Black Maternity Matters Celebration and Graduation Event

This event is an annual celebration to honour the incredible work being undertaken in the West of England and the commitment to reducing racial inequities in maternity care. If you have completed a Black Maternity Matters programme you will be invited to “graduate” at this event but we also welcome attendance from anyone working towards making perinatal care safer for women racialised as Black.

We want to celebrate the energy and time you are contributing as members of the Black Maternity Matters community, and to hold space for us all to pledge to continue making things right for women, families and babies racialised as Black. We also want to recognise the extraordinary effort and talent of all our partners involved in making Black Maternity Matters what is is becoming.

We are inviting you, alongside colleagues from your trusts, our partners and local people (they will be invited personally) to join us on 26 November 2025 for food, graduation ceremony and awards.

Arrive ready to start at 11am when we are delighted to host the BNSSG LMNS team who for the last 18 months have worked alongside the RHO and national partners to address racial inequity in preterm birth. This session will highlight:

Practical actions implemented locally

Real change achieved in care and outcomes

Lessons learned for sustainable improvement

Next steps in our commitment to equity

This is followed by lunch and presentations sharing the great work from across our collaborative. The day will be hosted by the incredible Representation Matters and Black Maternity Matters very own Aisha Thomas.

Delivering our keynote this year is author, mother and perinatal trauma specialist midwife, Illiyin Morrison. A panel discussion will follow to explore experiences, share insights, and highlight the importance of understanding and addressing psychological birth trauma in Black women and their families.

This year, we will also be showcasing the fantastic quality improvement work that has been taking place across our community, and to inspire others working to improve maternity care and reduce inequities for women, families and babies racialised as Black.

Be part of the conversation and continue the journey towards safe and equitable care.

We look forward to seeing you there.