Margaret Bluman has been part of The Maya Centre’s story for over two decades. From serving as a trustee in the early 2000s, to becoming Chair of Trustees for five years, to cofounding the mind–body therapies that remain central to our work today, Margaret’s contribution has been both profound and enduring. Through her ongoing financial support, she has also helped to sustain and strengthen the mind–body therapies over the years. Now a Patron of The Maya Centre, she continues to be a passionate advocate for women’s mental health and wellbeing.

We recently interviewed Margaret to learn more about her life, her values, and what continues to inspire her commitment to supporting women through healing and empowerment.

A life rooted in London, family and social justice

Born and raised in North London, Margaret speaks with deep affection for the city she calls home.

“I love London in all its ever-changing complexity and diversity and could live nowhere else.”

Margaret is a mother of two grown children, a grandmother to two grown grandchildren, and a great grandmother to two great grandchildren – a legacy that mirrors her lifelong concern for the wellbeing of women across generations.

Issues around women’s health and wellbeing have always been of concern to Margaret – leading to campaigns for women’s rights and protections in many different spheres over the years.

What first drew you to women’s wellbeing and advocacy?

Margaret traces her feminist awakening back to a formative moment:

“I became a feminist after reading Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch. Women as a sex face particular challenges in life not faced by men. We bear and have primary responsibility for raising children. We overwhelmingly suffer rape, domestic violence and sexual abuse.”

For over fifty years, Margaret has worked alongside other women through local and national groups to raise awareness of these inequalities and to challenge them. Her professional life as a book publisher also reflected this commitment, working with influential writers and thinkers such as Juliet Mitchell, Ann Oakley, Susie Orbach and Suzanne Moore.

How did you first come across The Maya Centre?

“Coinciding with my feminism, I have also held a strong belief in the healing powers of psychotherapy. So when Julia Vellacott, one of the psychotherapist founders of the Maya Centre, asked me to become a trustee in the early 2000s, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Although it was initially a steep learning curve, two aspects of the centre’s work stood out to her immediately:

“The first was that the therapy was free, and the second was that it was directed at the most disadvantaged women in our community.”

As the daughter of a refugee, Margaret has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by women arriving in the UK, particularly those navigating new cultures and systems while carrying trauma.

“This is doubly so for women coming from very different cultures and traditions. Britain can be an open and tolerant country, but it also has a long and complex history of colonialism and oppression, the consequences of which are still felt.”

What moments stand out from your time as trustee, Chair and now Patron?

Reflecting on her many years with The Maya Centre, Margaret speaks honestly about both the challenges and the rewards.

“All the years of my involvement with The Maya Centre have been hugely rewarding and enriching for me.”

Her time as Chair included significant transitions, multiple moves, funding pressures and difficult decisions, often made under intense uncertainty.

“Funding was always a challenge, often putting us terrifyingly near the edge of collapse.”

Yet she also recalls the relief and reassurance of long-standing supporters and funders, alongside the extraordinary dedication of staff and fellow trustees.

“I must stress the amazing commitment and dedication of all the staff at the centre, always way beyond the call of duty.”

One achievement remains particularly close to her heart – helping to pilot the centre’s mind–body therapies.

“We shared a strong belief that these therapies would complement the talking therapies already on offer. I continue to take huge pleasure in our being proved right!”

Why are mind–body therapies so important to you?

Margaret’s belief in holistic approaches to healing is grounded in both philosophy and lived experience.

“As Hobbes said, life is nasty, brutish and short. Some people have more resilience than others in overcoming the brutish parts. For [women] this can be especially burdensome.”

She is clear that therapy in all its forms can be transformative, restoring agency and hope after trauma. Yet access remains deeply unequal.

“Therapy remains, sadly, mostly available only to the privileged.”

For Margaret, The Maya Centre’s work demonstrates what is possible when that barrier is removed.

“Investing in healing the less privileged benefits not only the individuals and their families, but also society as a whole.”

A shared commitment to women’s healing

Margaret Bluman’s journey reflects the values at the heart of The Maya Centre; compassion, equity and a belief in women’s capacity to heal when given the right support. Her continued donations and involvement as a Patron is a reminder of the power of long term commitment and of what can be achieved when people come together to champion women’s mental health.

If you are visiting our website to learn more about our work, access support, make a referral or explore ways to support The Maya Centre, we invite you to join this shared mission. Together, we can continue to create spaces where women feel seen, supported and empowered to reclaim their wellbeing.