Aloha

dmr Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > We are also DESPERATELY trying to get in touch > with other communities, apart from the middle > class one mentioned above, hanging posters > everywhere and anywhere, but as mumof3girlies > mentioned it seem to be left to the middle classes > (though it makes me laugh to think about myself as > middle class, I live in Peckham after all!) to > fight for all of us. Everyone is welcome though > and if you have any ideas as to how to get these > women involved please do let us know. The Albany > has got a Database with all these women contacts > but naturally they can't and they haven't shared > it with us...even though they are under threat > they still have got principles! Speaking as someone working in PR, I would simply advise not to fight the fight using the main emphasis on providing a service for the 'disadvantaged' if it's proving really tricky to present case studies / mothers from this demographic to the media. The Albany has so many other fantastic advantages with which to promote itself and put its case forward effectively; namely all the positives that have been listed above. Simply a case of changing the headline / emphasis of the press release to something less likely for the media to poke holes in.

Fuschia Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I attended a couple of antenatal groups at Albany, > my experience of the women there was that they > were very much a random selection of women from > the locality. My point was that if the Albany wants to fight this argument using the 'disadvantage' route in the media (to whom the Press Release at the top of this thread is most likely directed) - then use a broader selection of 'voices' representative of the community it says it serves. The media coverage to date has not done this; watch any of the clips - hardly a wide pick of the disadvantaged SE London community there is it? My concern is simply that the PR campaign (while needed - and yes I am a supporter!) is not doing itself justice.

peckham_mum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > The Albany Midwives? care has provided > women-centred care for women from deeply > disadvantaged backgrounds for twelve years.Peckham > ranks as the fourteenth most deprived district of > 354 districts in England. I do worry about using the 'disadvantage' card in this argument. From my own experience, and from all the publicity to date it does appear that the Albany is a service that is overwhelmingly used (and defended) by middle class, socially and economically affluent women in the area, who are aware of this service and are educated to make and push for informed choices. Nothing wrong with that - choice is for everyone. But from a PR point of view, if the 'disadvantage' card is to be played, might be a good idea to use voices from a broader selection of the community - those women who truly are at a disadvantage, and would benefit from such a service. Good luck to the Albany in its fight.