Mums Advisory Board & Ambassadors

Trish Balusa is a multi-award-winning keynote speaker and culture analyst with over a decade of activism, challenging the root causes of disparity and educating others on the consequences of inequality in society.

She is the mother of an autistic son, her rainbow baby, born after she suffered the late miscarriage of twins. Born in Congo in 1990 and arriving in the UK in 2000, Trish draws on a lifetime of hardship to challenge the status quo, drive positive change and empower others, particularly those from marginalised communities. She believes courage is contagious among the brave.

I'm Helena, a Black British woman of Ghanaian heritage, an NHS GP and mum to twin boys.
My motherhood journey began far earlier and more frightening than I ever imagined. My boys were born at just 24 weeks and spent more than 200 days in neonatal intensive care. We lived it one day at a time, and continue to navigate complex needs post discharge. Being both a doctor and a terrified mother at the same cot-side changed how I understand care, vulnerability, and what families really need in order to feel heard.
I wanted to join the Mum Advisory Board because I sit at the meeting point of lived experience and clinical knowledge — and I know how often that combination is missing from the rooms where decisions actually get made.
Amplifying the voices of Black mums matters to me deeply. Black women in the UK are far more likely to face serious complications, loss, and to have their pain and concerns dismissed. I've felt the weight of not being heard, and I've seen it from the other side of the consultation too.

I’m Karlene, a Black British mum of one teenager. My experience of pregnancy and motherhood, alongside my work as a dual-qualified Social Worker and Occupational Therapist, has given me insight into the challenges Black mothers face in health and social care.
I am passionate about tackling perinatal mental health inequalities. I believe it is vital to amplify the voices of Black mums because our experiences are too often underrepresented. Ensuring Black mums are heard can drive meaningful change, improve services, and create better outcomes for future generations.

My name is Heidi, London born of Trinidad descent and I am a mother to two Boys. Having repeatedly experienced the lack of culturally specific and evidence based mental health and maternity care and support during my own pregnancies, I trained as an antenatal teacher and Abuela Doula in order to better support women in my community. I am currently co-producing free antenatal classes for black and brown women in areas of Hammersmith and Fulham. Both my lived experience and the continued heartbreaking experiences of black women encountering the current stretched maternity systems continues to be evidence that the voices of black women not only need to be heard but are a powerful force for change. I would love to join Mums Advisory to be able to help further strengthen the support for our black birthing community and to become more proactive in creating change for good for generations to come.

My name is Soriya.I am a mother to two beautiful girls age 3 and 1. I love advocacy and I have lived experience in few areas.I think it's too much for me to write on here but I would love to share.I believe my story can help others.Overall I Love people. I thinks it's amazing to have advisory board that works to better the support and outcomes for Black woman.

Hi I’m Beatrice, a Black British Nigerian mummy of 1 (albeit by surprise) and advocate for equitable and anti-racist healthcare services and better maternal outcomes for Black & brown women.
My journey into motherhood was a mixed one. Experiencing dismissal, gaslighting and lack of appropriate care in Bristol’s maternity services and dismissal even of my mum and bringing partner who is a senior midwife, that led to me almost loosing my baby girl. 3 midwifes, almost 4 days in undiagnosed unprogressive labour and an emergency c section later where I was cut twice whilst virtually unconscious, this followed into my postpartum experience and healing journey. Memory loss, infection, mental strain and voices whispering things I could never vocalise, despite having family support, I really struggled. This really triggered for me a fire that has slowly been cracking. My voice suddenly became louder, advocating for change and reform within maternity services and care.
I saw so many gaps in the care, understanding, competence and training of the medical staff I dealt with, even including consultants who dismissed me from their care.
Now, some of the work I do is focused on embedding anti-racist and culturally competent care in maternity services and healthcare. I want to do more of this and increase and amplify the voices and experiences of mothers in any way I am able to that will result in impact and change!
Ensuring lived experience is made central to clinical work and training, service improvement, workforce development and systems change is really important to me for progress. We need to be in spaces where we can not only be heard, but also influence, make decision and bring about change in practice that not only benefits us but actually makes it better for all, because when you work from the margins in, the experience is better for everyone. I also think there are some gaps in research that I think a space like this could support contribution to , to make outcomes for Black mothers better holistically : mentally, physically, financially etc
We need healthcare and maternity systems that are anti-racist, equitable, culturally responsive and designed with Black bodies, mothers and families actually in mind. Anyway I can contribute to this agenda and progress, I would love to.
I’ll stop there as this is meant to be short, otherwise I’ll write forever!
Thank you to their motherhood group and Sandra for the amazing work you are always spearheading!

I am a Black mum of two, born in France with family roots in West Africa. My motherhood journey has included both immense joy and profound loss, having experienced miscarriage in 2023. These experiences have shaped my passion for supporting and advocating for mothers at every stage of their journey.
I am committed to empowering women to advocate for themselves- whether during the prenatal period, throughout pregnancy, postpartum, or as they navigate the many stages of motherhood. I believe every mother deserves to feel heard, informed, and supported when making decisions about her care and the wellbeing of her family.
I wanted to join the Mum Advisory Board because I am passionate about helping to create positive change for mothers and families. I strongly believe that motherhood is made sweeter through community and support. We often hear that it takes a village to raise a child, but I also believe it takes a village to support parents so they can thrive.
Amplifying the voices of Black mums is especially important because their experiences, challenges, and perspectives have not always been adequately represented or listened to. By creating space for Black mothers to share their stories and contribute to decision-making, we can help drive more equitable, culturally informed, and inclusive support for all families. Representation matters, and when Black mums are heard, valued, and included, outcomes improve not only for them but for future generations as well.

My journey started as a young, black, teen mother which I wrote a book about, ‘I Know Why She Smiles’, which details my journey to thrive in a world that told me I cannot. I share so many experiences of being discriminated by those in my close circle and those around me, including professionals, and the lasting impact this left, though I eventually overcame. I now have three children, each experience bringing with it new experiences both positive but also, sadly, disappointing at times in terms of the support received during the times I needed it most. I am a huge advocate for black maternal health and have so much to say and do on the topic.

I am a Black British mother of one daughter. I co-ordinate the Liverpool Black Maternal Health peer group. Through this I have many culturally specific conversations about the experiences, wishes and thoughts of Black Mothers. I am a freelance creative arts therapist ( drama therapist) and a co-artistic Director with Collective Encounters which is a merseyside based participatory theatre company . I use creative practices to facilitate engagement in research and personal processing. I am keen to involve the Black Mothers from the Liverpool Peer Group in activities that will align with and support the work of the Motherhood Group.

My journey into motherhood has been shaped by both professional knowledge and deeply personal experience. Following the birth of my first child, I was diagnosed with PTSD, which gave me firsthand insight into the emotional and psychological impact maternity experiences can have on women and families. Navigating motherhood with limited family support, as much of my family live abroad, has further strengthened my understanding of the challenges many mothers face in isolation.

Working across maternity and family services has also shown me the importance of improving men’s understanding of the challenges women — particularly Black women — face during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, as this can help create stronger advocates, better support systems, and more informed families and communities.

I bring a unique perspective of experiencing maternity care as both a clinician and a mother. I wanted to join the Mum Advisory Board because I believe it is vital that the voices and experiences of all mothers are heard and valued, irrespective of age, while also ensuring that Black mothers’ voices are represented and actively included in conversations that shape maternity and family services. Black women continue to face significant inequalities in maternal healthcare outcomes, and I am passionate about helping to create safer, more compassionate, and culturally informed support for mothers and families.

