Pause and Listen

Welcome to a very special bonus episode of In a Mother’s Mind! This episode is hosted by Vanessa, a birth mother who has completed the Pause Programme and continues to get involved in Pause’s campaign work. Two years ago, Vanessa decided to write a letter to the social worker who removed her children from her care. In this episode, she talks to Jules Hillier, Chief Executive of Pause, about what made her decide to do this and the impact of her decision.  

We are pleased to share this episode with you this week, which is Social Work Week in the UK, to highlight positive relationships between social workers and birth parents. We recognise that everyone’s journey is different, but we hope that Vanessa’s experience inspires listeners who might be in a similar situation, to overcome hurdles that they feel are holding them back.  

Hosted by Vanessa, a woman with experience of the Pause Programme   
Produced by Fi Gilligan and Karina Graham 

Music by Ben Jacob  
Editing by Will Jacob  

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

Episode 3 

Welcome back to the final episode of this season of ‘In a Mother’s Mind’! This podcast series aims to raise awareness about the experiences and needs of women who have had children removed from their care. It was created by a group of four Pause graduates, who have experience of having children removed from their care.  

In this episode, Vanessa speaks to Sarah Moat, her former Pause Practitioner, about how Pause works in partnership with local authority housing providers to support women with their housing situations. Karina Graham, Pause’s Involvement and Communications Assistant, then leads a discussion with the podcast group to discuss the emotional challenges of staying in the same home, or moving to a new one, after having children removed from their care. As a group, they talk about some of the practical and creative ways they have approached this.  

If you are going through – or have gone through – care proceedings and have been hit by the bedroom tax, you may be eligible for financial support through a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP). Find out more about this and how to apply on the government website.   

Hosted by Helena, a woman with experience of the Pause Programme   
Featuring Heidi and Vanessa, women with experience of the Pause Programme   

Produced by Fi Gilligan and Karina Graham 
Music by Ben Jacob  
Editing by Will Jacob  

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

Welcome to episode two of this season of ‘In a Mother’s Mind’! This podcast series aims to raise awareness about the experiences and needs of women who have had children removed from their care. It was created by a group of four Pause graduates, who have experience of having children removed from their care. 

We know from government figures that domestic abuse is one of the leading causes of homelessness amongst women, and housing is the primary barrier for women attempting to leave abusers. This is even more complex when children are involved. In this episode, we talk to Vicky Jennings, who is a Senior Practitioner for BCHA’s women’s refuge in Plymouth, about some of the challenges women and children face when fleeing domestic abuse, as well as some housing solutions that are available. We’ll then delve deeper into the issue of domestic abuse by talking to barrister Rachel Cooper, from Coram Chambers. We’ll get a legal perspective on what’s being done to make the family courts more trauma-informed and what more needs to be done.  

If you’re experiencing – or are at risk of domestic abuse – you can ask your local council for support finding another place to live. You can find out more information on the Shelter website. You can also call the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline if you need help finding a refuge space.  

When talking about support services available in Plymouth, Vicky mentions the local charity Trevi and their Sunflower Centre, Plymouth’s only women’s centre, providing a safe hub for connection and hope. 

Vicky also mentions how pets can be an additional barrier to leaving an abusive relationship, as not all emergency accommodation accept animals. You can find out about national services that could help on the Refuge website. If you live in London and need access to an animal refuge for your pet, you can contact the charity Mayhew.    

Hosted by Helena, a woman with experience of the Pause Programme   
Interviews by Heidi and Helena, women with experience of the Pause Programme   
Produced by Fi Gilligan and Karina Graham 
Music by Ben Jacob  
Editing by Will Jacob  

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

Welcome back to another season of ‘In a Mother’s Mind’! This podcast series aims to raise awareness about the experiences and needs of women who have had children removed from their care. It was created by a group of four women who have experience of having children removed from their care and who have completed the Pause Programme.

In this season, we will be discussing some of the complexities women face around housing, when going through – or after going through – care proceedings. We are kicking the season off with a discussion with Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter. We discuss some of the practical and financial challenges this group of women face, and what can be done to better support them. We are also joined by Angela Frazer-Wicks, who is the Chair of Trustees for Family Rights Group, to hear about her own personal difficulties with housing before, during and after having her two children removed from her care.  

**Trigger warning: please take care when listening to this podcast episode, as there are references to personal experience of the care system, violence and suicide.  

If you are experiencing difficulties with housing, there are lots of services out there where you can get support. In the podcast episode, Polly mentions that St Mungo’s and Homeless Link have been doing some important work around understanding women’s experiences and making homelessness services more trauma-informed. 

As Angela mentions in her interview, you can seek advice from Family Rights Group about care proceedings. 

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, contact Women’s Aid, or a local domestic abuse charity in your area.  

