Jaywick site launches art exhibition on mothers' trauma

The exhibition, at Jaywick's Martello tower, features a range of artwork, photographs, poetry and pictures, shedding light on the experiences of those living with the aftermath of traumatic experiences.

It is part of ground-breaking research into the damaging effects of adoption without maternal consent.

The exhibition, organised by Healthwatch Essex, shares the stories of mothers who have had their children placed in care, and explores other areas of trauma.

New - Trauma exhibition in Jaywick (Image: Essex University)

This includes the suffering of victims of sexual and domestic abuse, injuries, and long-term health conditions.

Dr Samantha Davey, from the Essex University's law school, has been working with mothers to help them explore their experiences of seeing their children put up for adoption.

This is to understand the traumatic impact the process has on them.

The mothers involved in the research have expressed their thoughts and feelings about their experiences through words and art, which feature in the exhibition.

Trauma - The exhibition at the Martello tower (Image: Essex University)

Dr Davey, who is working on the project with Dr Stella Bolaki at Kent University, hopes the exhibition will give mothers a voice after years of suffering.

She said: "Often these mothers have had circumstances which are challenging.

"They lacked the financial means to raise a child, suffered domestic abuse, mental health issues or other trauma which made it difficult for them to support their children.

"They suffer further trauma from the loss of the children and the stigma that they have been subjected to in wider society, due to fixed perceptions of motherhood."

The exhibition at Martello Tower runs across each weekend in January and is open from 10am until 4pm each day.

Dr Davey added: "This exhibition shows the suffering that can occur when mothers are permanently separated from their children against their wishes, and how making mothers visible after being invisible for so long can help to show members of the public how important it is to support all mothers."