Currently working within health visiting, Lisa supports the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, providing health promotion, immunisations, health surveillance, and tailored support to families with children under five. Her compassionate and person-centred approach ensures families feel heard, supported, and empowered.

Through advocacy, honest conversations, and visibility, Lisa creates safe spaces where healthcare professionals feel represented and encouraged to embrace their individuality.

I would love to join the Mum Advisory Board because I am passionate about amplifying Black mums’ voices and ensuring their experiences are heard, valued, and reflected in maternal and family healthcare conversations. As both a healthcare professional and mother, I wants to help drive meaningful change, challenge inequalities, and advocate for culturally inclusive support for Black families and communities.

I am a British-born Jamaican mother of two, a registered midwife, and currently work as a Family Nurse within the Family Nurse Partnership Programme — a Department of Health initiative that supports young parents to improve outcomes for themselves and their children.

My journey into motherhood has been shaped by both professional knowledge and deeply personal experience. Following the birth of my first child, I was diagnosed with PTSD, which gave me firsthand insight into the emotional and psychological impact maternity experiences can have on women and families. Navigating motherhood with limited family support, as much of my family live abroad, has further strengthened my understanding of the challenges many mothers face in isolation.

Working across maternity and family services has also shown me the importance of improving men’s understanding of the challenges women — particularly Black women — face during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, as this can help create stronger advocates, better support systems, and more informed families and communities.

I bring a unique perspective of experiencing maternity care as both a clinician and a mother. I wanted to join the Mum Advisory Board because I believe it is vital that the voices and experiences of all mothers are heard and valued, irrespective of age, while also ensuring that Black mothers’ voices are represented and actively included in conversations that shape maternity and family services. Black women continue to face significant inequalities in maternal healthcare outcomes, and I am passionate about helping to create safer, more compassionate, and culturally informed support for mothers and families.

Currently working within health visiting, Lisa supports the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, providing health promotion, immunisations, health surveillance, and tailored support to families with children under five. Her compassionate and person-centred approach ensures families feel heard, supported, and empowered.

Through advocacy, honest conversations, and visibility, Lisa creates safe spaces where healthcare professionals feel represented and encouraged to embrace their individuality.

I would love to join the Mum Advisory Board because I am passionate about amplifying Black mums’ voices and ensuring their experiences are heard, valued, and reflected in maternal and family healthcare conversations. As both a healthcare professional and mother, I wants to help drive meaningful change, challenge inequalities, and advocate for culturally inclusive support for Black families and communities.

I am a married mother of 1. My motherhood journey has been a difficult one but a blessing. Low fertility chance but conceived naturally in 2021. And baby loss in 2023. A premature labour 2021 labour was emergency but my son survived. Due to this I've had to have a lot of medical interventions and post pregnancy investigations but also due to having endometriosis I have had further investigative surgeries since. I have lived experience with NHS/ private referrals. Some discrimination and not being able to access the mental health access I needed especially after my son was born and misscarraige.
Due to this I had to do my own research an invest in time and money to access other services that were more catered for black women.
Joining the mum advisory board would be a great opportunity for me to share past lived experiences but also advocate for how to remove and engage around the services provided for eternal healthcare especially with underlying health conditions that prevent you from having a smooth pregnancy and recovery from pregnancy which can also be overlooked.

Currently working within health visiting, Lisa supports the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, providing health promotion, immunisations, health surveillance, and tailored support to families with children under five. Her compassionate and person-centred approach ensures families feel heard, supported, and empowered.

Through advocacy, honest conversations, and visibility, Lisa creates safe spaces where healthcare professionals feel represented and encouraged to embrace their individuality.

I would love to join the Mum Advisory Board because I am passionate about amplifying Black mums’ voices and ensuring their experiences are heard, valued, and reflected in maternal and family healthcare conversations. As both a healthcare professional and mother, I wants to help drive meaningful change, challenge inequalities, and advocate for culturally inclusive support for Black families and communities.

Lisa Daniels is a dedicated adult nurse, Community Staff Nurse in health visiting, proud girl mum, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity, inclusion, and equity within healthcare. Qualified for over eight years, she has worked across acute and community settings, building a career shaped by resilience, lived experience, and a deep commitment to supporting families and underrepresented voices.

Currently working within health visiting, Lisa supports the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, providing health promotion, immunisations, health surveillance, and tailored support to families with children under five. Her compassionate and person-centred approach ensures families feel heard, supported, and empowered.

Through advocacy, honest conversations, and visibility, Lisa creates safe spaces where healthcare professionals feel represented and encouraged to embrace their individuality.

I would love to join the Mum Advisory Board because I am passionate about amplifying Black mums’ voices and ensuring their experiences are heard, valued, and reflected in maternal and family healthcare conversations. As both a healthcare professional and mother, I wants to help drive meaningful change, challenge inequalities, and advocate for culturally inclusive support for Black families and communities.

I am Francesca Lestrade, a mother, wife, business owner and community builder of Caribbean heritage.

As a mother of three (two of whom have additional needs), navigating SEN parenting alongside building businesses has tested and grown me in equal measure. I have fought for my children within systems not designed for families like ours, and I have felt what it means to be a Black mother whose concerns are dismissed and whose instincts are second-guessed.

My lived experience spans several areas this board seeks to address — SEN parenting, mental health, faith, discrimination and health and wellbeing. These are not just topics to me. They are my life.

I run The Mumpreneurs Circle, a growing community for mothers in business who are tired of feeling like they have to choose between motherhood and ambition. I am also the CEO of SYMBA Marketing Ltd., a marketing agency aimed at supporting charitable organisations, CICs and social enterprises to reach more people with better marketing. Each year I host the Mumpreneur Mixer, bringing mums in business together to connect, network, learn, grow and enjoy themselves.

I want to join this board because the work I do and the life I have lived feel like they mean something beyond my own story. I want to be a voice for other Black mothers like me. I have something to say — and I believe this is the right space to say it.

I have 2 children 1 and 3. My first birthing experience was an emergency c section - I was completely unprepared and this was a traumatic experience. Just under 2 years later I was able to have a successful VBAC - The odds were against me, but I did it! I haven’t heard many successful VBAC stories. My biggest challenges to motherhood have been growing a toddler and a baby - not so much now they are both toddlers it’s a lot easier but the initial year has been very challenging. And my biggest challenge and PASSION POINT is reintegrating corporate life back into my life. I just don’t fit and this has come with it’s on sweet of mental battles.

I’d love to joint the advisory group for a few reasons;

1. To perhaps bring to the table some fresh and important topics that maybe don’t get enough attention ; returning back to intimacy, faith, image (self confidence) , mentorship and a mother/ professional, single parenting support and many more.

2. And arguably most importantly I am a doer. I run and host groups and events, not just a quiet observer. I’ll be an ACTIVE and involved board member

3. Passion for motherhood and all things postpartum.

Black mums are so neglected in the workplace. We have generational trauma to heal from, unlearn in some cases and we carry a lot. Genuine village like community is missing and I’d like to bring it back. We need to be heard and seen

I'm Esi, a proud Black Welsh mum of three with Grenadian and Ghanaian heritage. My children are mixed race. 

During my first pregnancy, I experienced vanishing twin syndrome which I'd never heard of before. I also experienced significant blood loss while giving birth the first and third time. Alongside the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, I experienced racism shortly after the birth of my first child while still in hospital.

Following my first pregnancy, I also became very unwell and was later diagnosed with Coeliac Disease. A few years later, one of my children was diagnosed with a different autoimmune disease, which further deepened my awareness of the importance of listening to women and families when it comes to health concerns and access to support.

