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 women who have completed the Pause Programme, who all have experience of having children removed from their care.

In this episode, we’ll be focusing on the experiences of women who had children placed in kinship care, which is when a child lives with a relative or close family friend who isn't their parent. Our hosts, Helena and Jade, speak to Sharon McPherson, who is the Co-Founder of Families in Harmony and also a kinship carer herself. Families in Harmony is a social enterprise set up in response to racial disparity in the kinship care community.

This episode will explore the value of kinship care, some of the challenges that can arise for kinship families, and the racial disparity – in policy, practice and support services – that Families in Harmony exists to challenge.

Hosted by Helena and Jade, who have both completed 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

In this special episode of In a Mother’s Mind, we sit down with two women who share lived experience of the challenges portrayed in the new film Lollipop, a raw and emotional story directed by Daisy-May Hudson.

Lollipop follows Molly, a young mother recently released from prison, as she tries to reunite with her children. But instead of finding support, she’s blocked by a system that demands she secure stable housing before regaining custody, even though she can’t get housing without her children. The film explores a vicious cycle many women know all too well: the intersections of incarceration, homelessness, child removal, and social services.

In this episode, they speak directly with Daisy about the making of the film, what inspired her to tell this story, and the role that storytelling plays in shifting stigma and changing systems.

**trigger warning** although there is no description of physical acts of violence, this podcast episode discusses experiences and the impact of domestic abuse. Please take care when listening.

Welcome to our third 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 women who have completed the Pause Programme, who all have experience of having children removed from their care.

Around 1 in 5 children in the UK experience domestic abuse, often when still in the womb. This can have a profound impact on the rest of their lives, including an increased likelihood of being subject to domestic abuse or being abusive later in life. Domestic abuse is also the most common reason for children being taken into care. In this episode, we talk to Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of For Baby’s Sake, about breaking the intergenerational cycle of domestic abuse and what systemic changes need to happen in order to meet the individual needs of families. Suzanne and Vanessa – who have both completed the Pause Programme – then reflect on some of the complexities of protecting your children whilst also seeking support when being subject to domestic abuse.

If you’re experiencing – or are at risk of domestic abuse – you can call the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. There’s also more information and support – including a live chat – available on the Women’s Aid website.

For Baby’s Sake works with expectant parents until the time of the baby’s second birthday. Their programme takes a whole-family approach, dealing with the entire cycle and history of domestic abuse, identifying and directly addressing the trauma or traumas that lie at the heart of the problem. Find out more about their programme and referrals here.

Hosted by Helena, who has completed the Pause Programme
Also featuring Suzanne, Vanessa and Vicky, who have all completed 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