Three lives that were transformed by the CMI bursary
Written by Annie Makoff-Clark Tuesday 18 April 2023
The story behind Mayah’s Legacy is deeply personal: Keji Moses, its founder and CEO, set up the charity after experiencing the trauma of two pregnancy losses, including the stillbirth of her daughter Mayah in 2018.
Keji, who had been working for the Metropolitan Police for 18 years while also holding several voluntary leadership roles, including family magistrate at the Ministry of Justice, decided to return to work soon after. But her grief was too much. Keji was battling with PTSD. It was, she says, an absolutely awful time.
“I took a career break and I did a lot of self-reflection. I remember thinking ‘either I continue down this path or I do something about it’.”
Keji channelled her energy into setting up Mayah’s Legacy in 2019 – determined to find meaning in her grief. “Mayah’s Legacy is about equipping mothers and families to use their own voice to self-advocate during pregnancy. It’s about trusting your gut instinct and speaking out.” says Keji. “Mayah may not be here physically, but what she came to do is coming through for the families and individuals we support. That’s what keeps me going.”
Keji also works at the DWP as a work coach and volunteers extensively, sitting on various committees, including the Bereavement Steering Group at the QEQM NHS Trust and the DCP Faculty for Perinatal Psychology.
The CMI bursary has been so important to me. I would never have been able to fund the diploma otherwise. It’s given me the confidence to deliver vital mental health support to mums in focused, highly strategic ways
Yet, despite her expansive experience and dedication to her field, something was missing: she needed a more strategic approach to bring it together. Keji came across the CMI bursary in 2022 and one particular course jumped out at her. Barely a month later, Keji had completed her CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Approaches to Mental Health and Wellbeing. A self-directed course, which can take up to a year, it took Keji just a month to complete.
“Qualifications aren’t an indication of competence, but for me, the CMI diploma gives me that assurance and confidence in what I’ve achieved,” she says.
Keji says she’s been able to apply both practical and theoretical elements of the course to her working life almost immediately. She designed a project aimed at creating safe space for families using frameworks and tools gleaned from the diploma, as well as developing her leadership skills. “The CMI bursary has been so important to me. I would never have been able to fund the diploma otherwise. It’s given me the confidence to deliver vital mental health support to mums in focused, highly strategic ways.”
Keep reading for two more stories of the transformative impact of the CMI Bursary
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