I'm passionate about supporting the Mums Advisory Board to advocate for women's health during our most vulnerable moments. I also want to give a voice for pregnant women and mums experiencing domestic abuse.

I’m Joy Randolph, a Black mother of three girls and Founder of MatriWell — an NHS and LSE-backed maternal health company working to improve outcomes and experiences for mothers. I’m also the former Chair of a Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership for one of the largest NHS trusts, where I spent time listening to mothers, understanding what they had been through, and helping turn their experiences into insight that could influence senior leaders and improve care. My life mission is to make high-quality healthcare accessible to every mother, particularly Black mothers, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. My journey to this work is deeply personal. I am a pancreatic cancer survivor who became pregnant after curative surgery. During my first pregnancy, I experienced complications that almost cost me my life. At 19 weeks pregnant, I needed life-saving surgery. Clinical errors and a misjudgement in my treatment meant my baby and I were left with only hours to live. Thankfully, one doctor recognised what had gone wrong and performed the surgery that saved us. I survived, and against the odds, so did my pregnancy. But the rest of that pregnancy remained frightening. I later experienced threatened pre-term labour, carried my daughter to 38 weeks, and had an elective caesarean. During the birth, something went wrong. My daughter was born blue, limp, non-responsive, and with an Apgar score of 1. She did not breathe for six minutes. Clinicians worked hard to resuscitate her, but there was no progress. I said a prayer, and in that moment, she took her first breath. She went to NICU and thankfully came home healthy. Today, she is thriving, a competitive gymnast and a brilliant student. My second and third pregnancies were much more positive, and they helped me understand the stark difference that high-quality, compassionate, and responsive care can make. But after my third child, I experienced postnatal depression and could not access the mental health support I needed. That experience forced me to find ways to heal myself. Once I recovered, I made it my mission to help ensure no mother is left unsupported during pregnancy or postpartum. These experiences shaped the work I do today. I am the Founder and CEO of MatriWell, a maternal health company building technology to make maternity care safer, and more responsive to mothers’ needs. Our product, MothersPA, supports mothers during pregnancy and postpartum by helping them understand their care, their risks, and their options, so they can feel less afraid and more in control of their experience. When embedded within healthcare settings, MothersPA can also help mothers share feedback with their NHS trust at key moments in their journey, giving maternity leadership teams real-time, system-level insight into where care needs to improve. Before founding MatriWell, I spent over 16 years working in technology, brand strategy, and innovation, including with global companies such as Nike, L’Oréal, and Unilever. Much of my work centred on listening to customers, identifying the patterns behind their experiences, and turning those insights into decisions that improved products, services, and outcomes. Today, I continue to work alongside NHS clinicians, researchers, and senior leaders to improve care for women and families. I would love to join the Mum Advisory Board because I believe research should not simply study Black mothers. It should help shape the care Black mothers receive nationally. Too often, our voices are captured in reports that are read, discussed, and acknowledged, but not translated into meaningful change. I want to help The Motherhood Group shape research that is not only insightful, but actionable — research that influences care, policy, services, and outcomes. It is essential to amplify the voices of Black mums because our experiences reveal what the system most needs to change. Black mothers are not a niche group. Our stories expose gaps in safety, communication, trust, dignity, mental health support, and access to care. When Black mothers are listened to properly, services become better not only for us, but for every mother who has ever felt dismissed, unheard, frightened, or unsupported. For me, it would be a privilege to work with The Motherhood Group to help make care safer, more responsive, and more equitable for Black mothers. I attended your mental health event in 2025 and loved every minute of it. I would be honoured to contribute to the Mum Advisory Board.

I am mother to a 4yr old girl whose transitioned into parenthood sparked interest in the topic from a health and wellbeing, psychology and consumption points of view. I am currently doing a PhD on the impact of transitioning into parenthood on consumption which has helped me understand how having a child changes your identity, role in society, relationships, career and so forth. My own experience becoming a mother came with traumatic birth experience due to severe preeclampsia that was diagnosed at birth and redundancy 3months into maternity leave. My subsequent journey in motherhood has brought struggles of secondary infertility through recurrent miscarriages and navigating a health care system not built to effectively support women in that journey.

I want to join the Mum Advisory Board to share knowledge I have gained through my stories, encourage open sharing of experiences within the community and the importance of our black mum community to take part in research so our voices are amplified. It’s incredibly important to amplify black experiences because we make up a minority voice in research that is used to inform policy. My experience with the system highlights a lack of understanding of the barriers and needs of black mums. We need to change assumptions about our health, pain tolerance and the importance of the lives of our children.

I'm a mother of 2 mixed-race children and would like to get involved with the Mum Advisory Board in order to improve the maternal experience for Black Mothers, especially due to the experiences I have had with maternal outcomes and mental health.

I am a Certified Life Coach, empowerment speaker and founder of Highly Favoured Woman Inc, Ltd. I firmly believe in empowering women, especially mums to reconnect with their WHY again and live a purpose driven life juggling it all to be the best version of themselves.

This is what I do and love. At the core of me I am a mum to two beautiful girls aged 6 and 3, wife to one husband and an African girl from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Having had a surprise pregnancy with my first baby just before our white wedding, I found myself in an identity crisis and was searching for myself again. I was lost in between showing up as a mum and a newly married wife and in this journey I found myself doubting who I was, questioning what it means to be married and being a mum, also juggling a career. I had no one to turn to, because I was afraid of being diagnosed with postnatal depression nor did I look for the symptoms so I started my journey of healing by looking inward towards my faith as a Christian and personal development resources, a journey that never ends but each day is progress.

Soon I began to reconnect with my WHY and finding a balance in the new life I had been blessed with and started to enjoy motherhood, so much that when my second daughter was born, I felt led to start the Highly Favoured Woman Community.

I would love to join the Mum Advisory Board to help amplify the voices of black mums who go through this transition and journey of motherhood, by empowering them and providing resources and community so they can reconnect with themselves again and find their purpose as they navigate through this journey without the shame of talking about it and the fear of judgement.

I am Grace, my ethnicity is Black, African and I am a mum of three beautiful girls aged 4-11 years old. My journey into motherhood was far from anything I could have prepared myself for. It was life changing, traumatic and beautiful in it's own way. I have experienced hyperemesis, pre-term births, baby loss, been a NICU mum, ectopic pregnancy and currently raising a Neuro-diverse child with mulitple needs. As a result not much shakes me and my outlook to life is one of positivity. These experiences have not just shaped me as a mother but as an an individual and continue to teach me to this day. I have followed The Motherhood Group online for a while and I have often found myself looking for a community that empowers and supports women and mothers from all walks of life as motherhood can often feel like a lonely place to be. I would love to join the Mum Advisory Board because I believe that my experiences can help others in their journey no matter where they are. I always tell my children to never be afraid to use their voices, and as young as they are I see this playing out when they advocate for themselves or even their friends. It's important to amplify voices of Black Mums because our voices matter on all issues regarding us. There are so many disparities and statistics that befall Black Mums and I believe these should not come down to the colour of our skin, but unfortunately in most cases does. I would love to add my voice to being a part of the solution, conversation and change for Black Mums now and for future Black Mums.

I am not just a birth advocate; I am a highly driven individual who finds immense joy in the profound journey of motherhood. My personal experience includes the unique role of being a mother to six children, a diverse combination comprising three singletons, a set of fraternal twins, and sadly, a journey marked by the loss of a precious pregnancy.
My journey into motherhood has been a catalyst for an undying investment in understanding the intricacies of pregnancy, childbirth, and the transformative years that follow. While relishing the challenges and joys that come with a large family, I have developed a profound appreciation for the nuances of each stage of motherhood. I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with fellow board members to drive impactful initiatives and foster growth.

