2020. As we move forward in to 2021 and these uncertain times, the money raised is going to go a long way in helping Project MAMA to continue our work and help even more families as they welcome their little ones into the world.

Thank you from us @projectmamauk ✨

#onlineauction #charityauction #charitablegiving #bristolcharity #supportmigrants #supportingfamilies #supportingwomen

As we start to the welcome back the light and weav

As we start to the welcome back the light and weave the old year in to the new, it feels pertinent for us to reflect on what has been the 2020 nobody expected. In this, our second year, we have grown exponentially and broadened the remit of what we offer, adapting to the pandemic to support those experiencing disproportionate vulnerability and hostility. We have continued to walk alongside pregnant mamas on their path to new motherhood and seen many new babies birthed with strength against a backdrop of uncertainty. We’re generally not numbers people, but wanted to share with you our work this year. *Deep breath* ...
...in 2020 Project MAMA has:
- supported 43 mothers throughout the antenatal and post natal period
- Been nurturing encouragement at 24 mama’s births
- Provided welfare phone calls to 150 mamas at the peak of the pandemic
- Delivered weekly essential items of nappies & breastmilk substitute to 100+ mamas Bristol wide
- Grown our PM team from 1 to 5 so we can continue to do what we do
- Grown to a team of 17 wonderful volunteer Mother Companions so no mama gives birth alone.

It has been incredible to witness the mutual solidarity, support, strength and a sprinkle of magic which comes when humans support one another, especially through these times of darkness and adversity. Whilst the future of our humble project remains uncertain owing to the post-Covid financial unknowns, *we* know now more than ever how essential our work is. We wish everyone love, hope and peace moving towards these lighter times. Thank you all for the support you’ve shown us this year. Thanks to you we will continue to radically nurture, foster community and stand in solidarity with displaced mamas. Love to you all, Fiona & the PM Team xx
👩🏼‍🎨@_tarasea

That’s right! Our online auction is running for

That’s right! Our online auction is running for only THREE more days. The auction closes: Thursday 10th December at 8pm GMT.

There are incredible things in the line up! All proceeds go to Project MAMA, so we are extremely grateful to all those who have already bid. The link to our auction is in our bio.

The auction was set up by one of our volunteers Esther and here’s a few words about why she created this auction:
“I have personally witnessed how important the work that they do is. The Project MAMA team is a force to be reckoned with. They are committed to supporting those who experience hardship exacerbated through marginalisation. This is a small charity whose work on the ground directly impacts those they work with.”
✨Thank you Esther. ✨
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#onlineauction #mamacommunity #projectmama #auction #supportmigrants #supportrefugees #equalrightsforall #equality #support #communitygiving

Theres seven days left of our fundraising auction

Theres seven days left of our fundraising auction and we’ve just added seven wonderful new items including a storytelling workshop, a beautiful hand marbled art work, a gorgeous gold-brazed kintsugi ceramic plate and stationary to set you up for 2021... take a look, there’s a link our bio.
Thank you all for bidding generously and showing such support for Project Mama!

Just look at this photo 😍 It was sent to us (wi

Just look at this photo 😍 It was sent to us (with permission to share) by one of the women we’re supporting.

This asylum seeking mother is in an exceptionally challenging situation, but here she is nailing it and celebrating one month of her little one earth side in a way we wholly approve!

Getting support in those early days of parenting is so important. Parenting was never meant to be a lone task and at Project MAMA we’re helping to provide that village type of support. We provide information and emotional support, holding space to allow the mother to build confidence in their decision making and harness their parenting instincts. Receiving photos like this one sparks a lot of joy!

#onemonthold #newbaby #asylummothers #equalrightsforall #mamacommunity #resilliant #resilience #seekingasylum #findingcommunity #mother #supportingwomen

Look what’s arrived just in time for #givingtues

Look what’s arrived just in time for #givingtuesday !!
Our new Tote bags are at PMHQ ready and waiting, and you can grab one on our fundraiser auction now. Whilst you’re there for the bags, you can also bid big on so many brilliant gifts and help us raise funds for our ongoing work with mothers, babies and families. Link in bio. #givingtuesday #thankyou

Have you seen our new tote bags?! These are availa

We have some exciting news to share! We have an

We have some exciting news to share!

