Webchat with Mara Clarke of the Abortion Support Network, TUESDAY MARCH 10, 12.30pm

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We're pleased to announce that - following a suggestion made by MNers on this and other threads - Mara Clarke of the Abortion Support Network will be joining us for a live webchat on Tuesday 10 March at 12.30pm.

Mara Clarke is a mother, a freelancer, and the founder and director of the Abortion Support Network, which (in its own words) 'helps women from Ireland and Northern Ireland travel to England to gain access to safe and legal abortion'. ASN does not directly campaign on abortion-related matters; its aim is to help those who wish to access abortion facilities but do not have the financial means to pay for travel costs or for the procedure.

Please join us on Tuesday at 12:30 to discuss the Abortion Support Network's work and related issues. As ever, if you can't make it on the day, please post your questions in advance and do remember our webchat guidelines.

I have recently watched footage from the US where people protest outside of abortion clinics and it occurred to me how much I would like to support women and girls wanting to visit the clinic but coming up against these bullying tactics.

What can the average person do to support your work and your clients, especially those of us who can not provide financial support?

Thank you so much mumsnet and Mara for agreeing to do this.

ASN offered me support and financial aid to travel to England and I am in awe of the work they do and will always be grateful to them.

A question I have is what happens when a woman travels but is scanned as being later in pregnancy than she thinks? So she effectively enters the later stage termination bracket? What does ASN do in that situation?

Hi Mara, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us and thank you for the invaluable work your organisation does to help women who need to access basic healthcare.

How close would a person need to be to an abortion facility to be able to be a host for a woman coming over to access healthcare? And how would a person go about volunteering to do this?

Sorry, 2 questions, I know, but as they're linked, hopefully it can be overlooked?

Enormouse well done for making this happen! Hope to see more of you on FWR soon

puffins I'll come over when I can . Though it can sometimes be a bit heavyweight for me.

Thank you to mumsnet and Mara. The question I have has already been asked (other than finances how can we support this valuable work).

Hi Mara

Can you explain the legal situation around abortion in Northern Ireland? How has it come about that women there have to travel to the mainland for abortions, even though it's part of the UK? I remember there being some controversy a few years ago when Labour were in government - Harriet Harman being accused of selling out the women of Ulster by doing some sort of deal over a piece of legislation that required the votes of NI MPs - but I'm hazy about it.

thanks so much for coming on mara, and to enormouse for requesting the webchat

i think you and your colleagues are doing an amazing thing and it is shocking that women are not afforded the right to choose in NI and ROI. it's such a nonsense that it stops abortion in those places - it just means women's lives being endangered or they are forced to travel a long way from home, family and friends and spend money they shouldn't have to in order to end a pregnancy.

please could i ask, what was it that brought you to founding ASN?

I'm so glad Mara's coming on here. I think ASN are an awesome charity doing such important work. I don't have a question. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work that Mara and her colleagues do.

You do such vital work....how can people donate?

It's very difficult for women to access abortions in Scotland. In Glasgow you can join the nhs waiting list, pay 3k to the Nuffield or Tavel to Newcastle to Marie stopes etc. why is this!? Abortion is made very difficult and / or expensive for women in Scotland.

How appalling, why is that wentworth? Is it poor provision?

I'm in Scotland and had no problem getting an abortion on NHS quickly and without judgement or delay. Many friends have had similar experience. Perhaps it's a particular trust?

Oh, also, Mara, your work is amazing.

Mara, thank you for the work you do. It is shocking to me that in a part of the UK women do not have bodily autonomy.

My question is, how can we best help you help women caught in this bind?

Looking forward to hearing more about your good work.

3k sounds exorbitant wentworth. Is that a private hospital? It's shocking. I hope Scotland isn't following the awful lead set by NI.

As far as I'm aware bpas charge £1350 for Irish women travelling after 19 weeks.

Thanks for doing this Mara.

What are your thoughts on Bernadette Smyth, recently convicted of harassing Dawn Purvis (Head of Marie Stopes in NI), being invited to speak to pupils in schools?

Wentworth, that is not what I am aware of wrt pregnancy termination in Scotland

Mara, like others I'd love to know whether there's anything any of us can do to help, not just financially, but in practical terms?
Personally, I'd be happy to offer my spare bedroom to somebody travelling from Ireland whether they'd want to stay here is another question - that may be a mad idea, but I am frustrated in my inability to make a difference for woman struggling to access safe and timely termination where they live.

Mara, is there anything anything we can do, in order to help with campaigning to have the law changed in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, so that women don't have to undergo arduous journeys in order to access basic healthcare?
Thank you for coming to talk to us today.

Mara, I read yesterday that SF had changed it's policy and was open to allowing abortion in some (very strict) circumstances.

How long do you think it will be before there is a real choice for women in Ireland and NI?

I think lots of us have asked a similar question upthread, so may I please ask another one?

Am I right in thinking that the restrictions in NI result in many women tending to have later abortions than they might otherwise have - and that this would be entirely avoidable by giving women in this part of the UK the same abortion rights as the rest of the UK?

Have you seen the caseload change in the years ASN has been running?

How do you feel about ASN having to exist to fill the gap created by the Irish and northern Irish governments in their failure to care for their own women?

(Sorry I know I've snuck in a second question there)

I also wanted to link to this sluggerotoole.com/2015/02/26/briefing-about-ni-barriers-to-accessing-abortion-services-launched-by-amnesty-mybodymyrights/. For anyone that would be interestedm

It has virtually the entire amnesty briefing recorded.