My name is Amaka and I’m a Nigerian-born motherhood, lifestyle, and family content creator based in the UK. I’m also a mum of two, navigating the beautiful, challenging, and ever-evolving journey of motherhood while sharing my experiences openly online to help other mums feel seen and less alone. My motherhood journey has shaped me in so many ways. From experiencing both emergency and planned C-sections, to breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, adjusting to life as a mum of two, and balancing family life with building a personal brand and business, it has been a journey filled with growth, healing, learning, and resilience. As a Black mum, I know how important representation and community are. There are so many experiences unique to Black mothers that deserve to be acknowledged, understood, and amplified from cultural expectations and motherhood realities, to navigating healthcare, postpartum recovery, identity, and mental wellbeing. Too often, Black mums are expected to simply “be strong” without always being given the safe spaces to speak honestly about their experiences. Through my platforms, I try to create relatable, honest, and comforting content around motherhood sharing both the beautiful moments and the difficult ones. I want mums, especially Black mums, to feel represented, supported, and reassured that they are not alone in whatever season they’re navigating. I wanted to join the Mum Advisory Board because I genuinely care about creating positive change and contributing to conversations that centre the real experiences of mothers. I believe Black mums deserve to be heard, included, supported, and reflected in campaigns, conversations, and communities in authentic ways not just as an afterthought, but as voices that matter. I would love the opportunity to contribute my experiences, perspective, and voice to help create meaningful impact for mothers and families.

I am a Black British mother of 2, with Jamaican (Afro-Caribbean) heritage.
I am Founder and Director of Greater Elevation, supporting, parents, teens and families to strengthen communication, wellbeing and connection.

My motherhood journey has been central to my personal and professional development.
Becoming a mother shaped how I understand identity, emotional intelligence, and relationships at different points, I experienced challenges in connecting and communicating with my children, which led me to reflect deeply on my own patterns, emotional responses and parenting approach.

I am passionate about joining the Mum advisory board because I am aware that the voices of Black mothers are often underrepresented in decision-making spaces that directly affect our wellbeing and our families. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute my insight, lived experience, and professional perspective to help ensure these voices are meaningfully included in shaping research, services and support.

My name is Caroline Owusu, a Black British content creator, proud wife, and proud mum to my 4-year-old son. I was born in the UK to Ugandan heritage and raised by a Ghanaian foster carer, and my roots across both cultures have shaped the woman I am today. I grew up in the care system from the age of 8, and from that moment I have had to fight institutions and systems just to be seen and heard. That experience taught me the true importance of having a voice and using it. When I gave birth to my son, we faced one of the scariest moments of my life I ended up in ICU while my son battled sepsis pneumonia. We came through it together, and that fight only deepened my understanding of how much Black mums need support, representation, and spaces where their experiences are truly valued. Living with stage 4 endometriosis and a nephrostomy, I refuse to let my health define or limit me. I spent 6 years fighting to be believed and to receive a diagnosis, only to reach a point where my organs were failing. That battle against my body and against a system that too often ignores Black women’s pain is one I refuse to be silent about.

Through my platform @shredwithcaro on Instagram and TikTok, I share my weight-loss and strength training journey alongside the raw realities of motherhood, chronic illness, and navigating a life that has never taken the easy road. My message is simple: if I can, you can.

I am a British Jamaican mother of four, including three living children, and my motherhood journey has included both joy and loss, including a neonatal loss and multiple miscarriages. I became a mother at 16 and have experienced complex pregnancies, including hyperemesis gravidarum and twin pregnancy complications.

As a Black mother with ADHD and physical disabilities, raising neurodivergent and physically disabled children, I am passionate about disability rights and advocacy within the Black community, where these experiences are often underrepresented. Alongside my lived experience, I hold a law degree and a postgraduate certificate in Neurodiversity.

Our experiences are diverse and deserve to be heard, represented, and reflected in the support, conversations, and decisions that affect us and our families.

My name is Kirsty (she/her), and I am a half Nigerian half English mum to a 16-month-old, and currently 3 months pregnant with baby number two! I am passionate about advocacy, equity and helping ensure the voices of Black and mixed race mothers are heard, valued and represented. Alongside my professional background in health communications & advocacy, my own experiences of motherhood have strengthened passion and my commitment to contributing to meaningful conversations around the unique challenges families face. I want to help drive positive change through community and collaboration.

I am a mother to a three-year-old boy, born in London and raised by West African parents. My journey into motherhood was marked by both joy and trauma. Although I had a healthy pregnancy, I experienced an emergency c-section after a labour where I repeatedly felt unheard and dismissed. After hours on an induction drip and being told I was only half a centimetre dilated, I asked several times to be examined because I knew my body was changing. I was told it was impossible for me to have progressed so quickly and was rushed into theatre before my contractions intensified. It was only once I was there, and after I had already been anaesthetised, that staff realised I was actually in active labour and already 8cm dilated. What stayed with me most was not only the physical experience, but the emotional impact of not being believed.

Following the birth, my c-section became infected, and my son also developed an infection in his belly button. The experience deepened my fear and mistrust because I already felt unseen in my pain. Initially, I withdrew and relied heavily on prayer alone. However, through counselling and faith, I came to understand that genuine faith is not avoiding support or help, but having the courage to rise again after difficult experiences.

Before finding the Christian counsellor who ultimately helped me process the trauma, I first sought therapy through a practitioner recommended by a colleague via our workplace insurance scheme. What struck me was that aspects of my birth experience that deeply affected me were not even recognised as negative by that therapist. That highlighted to me how important cultural understanding, listening, and empathy are in maternal care and mental health support, particularly for Black women whose pain is too often minimised.

I eventually had four therapy sessions that significantly accelerated my emotional recovery. My final counsellor integrated faith and mental health in a way that transformed my healing journey. Alongside practical medical support from my GP, prayer and community became an important part of rebuilding my confidence as a mother. That experience shaped my passion for speaking openly about maternal mental health, faith, recovery, and advocacy within Black communities.

I would be honoured to join The Motherhood Group advisory board because I deeply believe in its mission to create safe spaces where Black mothers are heard, supported, and represented. Organisations like The Motherhood Group are vital because Black mothers continue to face disparities in maternity care, mental health support, and advocacy outcomes in the UK. Amplifying the voices of Black mums is not simply about representation, it is about safety, dignity, healing, and ensuring that our experiences are taken seriously. I want to contribute both my lived experience and my professional understanding of communication, storytelling, and community impact to help more mothers feel seen, believed, and empowered.

Grace Bignell is a Black mixed-heritage bereaved mother, advocate, Birth Trauma Lead for her local MNVP, Advisory Board Member for Black Baby Loss Awareness, and founder of Roséo Essence — a community-focused self-care and wellbeing brand created in loving memory of her son, Roséo Augustus Solomon Campbell, who was born prematurely at 24 weeks due to severe fetal growth restriction. Her motherhood journey has been deeply shaped by grief, resilience, advocacy, and rebuilding identity after loss.

She holds a BA in Criminology and an MA in Black Studies, which have further strengthened her passion for advocating for the Black community and challenging systemic injustice and inequalities affecting Black families and maternal health outcomes.

Through both lived experience and professional advocacy work, Grace is passionate about amplifying the voices and experiences of Black mothers, particularly within conversations surrounding pregnancy, bereavement, birth trauma, mental health, and equitable maternity care.

She wanted to join the Mum Advisory Board to help ensure Black mothers feel seen, heard, represented, and protected. Their stories and lived experiences deserve not only acknowledgement, but meaningful action and change.

