Maternity Action

Maternity Action was established in 2008 and is the UK’s leading charity committed to ending inequality and improving the health and well-being of pregnant women, partners and young children – from conception through to the child’s early years. They won’t give up until every pregnant woman, new mother and father and their families are treated fairly and have their rights respected. Trade Union affiliation Maternity Action campaigns at UK and European level to protect and improve maternity rights at work. They challenge attempts by the UK Government to reduce the maternity rights of different groups of workers. Funders Their work is partly supported by their funders. They are grateful to: AB Charitable Trust Baring Foundation Big Lottery Fund Awards for All Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust Esmée Fairbairn Foundation John Ellerman Foundation Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Legal Education Foundation London Catalyst Trust for London What They Do They provide advice and information They empower mums and dads They offer free advice for mums and dads worried about their rights at work and rights to benefits and healthcare. They also produce a range of accurate and user-friendly publications and information sheets about these rights. Their Advice Line also offers them confidential telephone support. They support employers They provide expert advice and information for employers managing pregnant women and new parents at work. They change attitudes and policies They have a track record of successful campaigns raising the awareness of the rights of pregnant women, young children and their families. All their work is based on rigorous research, influencing local, regional and national services. They  also increase the general awareness of the circumstances of vulnerable pregnant women, babies and their families. They provide training and consultancy They train and support professionals They offer training for community workers, clinicians and others to provide advice and support to vulnerable women and their families. Their training gives them the knowledge and confidence they need to inform and help those who are struggling. They undertake research Maternity Action’s research focuses on the experiences of vulnerable women, babies and families.  They work in close partnership with the people they want to help.  They engage with service providers to identify ways to improve the service they provide.