Before becoming a student midwife, I worked as a public service interpreter. I regularly saw how gaps in staff training around working with interpreters affected the quality of care.
When I started my midwifery degree and saw that training on working with interpreters was still lacking, I knew this needed to change.
In May 2023, I attended a mini workshop led by Dr. Jenny Patterson and Dr. Şebnem Susam-Saraeva, which created space for open, honest discussion about interpreter-mediated care in maternity services. Their approach was practical, engaging, and allowed participants to share reflections. I immediately knew I wanted to bring this to more students. Understanding that power is a collaborative effort, I reached out to Amma Birth Companions* and fellow interpreters to bring together diverse voices to spark real, lasting change.
In May 2024, I was awarded the Iolanthe Student Midwife Award, and in February 2025, over 20 attendees, including students, lecturers, midwives, interpreters, and third-sector organisations came together for a full-day interactive workshop.
The funding allowed me to commission Amma Birth Companions to create short, powerful videos capturing migrant women’s lived experiences of maternity care. I was keen to also provide participants with tangible resources, with easily accessible information.
I created a Padlet, filled with reliable resources, and a good practice statement which I have shared across universities and health boards. My networking also expanded, leading to connections with wider professional networks and organisations involved in shaping inclusive practice and policy at a local and national level.
The ripple effects of this project have become increasingly visible over the past year.
I’ve delivered teaching sessions to over 130 first- and second-year student midwives, and I’m currently co-developing a session for obstetric trainees that explores unconscious bias, inclusive care, and communication needs.
Most meaningfully, working with interpreters is now embedded into my university’s new midwifery curriculum, and key elements from the workshop are also being integrated into the local induction programme for newly qualified midwives.
This project has been the heart of my student journey. It’s helped me find my voice as a midwife and advocate for change.
Receiving the award validated the importance of a topic that often goes overlooked and gave me the platform and confidence to push for systemic change.
It’s deepened my understanding of the structural barriers, and it’s taught me how research, education, and collaboration can drive real impact. Through feedback received from other students I know my passion for the topic has inspired others to improve areas of care within their scope of practice: we are all part of the solutions. Ultimately, this work is about equity and ensuring every woman and birthing person, regardless of the language they speak, feels safe, heard, and respected throughout their maternity journey.
*Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow charity that provides vital services to ensure women and birthing people from migrant backgrounds and other underserved groups are supported during pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood.