I am a Black woman, mother of two, and a mental health therapist and coach specialising in women’s mental health, with a focus on antenatal and postnatal wellbeing. My work is informed by both my professional experience and my personal journey as a mother, alongside my lived experience of identity and emotional wellbeing.

My motherhood journey has shaped my understanding of the emotional, cultural, and psychological realities many women face, including the impact of support systems, identity shifts, and mental health challenges during and after pregnancy.

I am also a woman of faith, and I am passionate about supporting the emotional wellbeing of mothers, particularly Black mothers. I believe it is important to amplify the voices of Black mothers because their experiences are often underrepresented, and many face additional barriers in being heard, understood, and supported within maternal health systems.

I contribute to the advisory board with The Motherhood Group to help ensure that the lived experiences of Black mothers are centred in conversations around maternal mental health and support.

I am a qualified midwife of 12 years, currently working in EDI within a predominantly White NHS trust. I am also a mother of two young children, including a newborn and a toddler, and my motherhood journey has been shaped by both joy and profound loss. I have experienced two consecutive miscarriages and the devastating loss of my baby following a preterm birth at 22 weeks, where my baby was born alive but sadly died shortly after delivery. I have also navigated pregnancy after loss, holding my faith as a Christian while learning that strength sometimes also means accepting support, including therapy.

I am passionate about joining the Mum Advisory Board because my lived and professional experience sits at the intersection of maternity care, inequality, and advocacy. I understand first-hand how it feels to move through pregnancy, loss, and care systems as a Black woman, and I am committed to ensuring these voices are not only heard but centred. Amplifying the experiences of Black mothers is vital because too often our stories are underrepresented, our pain is minimised, and our outcomes are unequal. I want to help change that through honest voice, advocacy, and action.

I’m a single mum to two beautiful girls, with a Nigerian dad and Jamaican mum, and my journey through motherhood has shaped so much of who I am today. I’ve experienced domestic abuse, miscarriage, postnatal depression, and my own mental health struggles, many of which were made harder by feeling unheard and unsupported by the healthcare system.

Those experiences are a big reason why I’m now training to become a therapist and advocating for better maternal mental health support for Black women. I want to join the Mum Advisory Board because I know how important lived experience is in helping shape better care, support, and decisions for our communities.

It’s so important to amplify the voices of Black mums because too often we’re seen but not truly heard until it’s too late. Our concerns and struggles can be dismissed, and that has real consequences. I want to be part of creating change so Black mothers feel listened to, supported, and valued.

I am a dedicated strategic leader with a proven track record in guiding and motivating specialist teams to deliver high-quality care for women, children and families. With expertise in child and family health, pregnancy, and public health, I combine clinical knowledge with strategic leadership to drive impactful outcomes across communities. I am a mother of 2 wonderful children, a girl of 15 and a boy of 9!

Beyond my professional role, I am passionate about sustainable community engagement and impact. As a trustee and ordained Minister, my portfolio amplifies community action and support for the marginalised. I believe in the active gospel, its reach and creating lasting impact. My work bridges healthcare, advocacy, and Ecclesia- ensuring that all families receive care and thrive in supportive communities.

I thrive at the intersection of professional excellence and community empowerment—whether drafting health and safety systems, organising impactful events, or shaping initiatives that uplift families and communities.

I’m Vanessa Dube, a mum and founder of ClockedOutMum a community created to encourage mums, especially Black and global majority mums, to prioritise rest, wellbeing and connection without guilt. My motherhood journey has shown me the importance of having safe, supportive spaces where mums feel seen and heard.

I am wanting to join the Mum Advisory Board because I’m passionate about amplifying the voices and experiences of Black mums, ensuring we are represented in conversations around motherhood, wellbeing and support services. I believe every mum deserves a village and the opportunity to thrive, not just survive.

I’m Oluchi, 31, a mum of five, from ages 8 years to 8 months. My motherhood journey began with a miscarriage, followed by a successful first pregnancy complicated by sepsis, and postnatal depression with my last three kids. Motherhood has been a healing and joyful journey, and I’m committed to uplifting Black women in advocating for their care and embracing the joys of motherhood.

I am a mother of three children of which two are twins and 1 with complex needs and disability.I am integrative therapist and therapeutic coach by proffession working with a wide range of issues.
I specialize in working with mothers who have experienced birth trauma or birth Injury. I work with mothers, families and carers of complex needs babies, special needs, disabled children, and young adults. My work also includes focus multiple birth parenting, Black and indigenous people of color (BIPOC) and Maternal health.
I am a Court appointed Deputy and I work alongside a solicitor in managing financial and personal affairs.

I have held the position of chair for a local authority special needs group. Consulting with parents and senior staff on policies and procedures. Incorporating my knowledge and years of experience into my work with families, and professionals in the fields of childbirth and brain injury.

Education

I am a member of British Association of Brain Injury and Case Management (BABICM). I have a Psychology and Counselling Degree (MBPSs) a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Coaching (BACP) and I am currently pursuing a DCPsych in Counselling Psychology and Existential Psychotherapy (HCPC and BPS accredited).

"I am a British Zambian junior doctor and first time mother. I had a traumatic birth and postnatal period where I developed severe sepsis, and had to have a second operation after my emergency caesarian. As a result of this I have a strong understanding of the experience of both patient and healthcare professional, and feel that this duality of perspective is an asset in amplifying the voices of black mothers. "

" I'm Rachel; a mother to 4 beautiful small people and a counsellor and coach by profession.
I love being a mum, but it's challenging and at times I have felt lost and alone, no matter how many people are around me. Whether it was as a result of my own emotions (I really struggled to accept I had postnatal depression because it made me think I was a bad mum and ungrateful for my blessings) or judgement from outside (the aunty who means well but crushes your spirit with her condescending tone or scathing remarks) I have spent too much time crying because motherhood causes a cocktail of emotions and I didn't know how to accept and process them - both good and bad.
I really wanted to have someone who I could call and be honest with. Someone to tell I'm finding this hard and sometimes I don't like it in this place called parenting. Someone who would understand what I meant when I said I love being a mum but I hate the fact I've lost myself. Someone who wouldn't judge me, or remind me of all my blessings (I know I'm blessed but I'm also tired). Someone who accepts I can be two things simultaneously.
Someone once said to me, "if you couldn't find it for yourself, create it for others."
And so I became a counsellor and a coach. I create a safe space where people can turn up as themselves with whatever it is they have to bring without fear or judgement, shaming, or fixing. I want to be able to support other women from the black community with a space where they can come and explore their own thoughts and feelings and feel nurtured without it being pitiful or dismissive. "

