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Sharing women's lived experience and expertise
The women we support are at the heart of everything we do and their voices are key to our work. Women with lived experience of multiple disadvantage during pregnancy and early motherhood play many key roles at Birth Companions, including:
Informing and shaping our services
Working as peer supporters to help others through similar experiences
Working as peer researchers to gather evidence and shape recommendations
Building awareness and understanding by working with journalists and documentary makers in a range of media
Informing and shaping policy through consultations, high-level meetings and conferences
Improving practice by meeting providers and commissioners, facilitating training and conducting service evaluations.
The women in our Lived Experience Team have worked with organisations including:
- Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service
- Care Quality Commission
- NHS England
- Women's Mental Health Network
- Public Health England
- Revolving Doors Agency
- Birthrights
Women tell us that being part of the Lived Experience Team allows them to have a voice, build confidence, develop new skills, and to help others facing challenging situations.
"It is welcoming to know that, the voices of people that have been through the system are being listened to. Not only does it represent reality, for people living the situation, it is also encouraging to know that service providers value the input we are giving."
Lived Experience Team members are trained, supported through every activity, and receive financial support to remunerate their time and cover costs such as travel and childcare.
If you would like to learn more about our Lived Experience Team, or if you have faced challenges in pregnancy or early motherhood and would like to share your experience, please contact our Project Manager Kate Chivers.