When Maggie Gordon-Walker became a mum, she found herself feeling lonely and isolated, feelings she realised were shared by many others. Out of that experience came Mothers Uncovered, the peer-led community she founded in 2008 to give mothers a space to talk openly, share experiences and create lasting friendships.
In 2022, Maggie joined our Spokesperson Network, which supports people with lived experience of social injustice or inequality to become more confident, visible spokespeople. The training covers everything from working with the media to sharing your story safely and powerfully. For Maggie, it’s had a lasting impact on her confidence, public profile and the reach of Mothers Uncovered.
I wanted to amplify the voices of mothers who are so often overlooked
I applied to Sounddelivery Media’s Spokesperson Network because I wanted to learn how to engage with the media and make our work more visible. Mothers Uncovered supports every mother, not just a demographic of mothers, and sometimes that can make it harder to get attention. I hoped the Spokesperson Network could help me find the right routes to get our message across.
The training gave me practical tools to speak to journalists and approach media outlets with confidence. More than that, it helped me to clarify our messages and see how our story deserves to be told. I wanted to be the person that journalists think of when they’re covering motherhood and mental health stories, and I feel much closer to that now.
The programme gave me contacts with the media
Sounddelivery Media helped arrange an interview for me on BBC Radio 5 Live, which led to an unexpected donation from a company that heard the broadcast. That kind of visibility simply wouldn’t have happened before.
I’ve also spoken on BBC local radio, ITV Meridian and even Channel 4. The training has made me much more proactive about seizing opportunities in the media and knowing how to approach journalists.
I’m reaching people I never would have reached before
I’ve also become more confident using social media. With the support of the programme, I started creating short-form videos for YouTube and TikTok. These have really taken off, with some having over 1,000 views and meaningful comments from mothers who say the content makes them feel seen and understood. That’s powerful evidence I can now show to funders about how we’re impacting mothers through our online engagement and reach.
I’ve gone from local support to national influence
Because of the visibility I’ve achieved, I was invited to speak at a roundtable at the Labour party conference. They’d found out about me due to my increased online presence.
There I met Michelle Welsh MP, who is chair of the Maternity All-Party Parliamentary Group, which is the forum where all parties with an interest in a topic come together for discussion and hold inquiries. She invited me to her office in parliament where we spent over an hour discussing the issues mothers face. She wants to come down to Brighton to meet some mothers and also speak on my podcast. That meeting wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t raised my profile as a result of my work with Sounddelivery Media.
I can honestly say that without the programme, Mothers Uncovered would still be working at a local level. Now, we’re having conversations that could shape national policy.
Soundelivery Media isn’t about power suits – it’s about lived experience
What makes Sounddelivery Media different is that it’s not a business-focused leadership programme where everyone’s competing. It’s a space that embraces people from all backgrounds, people who’ve been through tough times and want to make change. There’s such camaraderie among the group – we all understand and respect each other’s journeys and are there for each other.
The ripple effect keeps growing
The Spokesperson Network opened doors I never expected. It’s given me clarity and the confidence and connections to use it. I’m more determined than ever to keep speaking up for mothers’ mental health and to push our messages out there.
I talk about Sounddelivery Media as being a ripple effect that keeps spreading. Every bit of visibility leads to another opportunity – a new conversation, a new ally or a new way to help mothers know they aren’t alone. It’s changed me and it’s changing what’s possible for the mothers we support.
About the Author
Maggie Gordon-Walker is an arts professional and the founder of Mothers Uncovered (established 2008), a Sussex peer-led organisation under her charity, Livestock. Mothers Uncovered supports women during matrescence (the transition to motherhood) through creative support courses facilitated by past participants, providing a judgment-free space to explore feelings and celebrate the woman behind the mother.
Maggie is also a passionate campaigner and advocate for mothers’ rights, believing that prioritising investment in postnatal care and recognising the term ‘matrescence’ are essential for improving thousands of families’ lives. She co-edited the anthology, The Secret Life of Mothers.