Community Corner

Sister Circle - Our regular spotlight on a grassroots VCSE organisation in the perinatal mental health sector

What is the name of your organisation and when did you set up?

Sister Circle, formally known as Women's Health and Family Services, was founded in 1981 and re-branded to Sister Circle in 2023.

Where are you based?

Based in Tower Hamlets, we serve communities across North East London Boroughs and Croydon.

What services do you offer and who do you support?

Women’s Support Services – Overview

We offer a range of free, confidential, and culturally sensitive services designed to support women through challenging experiences. These include Maternity Mates, which provides one-to-one support through pregnancy, birth and early motherhood; Healing Conversations, a trauma-informed counselling service for survivors of gender-based violence and complex trauma; Peer Support Groups for women affected by mental health challenges, pregnancy loss, or birth trauma; Female Genital Cutting (FGM/C) Support, offering dedicated specialist counselling and advocacy for those affected; and the Women’s Conversation Café, a safe, welcoming space where women can connect, share, and support each other.

Maternity Mates – Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond

This programme provides one-to-one personalised support from trained female volunteers to women during pregnancy, labour, and after birth. We support women who are alone or socially isolated, refugees, asylum seekers, or new migrants, those who do not speak English as a first language, are homeless or living in temporary accommodation, or have experienced domestic abuse, trafficking, or other forms of gender-based violence. Our goal is to ensure every woman feels supported and empowered throughout her maternity journey.

Preparation for Parenthood and Postnatal Support Preparation for Parenthood (Free Antenatal Course in Tower Hamlets and Newham)

Sister Circle offers a free six-week Preparation for Parenthood programme for expectant parents living in Tower Hamlets and Newham. Each weekly session is delivered in person by experienced facilitators and Maternity Mates, covering key topics such as:

• Becoming a new family

• Healthy pregnancy

• Bonding with your baby

• Caring for yourself and a newborn

• Giving birth

• Life after birth, including feeding and support

The course is BFI-compliant, with a focus on breastfeeding, wellbeing and healthy family lifestyles. Families also receive a free multilingual toolkit with helpful resources. This programme is a great opportunity to build knowledge, boost confidence, and connect with other local parents-to-be in a supportive environment.

Healing Conversations – Trauma Counselling

A free, confidential service offering trauma-informed and culturally sensitive counselling to:

• Survivors of gender-based violence, including Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting – available in all boroughs

• Pregnant women and mothers of preschool children in Tower Hamlets, particularly those facing complex challenges like homelessness, trafficking, domestic abuse, or asylum status

• Women in Tower Hamlets experiencing anxiety, depression, or trauma related to pregnancy loss or birth trauma

Counselling is available online or in person, in English, Arabic, Bengali Somali, French, Italian or Spanish.

Healing Conversations - Peer Support Groups

We offer dedicated peer support groups across Northeast London for women experiencing:

• Mental health challenges connected to pregnancy, birth or baby loss

• Trauma following miscarriage, stillbirth or difficult birth experiences

Groups are led by trained volunteers and staff with lived experience and run in partnership with ELFT’s perinatal mental health teams.

Her Health - Female Genital Cutting (FGM/C) Support

'Her Health' offers specialised, confidential support for women and girls affected by Female Genital Cutting (FGM/C). Our services are trauma-informed and designed to provide emotional support, culturally appropriate guidance, and advocacy at dedicated clinics. We also offer referrals to additional resources where needed. This support is available to women across all boroughs.

Women’s Conversation Café

An open, informal space where women can connect with others, discuss topics that matter to them, share experiences in a safe environment, and access helpful information and community resources. The café is ideal for women who are new to the area, experiencing isolation, or seeking a supportive community. Conversation Cafes are held twice a month across Tower Hamlet Community Venues.

What prompted you to set up in the first place?

Founded by local community members, the initial focus was to improve access to maternity services for ethnic minority women who did not speak English as a first language. This involved hiring outreach workers from within those communities to help with language, trust, and navigation of the health system.

Today, Sister Circle continues that legacy by working directly with women most affected by inequality in maternity and healthcare. As minoritised women still face disproportionately poor outcomes, the organisation remains rooted in community-led support — offering culturally sensitive, trauma-informed programmes that equip women with knowledge, confidence, and advocacy, whether they are preparing for birth, coping with loss, or dealing with the lasting effects of gender-based violence.

What do you find most rewarding about running your organisation?   

