1. Artist: Heidi Cutts, copyright

2. Artist: Heidi Cuttsart works on this presentation copyright to artist The Polyanna Project The Polyanna Project is a non-profit making organisation which develops information resources with and for communities around health and social need. The name Polyanna reflects the ethos of the group…optimism.

3. Listening to Women Florence…the experience of becoming a mother in exile (documentary film) Development of the MAAP (Medact) Development of the Hackney Women’s Wheel (The Polyanna Project) Needs Assessment ( The Centre for Public Health Research, Brunel University)

4. Women’s Experiences Access Communication Attitudes Perceptions of Care

5. photo: Anna Gaudion, copyright Women’s Voices (1) Access “When you are new to this country, even when language is not a problem (I could speak English when I arrived) there is no information about what to do when you find yourself pregnant…it is easier to find out about getting a new kitchen. But the issue that is likely to involve many women, most women, is there is nothing…What is needed is advertisements telling you what to do and where to go. Then of course, people would.” Florence: a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo

6. Women’s Voices (1) Access “The doctor did not check me, she said I had to go and buy a pregnancy test…it cost £14, she did not check me, I did not see the midwife, I was 10 weeks pregnant, my first baby. I was late to see someone, 26 weeks when I saw the GP and then the midwife” Teenager from China.

7. Women’s Voices (2) Communication “ The midwife was very nice …I am fond of her…she was really helpful…I went the next week and had a scan and they took bloods again, I do not know why they took them and then I had an appointment for another scan and I went but they said I did not need it so I travelled all that way for nothing…I do not know when I am seeing the midwife again” Tamil woman

8. photo: Anna Gaudion, copyright Women’s Voices (2) Communication “Not able to say no to anything as I was frightened and intimidated by the midwives and doctors…Because there was a scarcity of interpreters I did not feel I had individualised care, you just had to get by with pointing and mime.” Hungarian woman

9. Women’s Voices (2) Communication “ I was never asked about Domestic problems... It was in the pregnancy guide, the book they give you it tells you about domestic violence so I was careful I did not provoke him whilst I was pregnant I just kept quiet. And did not get into arguments”. Sri-Lankan woman

10. Women’s Voices (3) Attitude “The midwives are really very busy. She left me with a beginner who I tried to support but the midwife was just in a hurry and the student was lovely but thank goodness nothing happened. The midwife was not kind, she could not do kind and be in a hurry and you need someone to look at your face and be kind…” Woman from Iraq

11. Women’s Voices (3) Attitude “A Ford factory mechanism, no informed consent…no means of stopping the conveyer-belt…not really worth me going, I got nothing out of it.” Morrocan woman

12. photo: Claire Homeyard, copyright Women’s Voices (4) Perceptions of Care “I put it off, going I mean till I was 8 months gone, it was their attitude, therefore I put it off…it makes you afraid…they did not want to know…I mean the organic women, you know those ladies with partners and flowers and a bag packed, they get treated differently, they get asked not told” (woman with problematic addiction).

13. photo: Anna Gaudion, copyright Women’s Voices (4) Perceptions of Care “If you do not know then you do not ask and then you get a rawer deal.” Irish Travellers

14. Government Response

15. Way Forward Partnership working Good use of interpreters Recognising social capital in the community Assertive outreach work

16. Finally… “Communities are wise, if you give us a choice and include and embrace our voices, allow us to bring forward our experiences and visions we can become doorways rather than divisions” Woman from Uganda

17. Artist: Heidi Cutts, copyright Florence…the experience of becoming a mother in exile A short documentary film made by Anna Gaudion as part of an MA in Refugee Studies at UEL, in collaboration with Claire Homeyard and the Refugee Council. With thanks to the women who took part. Artist: Heidi Cutts