Connected Beginnings: a fresh approach to maternal health
Every woman deserves a safe pregnancy and a healthy start for their baby. But today, that isn’t always the reality. Chances of surviving pregnancy and birth can still be shaped by your postcode or the colour of your skin.
Women living in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth or up to 12 months after (known as the perinatal period) as those in the least deprived areas.
Black women face an even starker reality. They are almost four times more likely to die during the perinatal period than white women. Asian women are twice as likely.*
These are not just statistics. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends.
And this is why our work matters.
We're developing work to support women through pregnancy and early parenthood, helping them prepare for birth and care for their babies with confidence. Working with Jessop Maternity Wing and across communities in Sheffield, women at risk of worse outcomes will be identified and provided with support throughout pregnancy and beyond.
When we support women early, we strengthen the foundations for a healthier childhood and a healthier life.
Early support will aim to reduce pre-term births, maternal and neonatal deaths, and the likelihood of traumatic experiences in a child’s earliest years.
The impact reaches far beyond the first days of life, too.
Children in Sheffield face higher levels of tooth decay, obesity and low vaccine uptake than the national average.** And we know that children who experience multiple adverse childhood experiences are far more likely to face serious health problems as adults — including depression, cancer and heart disease.
Our aim is simple: to close the maternal health gap that has persisted for too long.
Pregnancy offers a powerful moment to change the story.
We are working towards launching this programme in 2026.