For me, as Head of Programmes (Ameena Rahman), the most rewarding part is seeing the real, often quiet impact our work has on women who might otherwise be overlooked. When someone tells us they felt heard for the first time, or they found strength in a peer group or confidence through a Maternity Mate’s support, those moments remind me why we do this. I feel incredibly privileged to work alongside such a committed team, many of whom bring lived experience to their roles. It's never about one person, it’s about creating the conditions for others to thrive, and helping build services that are shaped by the communities we serve. That’s what keeps me grounded and motivated every day.

What have you found to be the benefits of being involved in the Hearts & Minds community?

Being part of the Hearts & Minds community as a Root Maker has been both grounding and energising. It’s given me the space to connect with others working in different parts of the system, who share a deep commitment to equity, lived experience, and community-led change. One of the biggest benefits has been the opportunity to pause and reflect, something that’s often difficult in frontline roles. The space encourages honest conversations about power, trust, and the emotional labour of working in this field, which has helped me feel more resourced and connected in my work. It’s also been a place to explore creative thinking and shift perspective, to move away from reacting to day-to-day pressures and instead think more deeply about root causes and long-term change. That’s been invaluable, not just for me personally, but for shaping how I lead and design programmes in my role.

If money and resources were no issue and you could wave a magic wand and change any part of your service - what would you change and why?

I would create a fully funded, community-based perinatal wellbeing centre, a safe, welcoming space where women can access everything they need in one place: mental health support, maternity care, trauma counselling, peer groups, advocacy, and practical help, all delivered by a diverse, culturally responsive team.

It would offer long-term, holistic support — not just during pregnancy or after birth, but whenever it’s needed. This would remove barriers, reduce inequality, and ensure no woman falls through the gaps simply because her needs don’t fit into a system not built for her.

If you could give all parents / carers a super power, what would that be and why?

If I could give all parents and carers a super-power, it would be the ability to stay calm and resilient in the face of uncertainty and stress. Parenting is full of unpredictable moments and having that inner calm would help carers make clearer decisions, manage challenges with confidence, and create a stable, nurturing space for their children.

This super-power would also help individuals to care for their own wellbeing, which is so crucial but often overlooked. When individuals feel steady and supported, it benefits the whole family and builds a foundation for healthier relationships and happier lives.

Is there anything about your service that makes it stand out from the crowd or offers something a little bit different?

What makes Sister Circle stand out is its deeply community-rooted, culturally responsive approach to supporting women’s health and wellbeing. Unlike many services, Sister Circle places trained peer volunteers—Maternity Mates—at the heart of its model, ensuring that women are supported by people who understand their lived experiences, languages, and cultural contexts.

The service goes beyond standard antenatal or postnatal care by addressing the wider realities many women face, including isolation, trauma, baby loss, and the impacts of gender-based violence. Programmes are designed not just around clinical milestones, but around emotional recovery, trust-building, and long-term wellbeing. Support is trauma-informed, non-judgmental, and accessible in multiple languages, making it genuinely inclusive for minoritised and migrant women who often fall through the gaps in mainstream provision.

What do you find the most challenging thing about running a PMH VCSE service at the moment?

One of the obvious challenges is navigating the persistent funding uncertainty that affects many VCSE organisations. Securing stable, long-term funding is critical for delivering consistent, high-quality perinatal mental health support, but funding cycles are often short-term and competitive, which makes planning and sustaining programmes difficult.

Additionally, the VCSE sector often acts as a bridge between communities and statutory services, but gaps remain in joined-up care pathways and recognition. Coordinating effectively with health and social care systems, while advocating for the specific needs of the women served, takes considerable time and effort.

Finally, the sector is still grappling with the lasting impacts of the pandemic, including increased demand for mental health support, staff burnout, and digital exclusion for some beneficiaries. Balancing these pressures while maintaining accessibility and quality remains an ongoing challenge.

What keeps you going when things get tough?

What keeps me going is a deep commitment to the women and families we serve, knowing that the support we provide can truly transform lives. When challenges arise, I remind myself of the resilience and strength I see every day in the women we work with, and that motivates me to push through obstacles.

I also find energy in the passion and dedication of our team and volunteers. Their belief in the mission and their creativity in finding solutions inspire me to keep going, even when resources are stretched or setbacks happen.

Thank you to Ameena for sharing these insights on behalf of Sister Circle. You can find out more about the organisation by visiting: www.sistercircle.org.uk or contacting enquiries@sistercircle.org.uk or 020 7377 8725

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