" My name is  Olympia  and I am a mother to 3 amazing bambinos. I have a 5 year old son and 4 year old twin girls. I was born and raised in London, UK, and both my parents are of Ghanaian heritage. My Journey as a mother has been a crazy one, but amazing one.
I fell pregnant with my first child at 22 years old, and had my son, when I was 23. My pregnancy was a quite difficult, as I suffered with a lot of anxiety. I then gained a large amount of unexplained weight, which I struggled with (I found out why, soon after my sons birth).
I had a natural labour for 18 hours, which resulted in an emergency C-section. This was incredibly traumatizing, but my son was healthy and okay, so that was the main thing. I then ended up in ICU a few days after his birth and nearly lost my life. I was diagnosed with post partum pre eclampsia and a rare blood condition, that affects around 1 in 3 million people. I was in hospital for over 3 weeks, but thanks to God and the medical team, I recovered, eventually (I am happy to go into more detail about my experience and explain what went wrong and what could have been done better by my midwife).
I then fell pregnant again, about 5 months later (crazy I know) but this time, it was twins! My pregnancy with them was a little better, as I was monitored closely, so this helped my anxiety a lot. After giving birth to the twins, I was then diagnosed with another blood disorder.
After all of this, I thought I would really struggle, but I am still here and thriving. My children are healthy, happy and doing so well at school. I work full time as a Paediatric Research nurse and I work with a great team. I specialise in non-malignant Haematology (focusing on mainly sickle cell research) and I am going for a promotion in the next few weeks.
Over the years, I have had many experience with my own health and my children's, and I feel there is a big issue with advocating for ourselves as black women and mothers, but also advocating for our children. No one else looks out for us, and It's time we don't take no for an answer anymore. I want to join the board, because I feel my passion for change will be a great addition to your every growing team. I feel coming from a medical background, having research experience, and having faced a lot of challenges in my own life, are all things that would be great to share with others, and make them feel heard. I always say, even if my own experiences, can help at least one person, feel heard or seen, then it is worth sharing.
As Black mothers, we need to be heard. Our children and our lives are as important as any others. The change starts from within, and it's time for us to stand up and be heard. "

My name is Sambiro-Grace and I am a mother of a 22 month old daughter named Ashley-Grace. I work as a health and wellbeing coach for mothers, I am an author and am also a health care professional working in the NHS. I am passionate about black maternal health and post partum care after my own experience of being pregnant and giving birth to my daughter. It became clear to me that there are still disparities in maternal health outcomes and why it is important to highlight these to ensure that black women do not experience negative and adverse maternal outcomes. I have qualifications in mental health and health sciences. I believe that I can be an asset to the organisation because of my own experience and skills and qualifications.

I am a research leader who is passionate about developing and delivering relevant solutions to the market. My career in international development has led me to work in the US, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and, most recently, the UK. I am Nigerian-American, and I live in London with my husband and two daughters - ages 1 and 4 years. In both instances, my maternal journeys were traumatic. In Cape Town, I had a traumatic birth experience, which impacted me both physically and mentally. In London, I had a beautiful freebirth experience but had a traumatic prenatal and postnatal experience. My mental health was once again impacted.
First, I want to join the Mum Advisory Board because I want to help birthing people receive factual knowledge about their pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum journey. Second, I want to help people know about their rights and what actions to take if they feel they are being validated. Lastly, I want to help collect and analyse black people's maternal health experiences in the hopes that the results can be used to secure funding to develop solutions that serve our community.."

"I am a mum of one to my 6 year old son. I am British Caribbean, my parents are Jamaican. I had a really smooth pregnancy, I planned on having a water birth. I ended up having a traumatic birth. I had a student midwife who did not recognise that my contractions were off the chart and by this time my son was in distress. My son had meconium aspiration and spent his first 24 hours in neonatal intensive care and another 6 days in the hospital. My son was very unsettled during his first few months and I was unable to breastfeed for longer than a couple of weeks. I felt like a failure as a mum, constantly crying, and isolating myself from others. I knew something was wrong when “mummy blues” did not go away. I told a few close family members who encouraged me to speak to my GP. Who diagnosed me with postpartum depression and anxiety. I was prescribed antidepressants, which I took reluctantly. It took the edge off but I still felt anxious and depressed. I began a personal development journey and found coaching which gave me the tools and techniques to cope. I now feel confident in my motherhood journey and I am passionate about sharing and empowering other mums to become their Best Optimistic Successful Self (B.O.S.S) to be a positive example to their children.
I wanted to join the Mum Advisory Board so I can share my story in the hope that it helps other mums not feel ashamed or alone experiencing mental health especially being from a Caribbean background and the stigma that is around mental health in my culture."

"My name is Sabrina and I have a 5 year old daughter. I am Black British and I have Jamaican heritage.
My pregnancy was fine but I did encounter many medical professionals who were very meh and bad mind: the obstetrician, my midwife, the ABC staff, some nurses to name a few. I always felt dismissed and like I didn’t matter. The birth was relatively quick. I had contractions from 2pm. I got to the hospital at 7:30pm and 10cm dilated. My daughter was born at 8:30pm. I needed stitches afterwards because I had a tear.
I really struggled with my mental health for the first 20 months of being a mum. Looking back I believe I had post-partum depression. I felt like a failure and isolated. I lost a lot of weight and was at a very low point. I started my healing journey in August 2019 and although healing is hard, it is necessary so that I can be my best self for my child. I’ve realised the importance of taking care of my mental health and well-being.
I am passionate about having conversations about mental health and sharing our stories. It helps us to feel less alone and inspires us to keep moving forward. We all deserve to feel seen, heard, valued and respected. Last year I co-hosted weekly Black mental health spaces for 18 weeks, something which I am incredibly proud of because it was such a beautiful space. I will be co-hosting monthly mental health Instagram Lives as I want to continue having real conversations about mental health.
I want to join the Mum Advisory Board because I want to help other mums by sharing my story and inspiring others. No mum should go through the motherhood journey alone.."

Vanessa is a British-Ghanaian woman in my mid-30s, a mother to one beautiful daughter, and someone whose journey has been marked by both turbulence and unwavering faith. Professionally, I work in Tech in Developer Experience and Advocacy, and I am relaunching two ventures: Afro Luxe brand Vanessa Akos and To Thrive, a community group that hosts events to empower, motivate, and connect people.

My motherhood journey has been anything but straightforward. Diagnosed with fibroids at 25 after years of being dismissed by doctors, I have endured multiple major surgeries, sepsis, a miscarriage, and a high-risk pregnancy where I was often ignored by the healthcare system. In my most recent pregnancy, I developed complications alongside fibroids that grew with my child. Despite calling triage repeatedly, I was dismissed as a “first-time mum.” On the day of my C-section, I lost over three litres of blood, required three transfusions, and nearly died. Yet through God’s grace, my daughter arrived safely, and I became a mother, a role I cherish despite the chronic pain and mental health struggles I continue to face.

I want to join the Mum Advisory Board because I know first-hand how vital it is for mothers to advocate for themselves, ask questions, and push to be heard. As a Black woman, I also know the statistics: Black mothers in the UK are significantly more likely to face complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and too often our voices are silenced or dismissed. My story is just one example of why we must amplify the voices of Black mums, to ensure our concerns are taken seriously, to push for systemic change in healthcare, and to inspire other mothers to feel empowered in their own journeys.

My path has been painful, but it has also given me purpose: to stand as a voice for myself, my daughter, and for Black mothers everywhere.

Khedidja “Deesh” Teape is a sepsis survivor, quad amputee mum of four, and maternal health advocate, with a strong focus on sepsis awareness. Drawing from her lived experience, she raises awareness around maternal inequality, delayed diagnosis, and patient safety, particularly for Black women during pregnancy and postnatal care. She is committed to amplifying survivor voices and driving meaningful change through advocacy and storytelling.

"I am mixed race mother from Sheffield now a year postpartum after the birth of my son. As a mother I carry with me the grief of miscarriage, the trauma of failed induction abdominal birth and the experience of postpartum sepsis.
I am passionate about sharing my personal experiences, connecting with other people and advocating for change in birth & maternity experiences of black mothers in the U.K. For me this work is important because ‘the personal is political’ and I have found pregnancy, birth and maternity to be transformative threshold moments that have forever changed me. I’d like to witness change so others don’t have to experience the things I’ve been through alone.r"

Angela is the founder of 365 Mum after becoming a first-time mother, driven by her passion for creating a supportive community where no mother has to navigate motherhood alone. As a mother of two, her dedication to improving the maternal experience has grown stronger. Angela is committed to advocating for mothers, using her voice to ensure they feel seen, supported, and empowered through every stage of motherhood.

