Hatmill supports Pause on Mother’s Day

In the second blog shining a spotlight on the charities we’re supporting this financial year, Paddy MacBrant, shares more about the charity he put forward:

Pause is a national charity that works to improve the lives of women who have had – or are at risk of having – more than one child removed from their care, and the services and systems that affect them.

Their vision is of a society where women who experience the removal of children into care are given the best possible support, so that it never happens more than once.

More than 2,000 women across the country have now completed the Pause Programme, making them the largest organisation doing this work. The donation from Hatmill will enable more women to work to build a strong foundation upon which to build a more positive future for themselves and their children and support Pause’s campaigning and training programmes.

“My husband and I were introduced to the work of Pause whilst training to become approved adopters. Through the training we came to understand the circumstances under which children are often taken into care and the shattering impact on the birth parents. Whilst adoption is an amazing thing for adoptive parents and children, the birth family left behind often experience unimaginable grief and stigma; the work of Pause is incredible and vital for all of them.”

Kate Tilley, Director of Partnerships and Engagement at Pause said:

“We are really grateful for the generous donation from Hatmill, which we have used to fund Season 3 of our co-produced podcast ‘In a Mother’s Mind‘. Our podcast is hosted by women who have completed the Pause Programme. The podcast enables us to reach more women who have had children taken into care, and for the women in the podcast group to have their voices heard on topics that are important to them.

“I want to make my voice heard and make a difference. By doing this, I hope to help women to believe in themselves and raise their voices too.” – podcast group member

The first episode of the third season is on domestic abuse, and is available to listen to here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1235792/episodes/16475189

Stay tuned for episodes on kinship care and care proceedings coming soon.”

Hatmill Charities for 2024/2025

The five charities were put forward by team members and individuals voted as to which ones they wanted to support. The unanimous team decision was to support the charities below:

• Muscular Dystrophy UK
• The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
• The Queen’s Nursing Institute
• Fareshare
• Pause