Perinatal womenneed specialist, trauma-responsive care and support
Women in prison and in contact with the criminal justice system face significant inequalities and disadvantage during pregnancy, birth and early motherhood and can benefit hugely from specialist perinatal services, information and advocacy support.
Navigating the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy in prison, Mother & Baby Units or the community, preparing for childbirth, giving birth and coping with a new baby can all lead to women experiencing increased levels of anxiety, stress and hardship. These experiences are compounded if women are also involved with children’s social care or the immigration system and are dealing with other challenges related to accommodation and homelessness, poverty, mental or physical ill-health and domestic violence or sexual abuse.
Specialist perinatal support services aim to improve outcomes for both women and their children, and may include:
- Trauma-informed antenatal and postnatal education, classes and groups
- Access to abortion, sexual health, contraception and family planning services
- Support to write birth plans and prepare for hospital visits
- Birth support for women who might otherwise give birth on their own
- Mother and baby groups
- Support for women experiencing bereavement and loss through miscarriage, stillbirth and separation from their children
- Peer support from other mothers
- Practical maternity and baby items
SelectedPerinatal support services
We have curated the following shortlist of women’s organisations, women’s centres and specialist women’s organisations that can offer support, advice and signposting to perinatal services in the UK. You can also search for perinatal support services near you by using our search facility
A Home of Her Own
Kairos’ A Home of Her Own service supports women subject to or at risk of sexual exploitation, who are homeless or facing homelessness, to secure and maintain safe, suitable accommodation. A Home of Her Own offers support across three pathways – crisis, prevention and sustainment.
Finance and Housing Support
Get support with: – 1-2-1 debt. – Welfare. – Benefits. – Universal Credit. – ESA – Employment & Support Allowance. – PIP – Personnel Independent Payment.
Supported Housing (mainstay)
We are a member of a supported housing consortium for homeless adults, we provide supported short term housing to homeless individuals with housing related support. Venus are unable to accept direct referrals for this service, please contact Sefton Council for mainstay access points.
Anawim Accommodation Support
We have a specialist housing officer who has built up good links with good quality housing in the city and provides resources to the other caseworkers. Along with our drop in workers they can provide support with tenancy issues, evictions, rough landlords etc.
Hope Street Residential Hub
Hope Street offers: A residential hub with 24-hour support, purpose built and specifically designed to create a trauma-informed, gender responsive environment for women and their children.
Supported Accommodation
Robinson Court in York provides holistic support for women and young people, with the aim of helping people build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Alongside our supported accommodation, we offer support in other areas of people’s lives, such as helping them access health appointments and working towards employment or volunteering. Ridley Villas
We offer: – One-to-one bespoke key work sessions to explore and address any issues – A safe space for women to identify and explore any trauma they are experiencing and/or have experienced – Access to the Ridley Villas 20-week tailor-made programme – The Stephanie Covington programme: Helping Wo
Women’s Accommodation Support Service (WASS)
Women’s Accommodation Support Service provides information, advocacy and support for homeless and insecurely housed women across Sussex. Women who are vulnerable in so many ways can find life very challenging.