"I’m Genova Mum of two girls 9 & 2. I’m a mix of Black African Caribbean & White heritage as are my children. I have struggled with being heard as young mum during my first pregnancy, and with many aspects of pregnancy and breastfeeding with my second child. Including lack of support and my concerns regarding my health (gestational diabetes) and challenges with breastfeeding. I share my breastfeeding and motherhood journey via my website and social media accounts. I want to highlight the difficulties faced by young black mothers. I also want to contribute to change and ensure that more representation is available in maternal health services. I am currently studying to become a breastfeeding peer supporter. "

"My name is Kia, I’m a Black British mum of two with lived experience of anxiety and depression. I gave birth to my first daughter in lockdown 2020 which was incredibly isolating. My daughter was breech, I had gestational diabetes and I had to stay in hospital for 4 days after my elective C Section alone due to lockdown restrictions. During my second pregnancy I had pregnancy induced hypertension which led to pregnancy complications & an early delivery at 37 weeks in 2022. Again, I had an elective C section, I definitely felt more confident speaking up during the process. As someone who had mental health issues I really had to advocate for myself and challenge medical professionals if I felt I wasn’t getting the care I deserved. I did a lot of positive birth reading, spoke to a lot of doulas, reached out the charities to stay grounded throughout my pregnancies. I want to join the Mum’s Advisory Board to help those who might not even know what they’re entitled to or who might not have the confidence to challenge those around them. When you're pregnant, you can feel like you’re losing your identity. I want to speak out for underrepresented voices because I know what it is like not to be taken seriously until you have reached a crisis point. I know that Black and Brown women are more likely to die during childbirth compare to white women. I want to help from the start, from the moment black women become pregnant and support them throughout their motherhood journey.
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 I'm a Trustee for Bluebell Charity in Bristol "support parents’ mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy, birth and beyond". And I have volunteered for the charity Self Injury Support as a listening volunteer, Self Injury Support - support women and girls in emotional distress and give information about self harm.

My name is La'Neshia Hinds. I am a mother to a gorgeous, energetic, 20 month old daughter. I was born and bred in East London, but currently live in Birmingham. As a black Caribbean woman, the odds were already stacked against me, in regards to my fertility and maternal experience. I always dreamed of becoming a mother and at no point during my teenage years, did I envisage that I would experience challenges in regards to my fertility. After a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome AND Uterine Fibroids, I was subjected to two painful years of praying and believing God for our daughter, while keeping the comments of good natured people, at bay.
We thank God that he answered our prayers and I had an amazing pregnancy and childbirth experience, overall. My daughter is everything we prayed for and MORE!
I would like to join the Mum's Advisory board because I had to advocate for myself ( e.g. request to change midwives) as a black woman, to ensure that I received the best maternal care for myself and my family, especially being a first time mother, who statistically is 5x more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth. I made up my mind a long time ago, that I was never going to become a statistic! I am passionate about amplifying the voice of black women, in regards to mental health and maternal well-being and even hope to establish my own business or charity one day, championing and helping black women's voices be heard. I have experience of empowering women and advocating on their behalf every day, as I support vulnerable families, as part of my career.
As a mother to my own daughter, I want her to grow up knowing she is valuable, that her voice roars in the midst of adversity and she has every right to take her place in the world. It is hard being black, and female.
Let's stand together and roar together, for our rights to a positive maternal experience.

My name is Chantelle and I’m Caribbean. I still class myself as a first time mum even though I now have a three year old son. That is because I believe that postpartum is a healing process that is more than 6 weeks or even 6 months. This rebellion against such old, rigid, beliefs has also directed my love for realistic post birth conversations and how mums can maintain positive wellbeing after birth, especially when things like AfroCaribbean culture, tradition and religion come into play. These are all the reasons why I’d like to contribute to the Mum Advisory board. Earlier in my own journey. I still didn’t know where I “fitted in” or if stood out too much and that’s what I would like to avoid for future mums. Black women need a safe space to stand on their own square and elevate their truths. By day, I work in IT, in the evenings I’m studying as a counsellor. One thing to remember about me is that I will always be talking about boobs, bras and breastfeeding! (So ask me what I’m doing in this space)

" I’m a mum of six including multiples which I juggle alongside work. I enjoy spending time with my family and making the most of each day."

"Mum of one.
Mixed race (white British x black Caribbean).
Neonatal death of first baby in April 2017.
Became pregnant with healthy child born in May 2018.
Raising a mixed race child in a predominately white area.
Want to join for connection to other mums who I may relate to better.
Grew up in multicultural London and left as a teenager to very non multicultural Norfolk."

My name is Jenny Tabi-Engele. I was born and raised in London, where I currently live and work and I am from Cameroonian descent. I am also Mum to a Heavenly baby girl who sadly passed away in December 2021 at 6 months old.
As first-time parents my Husband and I were elated, and simply could not wait to meet our baby girl. I had quite a straightforward pregnancy, with no apparent ‘complications’ other than the fact my baby was Small for Gestational Age, however she was plotting well on the growth charts. As a result I was scanned frequently to ensure growth was consistent which it was. There were however a few things I noticed during my pregnancy which I questioned (such as consistently having protein in my urine and an excessive amount of amniotic fluid). My Midwife and Consultant both said they were quite out of range but seeing as everything else was fine, they chose not to escalate.

I was scheduled for an induction at 37 weeks, which ended in an emergency C-section and our baby girl was born. Unfortunately a few moments after birth she was struggling to breath and we did not see our baby until 4 hours later when Doctors informed us that she was seriously ill and would need to be transported to a specialist hospital.

This was the beginning of an almost 7-month long battle in PICU advocating for the best treatment options that could save our child. Unfortunately in addition to the immense trauma of being a first-time Mother in this situation, our experience with Doctors and Consultants was quite negative, as quite often they were extremely condescending, refused to listen to our views and ofcourse, if you’ve ever been in a similar situation you know they can at times exhibit a ‘God-Complex’.

Going through this experience I have learned it’s ok to advocate at the highest level for your health as a Woman, the health and wellbeing of your child, and you are well within your rights to seek for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th…..as many opinions from other Hospitals as you would like! As a Black Woman it’s important to feel heard, and for your concerns to be validated as they are quite often overlooked.

It has taken the special grace of God, regular therapy and family support to get us on our healing journey. I hope to continue sharing my experience with other Black Mothers who are in need of support/advice and who feel like their concerns aren’t being taken seriously by medical professionals.

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"Shakira Akabusi is a Women’s health expert, specialising in pre and postnatal fitness and Maternal Mental Health. As founder of StrongLikeMum, Shakira works as a public speaker, personal trainer, TV Health expert and is author of The StrongLikeMum Method. Through her work with StrongLikeMum, Shakira hopes to shatter the stereotypes surrounding motherhood and pre and postnatal health, offering expert advice and support.
Shakira is a Mum of 4, including twins born during the lockdown in 2020. Being of Nigerian and German heritage, Shakira has roots in two strong cultures and being in a mixed-race marriage herself, is passionate about supporting the Mums Advisory Board to share her personal experience of being a Mixed-Raced mother and amplify the voices of Black and Mixed raced Mothers during pregnancy and throughout motherhood."

