From ideation to action: Three charities’ experience of Women’s Voices 2025

This March, in honour of International Women’s Day, we hosted our ninth annual Women’s Voices event. The day brought together 15 organisations dedicated to supporting, campaigning for, and advocating on behalf of women and girls. They collaborated with volunteers from leading media and creative industries to work on a specific communications goal for their charity. 

Among the attendees were Magdalene Usikaro (CEO of Music Relief Foundation), Keli Tomlin (Communications & Engagement Coordinator at Mummy’s Star) and Catherine Hine (CEO of The Breastfeeding Network). All of them took to the stage during the closing showcase, confidently sharing their experiences with the packed room! 

We caught up with Magdalene, Keli and Catherine to hear their experience of the Women’s Voices event and the impact they hope it will have. 

What motivated you to participate in Women’s Voices, and what did you hope to gain from the experience? 

Magdalene: “We were inspired to participate because we saw it as the perfect platform to amplify the cause of our girls’ forum. It provided an invaluable opportunity to gather insights from media experts, ensuring the success of our project. I hoped, by taking part, to develop a clear strategy for promoting our programme effectively – and I ended up gaining even more than I had anticipated!” 

Keli: “At the end of 2024, our charity set out to plan and launch our first-ever campaign aimed at influencing a change in legislation. We were not entirely sure where to start, and a colleague encouraged us to apply. The event seemed like a great chance to gain foundational ideas and expert advice – a roadmap to get started and clarity on our target audience.” 

Catherine: “The Breastfeeding Network helps tens of thousands of women every year to access trusted information and support to feed their babies and children as they choose. Many women stop breastfeeding earlier than they would like due to a lack of timely and reliable support. This is heart-breaking for women, and impact society as a whole. The event was an opportunity to take stock, reflect, and gain insights from expert volunteers who could help us strengthen our external communications so that key messages about the importance of investing in the right support for all women and families, get across.” 

How did you feel about the day itself? 

Magdalene: “The event was absolutely fantastic; the atmosphere was electric! Plus, the guest speaker, Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin, was phenomenal!” 

Keli: “It was such an exciting and welcoming experience! As a neurodivergent person, being in a large group of unfamiliar people can be overwhelming, but the atmosphere was warm and inclusive. The Media Trust staff kept everyone engaged, and there was a strong sense of generosity and collaboration.

I also really enjoyed being one of the speakers at the showcase! I would highly recommend charities give this a go, get up there and speak up about the experience – this can connect you to further partners and supporters in the room!” 

Catherine: “The event was energising and cathartic. There’s so much pressure on families, and on our colleagues in the NHS and local authorities at the moment. It was great to take a step back and gain new insight. We work with incredible volunteers in our service delivery, and it was amazing to tap into ideas and expertise from a completely different group of volunteers.” 

What was your experience like working with your team of volunteers? 

Magdalene: “The experience was both engaging and informative. The volunteers provided us with clear, actionable recommendations, which I fully expect to implement in the next 6-12 months. The volunteers’ support has been invaluable, and I look forward to continued collaboration.” 

Keli: “I was initially nervous because the volunteers were so experienced. Coming from a small charity, it’s easy to feel like you don’t match up. But the volunteers were all incredibly supportive, willing to share their expertise while also respecting our work. As a one-person comms team, it was invaluable to collaborate with experts in my field, and it helped me work faster and think bigger. Each volunteer brought a unique perspective, and together, we developed a rich, actionable plan that will guide our work for the next 3-6 months and beyond. Their support was invaluable and my highlight of the day!” 

Catherine: “Amazing! They approached the information we shared with curiosity and asked great questions. There was real generosity in how they shared their expertise, and I can see that this will be very beneficial for our future development.” 

Are there any immediate changes you have made since the day? 

Magdalene: “We have already started sourcing mentors to provide ongoing support for the girls we work with. Additionally, we are looking for more engagement opportunities with Media Trust to help us implement our action plan!” 

Keli: “We are forming an advisory group to develop a white paper and open letter to engage government and public support. Additionally, we have begun integrating ideas from the event into our social media and communications strategy. One of the biggest takeaways for me was the complexity of engaging with government officials, and I would love further guidance on how to navigate this process effectively.” 

Catherine: “As we heard during the event, we have strong organic engagement and are trusted by families and healthcare professionals. However, we need to get better at telling our amazing story to build engagement and attract more supporters. We now have campaign ideas and plans on how to do this effectively. And yes, we’ve already taken some small steps!” 

What are you hoping to achieve following the event, and what impact would you like to see? 

Magdalene: “We aim to implement everything we learned and see the positive outcomes reflected in our work. This experience has strengthened our communication strategy and will help us amplify our message more effectively.” 

Keli: “We plan to launch our campaign in 2025, raising both public and government awareness. If successful, it will benefit not only the mums and birthing parents we support (who are diagnosed with cancer during or around pregnancy), but potentially any mother facing a serious illness at this critical time. 

On a personal level, I am hoping that the connections I made during Women’s Voices will continue to build, helping me to establish a solid professional network in which my own skills, connections and confidence can thrive.” 

Catherine: “We’ve planned follow-up meetings with our volunteers to discuss how we can action some of their recommendations. Additionally, I am making a deliberate effort to highlight the impressive impact of the Breastfeeding Network and the 24-hour National Breastfeeding Helpline, which we run with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. We are also exploring ways to leverage our social media channels for better engagement and are looking into securing support for video content production.” 

Women’s Voices 2025 was a powerful catalyst for change, equipping charities like Music Relief Foundation, Mummy’s Star and The Breastfeeding Network with fresh strategies, stronger networks, and a renewed sense of purpose.

We are excited to see the incredible impact all 15 charities will make in the months ahead! For anyone considering future Women’s Voices events, Magdalene, Keli’s, and Catherine’s advice is simple: seize the moment, make your voice heard, and embrace the support around you!