Hosted by Helena, a woman with experience of the Pause Programme   
Interviews by Helena and Vanessa, women with experience of the Pause Programme   
Produced by Fi Gilligan and Karina Graham 
Music by Ben Jacob  
Editing by Will Jacob  

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

Welcome back to this very special season of Pause and Listen! This is the final episode in our season ‘In a Mother’s Mind’, which aims to raise awareness about the mental health experiences and needs of women who have had children removed from their care. It was created by a group of five Pause graduates who have experience of having children removed from their care. 

In this episode, we share some messages of support for other women who have had children removed from their care. We will also hear some music written and performed by Vanessa.  

Hosted by Helena, a woman with experience of the Pause Programme  
Messages of support by Chloe, Elaine, Emily, Heidi and Helena, women with experience of the Pause Programme  
Produced by Fi Gilligan 
Music by Ben Jacob 
Editing by Will Jacob 

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

In a Mother’s Mind: the mental health needs and experiences of women who have had children removed from their care  

Welcome back to this very special season of Pause and Listen! This season is called ‘In a Mother’s Mind’. It aims to raise awareness about the mental health experiences and needs of women who have had children removed from their care. It was created by a group of five Pause graduates who have experience of having children removed from their care. 

In this episode, we discuss the lack of specialised support available for women who have had children removed from their care. We are joined by Pause Trustee, Vicki Nash, who works for the mental health charity Mind, and Clinical Psychologist Nicola Labuschagne. 

*please note that since this episode was recorded, the government committed to increasing benefits in line with inflation in the Autumn statement.  

Hosted by Helena, a woman with experience of the Pause Programme  
Interviews by Lauren and Vanessa, women with experience of the Pause Programme  
Produced by Fi Gilligan 
Music by Ben Jacob 
Editing by Will Jacob 

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

In a Mother’s Mind: the mental health needs and experiences of women who have had children removed from their care  

We are delighted to share this very special season of Pause and Listen with you! This season is called ‘In a Mother’s Mind’. It aims to raise awareness about the mental health experiences and needs of women who have had children removed from their care. It was created by a group of five Pause graduates who have experience of having children removed from their care. 

In this episode, we discuss the stigma and judgement that women who have had children removed from their care face, and what can be done to erase that stigma and to better support women. We are joined by Pause Practitioner, Mary Grace, and Pause Trustee, Lara Patel, who is the Deputy Director of Children’s Services at Oxfordshire County Council. 

Hosted by Helena, a woman with experience of the Pause Programme  
Interviews by Heidi and Helena, women with experience of the Pause Programme  
Produced by Fi Gilligan 
Music by Ben Jacob 
Editing by Will Jacob 

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

For this special episode of Pause and Listen, we are passing the mic to women working with Pause in the North East. The women have been attending weekly music therapy sessions with Afra, a Nordoff Robins music therapist. Nordoff Robins is the UK’s largest music therapy charity. The sessions started as a music appreciation group and a space for the women to share their favourite music and how it connected them to important moments in their lives. This episode focuses on Vanessa’s journey into writing her own songs, as well as live performances of the three songs she has written.  

A huge thank you to Vanessa for sharing her music, as well as all the women who have taken part in the sessions, Afra and all the Practitioners at Pause North East. We really hope you enjoy this bonus episode of Pause and Listen, exploring the power of music therapy sessions and the connections they create. 

Hosted by Clare Laxton  
Produced by Fi Gilligan 
Music by Ben Jacob 
Editing by Will Jacob 

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

In this episode, we discuss expert witness assessments during care proceedings. Although these assessments fulfil the function of informing proceedings, they are carried out by independent experts that are usually not part of the mental health service landscape in the local area. This creates a separate issue in that they offer no referral to mental health services for women, which could lead to positive change. 

We are joined by Clinical Psychologist Sheena Webb and Kelly Andrews, who is a Pre-Birth Practitioner for the Foundation Service, which is part of SWIFT Specialist Family Service in East Sussex. We also hear a clip from Suzy*, a woman working with Pause, about her experience of expert witness assessments, when she spoke to Naga Munchetty on BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday 5 July 2022. 

*not her real name

Hosted by Clare Laxton  
Produced by Fi Gilligan 
Music by Ben Jacob 
Editing by Will Jacob 

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk 

In this episode, we are joined by Ellen Marks, social worker, play therapist and also Pause’s Director of Practice and Learning, to discuss the Care Review’s final report and findings that were published in May. 

Pause has worked with the Care Review team over the past year to ensure the experiences of birth parents are represented in their final report. We wanted to see a recognition of the needs of birth parents and a clear recommendation for them to receive support. We also wanted to see changes to family time, relationships with children and letterbox contact. In this episode, we discuss with Ellen what the review could mean for birth parents and their children.  

The Care Review team have spent a lot of time with women who work with Pause and we are grateful to them for listening to their feedback.  

Hosted by Clare Laxton  
Produced by Fi Gilligan 
Music by Ben Jacob 
Editing by Will Jacob 

To find out more about Pause, visit: pause.org.uk