We have an online auction starting tomorrow with AMAZING goodies and experiences on offer - from art work to retreat stays and some gorgeous Project MAMA tote bags (and lots more!).

Keep an eye out on here for updates tomorrow and we will let you know when the online auction is live.

All money raised will go to @projectmamauk and support our work. We hope you can join in and grab yourself a lovely gift.

✨ Stay tuned! ✨

[Art work featured in the photo is a piece called ‘Tender’ by Amy Isles Freeman ... also in the auction!]

#onlineauction #projectmama #supportingwomen #supportingfamilies #supportingmigrants #supportforrefugees #community #auction #bristolcharity #charity

This lunchtime, just as we heard the news that Bri

This lunchtime, just as we heard the news that Bristol is confirmed to be in tier 3 restrictions come Wednesday, we also received this message from a family receiving our Covid-19 solidarity care packages.

In Bristol, before covid, one in six children were living in poverty, how many more are right now?

At Project MAMA we have witnessed the real effects of covid-19 on families throughout this year. From the stress of isolation and access to maternity care for expectant mothers, to the increasing financial strain and experience of food and fuel poverty, lost work and the threat of homelessness.

Alongside our Mother Companion work, Project MAMA staff and volunteers have been working with these communities since April to eleviate some of the stress and increase access to services and essentials.

The work that has been happening all year, must go on throughout the winter, to safeguard and support the families who make this city such a bright and brilliant place to belong.

Our Covid-19 project began in March by providing solidarity care packages of nappies, formula milk and toiletries and since October we have developed to offer supermarket vouchers, signposting and advocacy on a self referral basis (thanks to @chooselove and @tnluk ). We have been overwhelmed in recent weeks as referrals pour in thick and fast, and our team works hard to keep up with demand.

We are in awe of and grateful for the work of @bristolfoodunion who enable us to refer our families to a bountiful food box each and every week and the brilliant @babybanknetwork who continue to supply the children with essential winter clothes, cots, buggies, books and everything else besides.

Please keep giving Bristol, we are in this together 💪

Welcome to the world little one - another baby bor

Welcome to the world little one - another baby born, supported by one of our Mother Companions.

This mama had a planned, gentle caesarean birth where her wishes were respected. She found out for herself that she had given birth to a girl and then had three hours of uninterrupted skin to skin, and breastfeeding was established whilst in the recovery room.

We are so proud of our MC’s and all they do to help the mothers make choices and advocate for their wishes. We are also thankful to the maternity team who respected her wishes and helped to make these things happen.

Magic.

#equalrightsforeveryone #supportingwomen #antenataleducation #birthpreparation #caesarean #caesarenbirth #mothercompanion #skintoskin #breastfeeding #hospitalbirth #birthplan #birthchoices #maternity #givingbirthduringapandemic

The Fourth Trimester. The first three months aft

The Fourth Trimester.

The first three months after the birth of a baby has been given the term ‘fourth trimester’ - giving a nod to the fact that both baby and parent are learning what their new life outside of the womb looks like. There are 9 (ish) months of growing, followed by 3 months (and more) of learning.

There are lots of things to support the baby’s womb to world experience, as well as the mothers transition to parenthood. Understanding the biological norms for babies, having access to evidence based information about baby care and the baby and mother’s health are things that aren’t always readily available for new parents, particularly within the demographic of those we support.

Our Mother Companions do an incredible job to make this information accessible to them, respecting cultural preferences or practices and helping them to find empowerment from trusting their own intuition.

Painting by @naavaonline

#fourthtrimester #postnatalperiod #postpartum #newbaby #motherhood #accesstosupport #supportingwomen #mothers #projectmama #mothercompanions #postnataldoula #equalcareforeverymama

We need your help! Please nominate Project MAMA fo

We need your help! Please nominate Project MAMA for a £1000 grant to support mamas throughout pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

Head to our Facebook page for the link to the 12 days of giving nominations. Or go to www.movementforgood.com/12days

Just search Project Mama in the first box or add our Charity number: 118 2112.

We will be so grateful if you can take a couple of minutes out of your day to do this.

🎁 THANK YOU! 🎁

With another lockdown approaching here in the UK,

With another lockdown approaching here in the UK, we recognise that this a challenging time for so many people, and especially all those working within and using the maternity services.

