Sandra’s mission to help Black mums get the right care

Sandra said, “They love making it a celebration with handmade cards, attempts at making breakfast (with varying degrees of success) and lots of cuddles. They usually sneak around the house the night before planning their surprises and I pretend not to hear their excited whispers.”

Mother’s Day is also a day of reflection for Sandra. As the founder and CEO of The Motherhood Group – a social enterprise she set up in 2016 to improve the birth and pregnancy experiences of Black mothers – it’s a chance to “think about my journey to motherhood and why I do the work I do today”.

Sandra describes her own first pregnancy and birth as “deeply traumatic”. She said, “The health system failed to recognise or respond to my needs as a Black mother – both during pregnancy and postpartum. I felt unheard, isolated, and struggled with maternal mental health challenges that weren't properly addressed.

“The lack of culturally appropriate support and understanding left me feeling vulnerable at a time when I needed help the most. This experience became the catalyst for founding The Motherhood Group, as I realised so many other Black mothers were facing similar challenges in silence.”

Official statistics confirm these challenges. They reveal that Black mothers are still three times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth compared to white mothers.

With the support of funding made possible by National Lottery players, The Motherhood Group has set out to improve Black mothers’ care experiences. Through its community-based events and support networks, it has reached more than 18,000 women and trained 7,000 healthcare practitioners in how to work effectively with Black mums.

The Motherhood Group also commissions research to help understand and communicate the challenges Black mothers face in getting the right healthcare. Meanwhile, its annual Black Maternal Health Conference has become the largest gathering of its kind in the UK, bringing together mothers, healthcare providers, MPs and charity workers.

In 2024, Sandra was chosen as one of 30 National Lottery Game Changers. The award recognised people who had done extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding in the three decades since the first draw was held in 1994.

When asked which of The Motherhood Group’s many projects she’s most proud of, Sandra nominates the Blackmums App. It uses AI to connect mothers with similar experiences of challenges such as depression and C-sections.

Sandra said, “The app creates meaningful connections based on shared experiences, helping to combat the isolation many mothers feel. Being recognised as a National Lottery Game Changer by Mayor Sadiq Khan validated the importance of our work, but the real reward is seeing mothers supporting each other every day.”

Progress is being made, Sandra said, but there’s plenty of work still to be done to level up the “devastating disparities” in terms of care. She added, “The Motherhood Group will continue pushing for systemic change, while providing a vital safe space for our community, through both our digital platforms and in-person support networks.”

24th March 2025.