" I am mixed race mum of two children aged 4 and 9, I work full time and I am passionate about all things motherhood. I want to ensure that any young women have the support and people around to ensure their voices are heard. I have been educating myself to understand my privilege being a mixed race woman and I want to give my time where I can.
We are stronger together"

I am a mother of three boys (ages 7-16years old) and a qualified psychotherapist/coach who started my professional training two years after experiencing postpartum depression and finding it difficult to firstly find the words to describe what I was going through. I did not seek support for the first year because I thought I was failing. Everyone else around me seemed like they had it together whilst I experienced a lot of internalised feelings of shame and failure because I was struggling.

I eventually reached out to my GP for support as I was struggling to keep my head above water and the decline in my mental health started to affect my physical health. Speaking to my GP was another major hurdle as I was filled with fear that if I truly disclosed how I felt they could take my kids away. Upon reflection, my response was based on the black community's mistrust of the health care systems. In my first appointment I downplayed my symptoms and was told I was showing moderate signs of depression. I was advised to change my diet and start exercising.

With the new understanding that I was experiencing signs of depression and not failing at motherhood as I previously thought, I then had the words to start expressing what I was going through to my husband, a few close friends and my church family. They provided me with the support I needed, and I was able to start the journey of recovery. I later sought counselling which was life-changing.

After my personal experience, I made the decision to re-train to become a psychotherapist, to support others, especially mothers to experience healing and growth whilst taking back the reigns from mental anguish and hopelessness. I strongly believe that good mental health practises should be a cultural norm and therapy should be accessible to all, regardless of background.

Since qualifying, I have started my private practice, launched a wellness box that promotes positive mental health, rooted in daily self-care practices. I have also facilitated and delivered various mental health workshops in my local community, featuring established and renowned mental health professionals from the black community.

I am a 36 year old female and I live in Nottingham.
I am currently 16 weeks pregnant after my husband and I undergoing 3 rounds of IVF.
I have sadly had a failed embryo transfer and 2 miscarriages. My most recent miscarriage being that of a confirmed twin pregnancy. This was particularly difficult and impacted my mental health as I was concerned about the remaining pregnancy (survival to Baby B).
Another contributing factor which heavily affected my mental health is lack of support from my employment.
The lack of understanding around IVF and what it entails from my employment has been difficult for me.
My Caucasian team leader who lacks understanding and compassion given the recent events, but also having no understanding about common gynaecology issues such as fibroids, endometriosis or PCOS, within black women, has been extremely difficult.

Atlanta Mae Darien is a singer songwriter and new mother of a 7 week old baby boy. My day job consists of being a SENCo at a secondary school in south east London. I am a qualified primary teacher and have been working as a music teacher and special educational needs coordinator ( SEN lead at school ) for the last 7/8 years. I am passionate about young people, creativity and the arts. I am intrigued as I step into this new journey which has been life changing for the best while maintaining all the factions of myself. I want to collaborate and meet with other black mothers and share experiences on a wider scale. Create our own groups with shared cultural experiences.

"Jayde Edwards - Project Manager Young Mums Connect
Jaydehas been able to engage with over 1,000 young parents through improving support on mental health, employment and education.
She also has an interest in politics and hopes to change policies around better opportunities for young people and positive mental health for young people across the UK."

" Hi, I'm Camilla and I have 4 children.
I was a young mum as I had my daughter at 21. I then had my son (stillborn at 24weeks pregnant) when I was 23, my second son at 24 and my youngest daughter during lockdown at 32. 
I have the lived experience of being a young parent, mixed parent and a bereaved parent. 
I also have crohns colitis, which severely affected my health, particularly shortly after having my youngest daughter. 
I previously worked as a perinatal coordinator for pregnant and postnatal women, as it was a project very close to my heart after having my children. I fell pregnant with my youngest during working here.
I recently moved on to pursue my career in mental health further and work more flexibly to cater to my own health and well-being and my children's. 
I am now a Psychotherapist working with young people in schools. 
I have dealt with many discriminatory scenarios in various settings (school, hospital and in public) as a mixed parent, and particularly as a young mixed parent. 
I am so passionate about using my lived experiences to evoke positive change for Black and Mixed mothers. "

" I’m Simone, mum of two living in Bristol with my husband and children. I am a currently studying to become a social worker. I am committed to equality and frustrated by the poor services, outcomes and lack of visibility of black and brown mothers.
I am keen to support so that future generations can see themselves represented in the mainstream."

" My name is Simphiwe and I am a black mother to two children, a 5 year old girl and newborn boy. I am also a healthcare professional and I am passionate about advocating not only for black maternal health, but all healthcare aspects ensuring that black and brown people have a voice and are being listened to.
My birth experience to my daughter was traumatic and left me with fears around future pregnancies. I was never offered a debrief or any postpartum support and through the village and my faith I managed to get by.
This increased my passion in advocating for black mothers and ensuring that we are heard, hence my reason for joining the Advisory Board. We are stronger as a community of mothers working together. "

"
I have expertise in peer-research and speaking engagements and specialise in Perinatal Mental health and 0-12 months. I got pregnant with my first child at 17 and developed postnatal OCD. I have experience in co-production of documents, resources, policies and research."

"My name is Kadijah Kargbo, currently studying Occupational Therapy PgDip. I am a single mum of two children, boy 14years and girl 8years old. I am an African, born and brought up in Sierra Leone. I came into the UK as a housewife and had my son at the age of 21years old. I had a very smooth pregnancy, and planned on having natural birth. But I ended up having C-section as my contraction was very slow and the baby was at distress.
After having C-section, I find it challenging to care for myself and my son. I felt lost and alone, as I had no friends or family expect my husband who works 6-days a week. I really struggled to understand postnatal depression and accept it, because in my culture there is nothing like depression or any form of medically diagnosed mental health issues. Accepting mental health as an African young mother means I am possessed with evil spirit, hence, I will be judge and forced stigmatisation within my community. I spent most time crying as I don’t know how to describe my emotions. I really wanted someone to talk to, someone to tell I need support with this occupation called parenting but self-stigma was holding me back. Eventually, my health visitor identified my postnatal depression, she made me trust her and I was able to open up to her. With the support of my health visitor and GP, I was able to developed parental skills and overcome postnatal depression.
As a mother and pre-registered Occupational Therapist, I am passionate about black mental health after my personal and professional experience. It is clear to me that BAME are overrepresented in mental health as a result of migration stressor and transition into the western world. With my scope of practice and personal experience, I believe that I can be an asset to the BAME mothers. "

"  I am a black Mama of 2 boys. Identity is of Caribbean heritage. The journey to Mamahood is an ever-changing one which has its challenges, ups, downs and so many high points. I wouldn't change a thing, as every day is a new day and I wake afresh with hope to be more intentional to my children. I suffered from Postpartum depression and found myself in a really dark and difficult place. Shutting everyone out that wanted to help. Now I am more settled in myself, I have created my own group to help others who are going through a difficult time. It's important to amplify the voices of Black mom, as we are currently still in need to have advocacy for this. We aren't listened to enough for our care to be taken seriously. I think that it's shame and definitely needs to be taken seriously. We are just as important as the other mums"

Natalie Blake is a single mother of two, content creator, and speaker. With a background in public health and project management, she leads an engaged online community supporting single mothers. As a board member at The Motherhood Group, she champions healing, empowerment, and authentic representation for Black mothers.

I’m Graça Hall, a mother of two, birth and postnatal doula, and Doula UK mentor. I hold an MSc in Digital Health and Entrepreneurship from UCL and am co-founder of CeraLuna Health, focused on perinatal mental health support. My work brings together practical experience supporting families, research and digital innovation. I’m passionate about addressing inequalities in maternal care and ensuring mothers’ voices and lived experiences shape the services and support they receive.