As part of our wider health and wellbeing offering at ICM our Maternity Project, funded by our local NHS and run by our Integration Team, supports migrant women from the Westgate Ward area of Ipswich, aiming to increase connection, communication and engagement, while building trust in local maternity and health services.
The project delivers workshops in partnership with partner organisations and services, including:
Conversational classes for pregnant women, those intending to become pregnant and young mums with toddlers.
Regular classes focussing on antenatal and perinatal issues and maternity services including classes in local schools particularly aimed at the local Roma community
Roundtable discussions with key stakeholders
As part of the project we also run 'Maternity Mondays' drop-in sessions. They are a chance to have a chat about maternity and neonatal services, and for families of children up to 2 years to get friendly help and support during times of need. To support the project we have also created a group of “Buddies” or supporters who work directly with the NHS and migrant women to increase their confidence and wellbeing in using health services.
Why is this project important?
Throughout life, we become part of various communities that provide support during difficult times. These connections offer a sense of belonging and guidance when facing challenges.
For migrants, building new connections is key to learning the language, understanding cultural norms, and navigating healthcare and education systems. Adapting to a new country involves more than practical adjustments—it requires meaningful relationships that support integration.
Recent events have reshaped social and economic landscapes, highlighting the importance of strong communities. Change, whether global or personal, can be significant—especially the transition into parenthood.
Parenting brings both joy and difficulties. Rising living costs and housing issues create stress for many in the UK, and migrant families often face additional barriers. Limited language skills, lack of knowledge about rights, and unfamiliarity with healthcare can make accessing support difficult.
ICM works to improve healthcare access by tackling inequalities. Our maternity project offers tailored support to women throughout pregnancy and early motherhood.
At its core are our Community Champions—volunteers from diverse backgrounds who bridge the gap between communities and healthcare services. They provide translation, interpretation, and advocacy, ensuring language and cultural differences do not hinder access to essential care.
These volunteers offer compassionate, high-quality support, guiding families through complex systems while providing emotional encouragement. Their dedication ensures every family feels valued, understood, and empowered.
Some lovely baby donations that went to families in need.
ROMA VOICE CENTRE
From the start, our Maternity Project has worked to support diverse communities in meaningful and practical ways. Recently, we met Aluna Lepadatu from the Roma Voice Centre CIC, a charitable organisation providing essential communication and information for the Roma community in the UK.
The Roma Voice Centre is developing five educational films covering maternity services, employment, welfare, legal support, and higher education. These aim to raise awareness of available services, which many Roma individuals struggle to access due to language barriers and limited literacy. This highlights the need for more inclusive, accessible support systems.
Estimating the Roma population in the UK remains difficult, as the most recent Census lacked a specific category for Roma ethnicity. Many individuals also withhold this information due to historical mistrust and difficulties engaging with authorities.
Our collaboration provided a valuable opportunity to explore approaches to supporting the Roma community. One of our ICM Community Champions shared insights from her work with Roma families, stressing the importance of tailored support. Building trust takes time, requiring respect, patience, and cultural sensitivity. For many, these relationships have taken years to establish.
PARTNERSHIP
Every day, we support diverse communities, striving to meet their complex needs while maintaining the highest standards of care. Recognising increasing demand and limited resources, we value collaboration with other organisations to bridge support gaps and ensure no one is left without help.
We were delighted to learn that the Young Enquiry Service (YES) in Colchester is expanding to support young parents across Suffolk. In October, we met with Meghan Shepard to explore how we can work together, sharing contacts, knowledge, and experience to strengthen our collective efforts.
This partnership allows us to combine strengths, extend our reach, and better serve young parents. By pooling resources, we can create a strong support network that empowers families to thrive. We look forward to continued cooperation with YES to make a lasting impact in our communities.
CHILDHOOD VACCINATION
Vaccination has become a topic of debate, with childhood immunisation rates affected by social, economic, cultural, and logistical barriers. In an era of constant information flow, misinformation—especially on social media—has fuelled confusion and reluctance around vaccines.
