Media and press

We have been overwhelmed by the interest in our project. Thank you to all the journalists, researchers and film-makers who have been in touch.
We very much appreciate genuine efforts to understand the lives of our mums and the wish to talk to them and hear not only their stories but their opinions on how things have to change. We will not, however, put any of our beloved mums in the situation where they could potentially be retraumatised or shamed by an interaction with a journalist.

Press enquiries

Featured in

Check out our recent press coverage

Bethany Williams debuts a colourful, socially conscious collection at LFW,
Evening Standard (June 2021)

BETHANY WILLIAMS SPRING 2022 IS AN ODE TO CHILDHOOD STORIES,
Vmagazine (June 2021)

‘Bethany Williams’s Joyous New Collection Is About Bringing Intergenerational Stories Full Circle,
British Vogue (June 2021)

“Revealed: how Covid has made the UK’s bitter housing crisis even worse”
Huffington Post (December 2020)

“Bethany Williams’s Blanket-Inspired Coat Capsu’ le Is Meaningful, As Well As Beautiful”
British Vogue (February 2021)

“I slept rough in London while I was seven months pregnant”
BBCNews (June 2020)

“Revealed: families crammed into rooms little bigger than parking spaces”
Huffington Post (December 2020)

“Forest Gate schoolchildren make up Christmas hampers for families in temporary accommodation”
Newham Recorder (December 2020)

‘I was temporarily housed in a former office block with my children. Two years later, we’re still here’
i-Paper (May 2020)

“8 ways to help the hidden homeless, according to The Magpie Project founder”
British Vogue (May 2020)

“How Bethany Williams radically reinvented fashion as a force for change”
British Vogue (April 2020)

“Huge coronavirus risk among hidden homeless, charity for homeless mothers warns”
Inside Housing (March 2020)

“Newham charity project helps mums and their children get back on their feet”
ITV News (January 2019)

“Why it is a bad thing that a few charities have most of the money”
Charity Connect (2019)

“Charity helping homeless mums who have nowhere else to go to for support”
Newham Recorder (August 2018)

“Firms make millions out of ‘by the night’ flats for England’s homeless”
The Observer (May 2018)

Blog post on E7NowandThen (May 2018)

“Celebrating women’s achievements”
Newham Magazine (March 2018)

“Why are growing numbers of mothers and babies stuck in B&Bs?”
The Guardian (January 2018)

“No place like home: raising children in unsuitable temporary housing”
Inside Housing (2017)

Why we do it

Find out more

Bank Examples	Forms of Identity Needed
Metro Bank	Asylum seekers can apply for a cash account and/or savings account. This requires an Application Registration Card (ARC), proof of address and confirmation of asylum seekers support allowance or other income.
Lloyds	You can apply for a Classic Current account with a BRP, ARC or a Home Office Immigration Status document. Refugees and asylum seekers can apply for a ‘Classic current account’. This includes an arranged overdraft. Fees are charged if you go into your overdraft.
Nationwide	You can get a ‘FlexBasic account’ (basic bank account) and an ‘Instant Access saver’ (basic savings account). They accept BRP, ARC and Home Office Immigration Status document.
HSBC	You cannot open a bank account if you are from outside the EU. They accept BRP but NOT ARC. They accept BRP but NOT ARC.
Monzo	Refugees can open a current account with a BRP and their UK address. However, Monzo do not accept ARC. You can get your benefits or salary (depending on your employer) paid into your Monzo account 1 day earlier.

Saves Time	Make sure there is enough money in your account when the direct debit or standing order will be taken. If there is not enough money, you could be charged extra by the bank.
You don’t need to remember to pay a bill	You must remember to cancel standing orders when you want to stop paying someone regularly.
You will get money back for any incorrect payments for direct debits only.	Sometimes you might think you are setting up a direct debit, but it is actually a recurring payment or continuous payment authority (CPA). Be careful if companies ask for the long number on your card instead of your sort code and account number. This will mean they can take money whenever they think they are owed.
You can cancel a direct debit or a standing order at any time through your online banking account or by contacting your bank.


Magpie Mums say: “Always use direct debits if you can, so you don’t forget to pay and are charged. If you can’t use direct debits, make sure you put the dates when you’re supposed to make payments in your phone calendar.” “I’m used to it. It’s easy on the phone. I try to avoid going to banks.”

Account number	A 10-12 digit number given to your bank account. You can find your account number on your online banking page or on bank statements.
Card Number	A 16-digit number with that is found on the front of your debit/credit card.
Credit Card	A credit card doesn’t spend your money. It spends the bank’s money and you must pay it back. This means you can spend more than is in your account, but you might be charged extra for doing this, especially if you are late paying the bank.
Credit Score	A number that records how likely you are to repay your debts. High credit scores are better as it means financial products such as overdrafts and credit cards cost less.
Debit Card	A debit card is a card that lets you take out money from ATMs and make payments in stores or online from your account.
Financial Service Compensation Scheme (FSCS)	An organisation set up to protect the money you put in bank accounts. If you have a current or basic account, the FSCS will pay you up to £85,000 if your bank goes bankrupt.
National Insurance Number (NI)	The number makes sure that the National Insurance contributions and tax you pay are properly recorded on your account. It also acts as a reference number for the whole social security system.
Overdraft	An amount of money you can spend even when you have no money in your account. It is like a small loan from your bank. Overdrafts are often not free, so you need to be very aware what the costs are before using one.
Personal Identification Number (PIN)	A PIN is a 4-digit number that is given to you with a debit card. This is used when taking out money from ATMs or when making in-store purchases with your card. Never share your PIN with anyone as it could be used to commit fraud.
Security Code	A 3-4 digit number found on the back of your debit/credit card in the signature section. This number will be required for nearly all online payments. The code provides an extra layer of security to safeguard you from fraud.
Sort Code	A 6-digit number that is used to identify your bank. You can find your sort code on your online banking platform, on bank statements or on your debit card.
Standing Order	When a fixed amount that you choose is paid from your account to another person or organisation. This is different from the direct debit as the amount that is paid is the same each time.

Saves time – you don’t need to remember to pay a bill.	You need to make sure there is enough money in your account when the direct debit or standing order will be taken. If there is not enough money, you could be charged extra by the bank.
You will get money back for any incorrect payments for direct debits only.	You must remember to cancel standing orders when you want to stop paying someone regularly.
You can cancel a direct debit or a standing order at any time through your online banking account or by contacting your bank.	Sometimes you might think you are setting up a direct debit, but it is actually a recurring payment or continuous payment authority (CPA). Be careful if companies ask for the long number on your card instead of your sort code and account number. This will mean they can take money whenever they think they are owed.