With so much change and uncertainty, it’s vital that pregnant people have some continuity. We are so fortunate to have an amazing team of Mother Companions to support our pregnant mamas.

They each bring different skills and together provide such a rich balance of expertise and energy.

Some use Rebozos (this beautiful image shows a Rebozo in action!), some have a background in midwifery, some are doulas, some have additional breastfeeding knowledge and some are mothers themselves.

Our Mother Companions have finely tuned listening skills and are intuitive to the individual needs of those they support. They fully understand the wishes of the mother and help to hold space for her to share concerns, be heard and listened to.

Having a Mother Companion provides continuity which may be lacking in other areas of their life. This unconditional support helps the mother feels safe, supported and informed and this enables them to advocate for themselves as they make choices for themselves and their baby. For some, this can be a healing experience and a discovery of their own resilience.

Big thanks to all our Mother Companion volunteers, especially supporting through these strange times.

Illustration @cosmic.birth

#birthsupport #mothercompanion #givingbirthduringapandemic #bristolcharity #mothers #supportingwomen #rebozo #birth #labour #womensupportingwomen #equalrightsforwomen #continuityofcare #midwives #doulasupport

• Our Guiding Principles • Welcome to our ne

• Our Guiding Principles •

Welcome to our new followers ! At Project MAMA our Guiding Principles shape and inform the work that we do and how we support each other. Swipe to see them all ➡️

SOLIDARITY
We show active solidarity with marginalised migrant women through recognising that, though our struggles are not the same struggles, we share the same hope for the future. Through our commitment, work and compassion we meet the diverse needs of those we serve.

RADICAL NURTURING
Our trauma-informed practice is built on the fundamental belief that all mothers-to-be need compassion, support, care, and space leading up to the birth of their children. It is our belief that women have the right to be supported through their pregnancy and beyond in order to harness their power and to give birth safely, in spite of political barriers.

REINFORCING RESILIENCE
Despite the serious challenges that mamas face, women often exhibit tremendous strength and resilience. Mamas accessing our service come from incredibly diverse cultural backgrounds which hold knowledge of valuable birthing practices. We honour their rich lived experiences, culture and knowledge and promote this in the work we do.

CULTIVATING COMMUNITY
Project MAMA is informed by the community it serves. Connecting women in a safe space allows for peer support and supportive friendships to thrive. It supports the building of an interdependent community where bonds are made through the shared experience of being and becoming mothers.

CHAMPIONING CULTURAL SAFETY
We practice in a way that promotes shared respect and a women’s unique identity, with a focus on trust, transparency and what they need to feel both emotionally and physically safe. We examine our own cultural identities and attitudes and are open-minded and flexible in our attitudes towards all people.

#guidingprinciples #solidarity #radicalnurturing #culturalsafety #cultivatingcommunity #reinforcingresilience #resilience #projectmama #charity

As Black History Month begins to wrap up, we wante

As Black History Month begins to wrap up, we wanted to share the story of this inspirational African-American Midwife, Margaret Charles Smith (aka Miss Margaret 1906-2004) who supported and saved the lives of thousands of mothers and babies.

At the time Miss Margaret was supporting women, African-American midwives were referred to as “Granny Midwives”. Although they were not officially recognised, they were crucial to the lives of American black women because most hospitals would not admit them as patients.

Miss Margaret’s primary income was made from farming and sharecropping, but she prioritised Midwifery in order to save her sisters and their children. She knew that she was their only hope in having a safe delivery.

In 1949, she was issued a permit to practice midwifery, making her one of the country’s first official Midwives. She continued as a Midwife until 1981 (even though midwifery was outlawed in Alabama in 1976).

She attended to the poorest, sickest, and most vulnerable women, wading through thick waters, and sometimes dangerous terrains. Miss Margaret saved a one and a half pound baby after creating an incubator with fire wood and water bottles.

She caught 3500 babies, the first being when she was five years old! Some nights she attended 4 births.

She was given a lifetime achievement award at the Black Midwife and Healers Conference, 2004, and described by Ina May Gaskin as a national treasure.

References:
margarethemidwife.blogspot.com/2013/10/margaret-charles-smith.html & midwiferytoday.com

#blackhistorymonth #bhm2020 #blackhistory #missmargaret #margaretcharlessmith #blackmidwife

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