To address these challenges and improve uptake, we were invited by Suffolk County Council Public Health and Communities to help identify barriers faced by the families we support. Cultural and religious beliefs can discourage vaccinations, while language barriers make access difficult for migrant and non-English-speaking communities. Without translated materials or culturally sensitive professionals, many struggle to navigate vaccination schedules and understand the benefits.
We are committed to raising awareness and nurturing trust through targeted activities, ensuring families receive accurate information and support. By tackling these barriers collaboratively, we aim to empower families to make informed vaccination decisions, strengthening the health of our entire community.
6-8 WEEKS POSTNATAL CHECK UP
The Maternity Project aims to support women at every stage of their journey while helping healthcare professionals improve communication and accessibility. Recently, we reviewed postnatal check-up invitation letters, which include assessments of maternal health, baby check-ups, and first immunisations.
Examining letters from two GP surgeries, we found that dense text and complex language created barriers for new parents.
Fatigue, stress, language difficulties, and unfamiliarity with healthcare systems can make such communications overwhelming.
We recommended simplifying content to be clear, concise, and accessible, reducing stress while ensuring key information is effectively conveyed. This collaboration highlights the importance of inclusive healthcare communication, making services more approachable for all families.
PELVIC HEALTH
Over recent months, we held pelvic health awareness sessions to break the silence around this often-taboo topic. Many women suffer in silence, told their struggles are just “part of being a mother,” discouraging them from seeking help. Our sessions aimed to challenge misconceptions and encourage women to prioritise their well-being.
To ensure accessibility, we translated materials into multiple languages. While translation tools offer quick solutions, they often miss cultural nuances. To address this, our Community Champions reviewed translations to ensure accuracy and clarity, strengthening trust between women and healthcare providers.
Thanks to this collaboration, we created resources in six languages: Lithuanian, Portuguese, Arabic, Romanian, Urdu, and Polish. Blending technology with human insight made our materials more inclusive and impactful.
By combining these translated resources with in-person support, we aim to empower women to seek help without stigma. This work is a step towards breaking barriers and supporting open discussions about pelvic health.
INTERDISCIPLINARY
Creating accessible documents requires time, patience, and cultural sensitivity. The Maternity Project supports people through an emotional journey, helping them navigate challenges and celebrate small successes. Addressing barriers—whether linguistic, cultural, or systemic—demands an open mind and a commitment to understanding individual needs.
A key focus has been supporting Personal Care and Support Plans, ensuring they reflect real experiences and highlight the challenges migrants face in accessing services. This work extends beyond maternity care, recognising the broader context of people’s lives.
Recently, in a co-production between St. Elizabeth Hospice and Ipswich Community Media, we advised on translation services. We found many lessons from maternity support also applied to end-of-life care, emphasising the shared human need for empathy, clear communication, and culturally sensitive support.
Despite differences, both maternity and end-of-life care require professionals to understand personal preferences and coping mechanisms under pressure. This experience reinforces the importance of listening to communities, addressing systemic barriers, and designing services that meet diverse needs. By championing inclusivity, we can build more compassionate and effective care systems.
LET’S TALK READING
On 30th October, we hosted another engaging "Let’s Talk Reading" session for parents and children, emphasising the benefits of reading together, especially for bilingual families. Reading supports vocabulary development, sentence structure, and speech while reducing screen time and strengthening emotional bonds. Books with diverse characters also introduce children to different cultures and perspectives.
One of the older children read aloud to the group, building confidence and presentation skills. Children of all ages engaged in their own ways, and parents explored bilingual books, learning how translation shapes storytelling.
The session also provided a space for parents to share challenges, including communication with medical professionals, navigating the education system, and understanding benefits. We reassured them of the great job they’re doing and offered ongoing support.
By combining expertise, cultural awareness, and practical strategies, we aim to create antenatal sessions that are inclusive, supportive, and accessible for all.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR MATERNITY PROJECT OR TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN JOIN AN ANTENATAL SESSION CONTACT: esol@ipswichcm.org.uk
or call 07883 304 053
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