Make a difference in someone’s life by volunteering to be a doula

by | 18/ Jun/ 2021 | Blog, Volunteering

We rely on our volunteer doulas to help meet the demand to support vulnerable and isolated pregnant women and new mums.

It’s a varied role with lots of support and training on offer, so you never feel out of your depth.

Our clients come from various backgrounds and face a wide range of issues from domestic violence, poor mental health and poverty. They may be refugees, victims of trafficking or have substance abuse issues. What unites them all is the need for support during their pregnancy and beyond.

Like any good doula practitioner, we aim to deliver that support with compassion, integrity and fairness, looking to form a partnership with our mums to be so that they feel empowered to make the choices they feel are best for them.

Meet Gail

Senior Doula, Gail

Senior Doula, Gail

42-year-old Gail joined Bethel as a volunteer in February 2019. Our volunteers are asked to give up to five hours a week, giving them the flexibility to do as Gail does and fit her volunteering around bringing up her two children.

In the time Gail’s been with us, she’s supported scores of women and been a birth partner to eight.

If you volunteer with us, you’ll find the needs of women vary. You may meet someone who just needs to know you’re a friendly face they can talk to and may not need you at the birth itself. Other cases can be more intense.

As Gail notes, “There is no typical client. For example, one woman I supported had two teenage children, and her third pregnancy was unexpected. She felt that she wasn’t going to be able to cope financially and would have to give it up, but we worked it through together so she could keep the baby.”

The impact of the pandemic has been striking. “We’ve seen an increase in mental health issues. Partners not being allowed to attend the birth has caused a lot of stress. The system doesn’t make sense to them, and different hospitals have different priorities. Thankfully, it’s slowly getting back to normal.”

What motivated Gail to volunteer with Bethel?  “I wanted to help vulnerable and isolated women by empowering them through building skills, knowledge and confidence. It’s about making a difference in someone’s life.”

If you’re interested in making a difference, register your interest to become a volunteer doula.

As a Doula Champion, you might accompany expectant mothers to prenatal appointments, provide birthing support if needed, help new mums with newborn care and breastfeeding, and ensure they attend their 6-week postnatal checks. You become a trusted companion and advocate for mothers who might otherwise be alone or uncertain.

This will close in 0 seconds

You will receive accredited doula training from experienced professionals (led by an ex-NHS midwife) , covering birth coaching, maternal health, and safeguarding. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the skills and
confidence to support women one-on-one.

This will close in 0 seconds

This pathway is ideal if you are interested in maternity care or midwifery. It offers invaluable hands-on experience – from attending births (optionally) to postpartum support – giving you a taste of a career in maternal health. Many Doula Champions use this experience as a springboard into NHS roles, midwifery training, or paid doula work in the future.

This will close in 0 seconds

Key activities: You will provide one-to-one support through active listening sessions – this could be over the phone, via video call, or in person. You let people share their feelings, and you offer empathy and guidance towards further help if needed (such as suggesting community services). Often, just being there to listen can make a huge difference.

This will close in 0 seconds

Training provided: You will undergo intensive training in reflective listening and mental health first response. Our training (often delivered via Zoom over a series of sessions) will teach you how to handle sensitive conversations, maintain confidentiality, and know your boundaries . By completion, you’ll be a certified listening volunteer with skills applicable to counseling or psychology fields.

This will close in 0 seconds

Emphasize volunteer scope: Rapha Champions commit to at least an hour per week of listening support for a client after training , which can often be arranged flexibly. You might have regular weekly calls with a client for a period of time. There are also opportunities to facilitate group sessions or community support groups as you grow in experience.

This will close in 0 seconds

Benefits and career pathways: This pathway is perfect if you’re interested in mental health, counseling, or social work. The experience you gain – in communication, empathy, and understanding mental health – is highly relevant to careers in counseling, psychotherapy, mental health nursing, or community support roles. Rapha Champions have a pathway to progress into formal counseling courses or mental health roles in the NHS or voluntary sector.” (For example, mention “You could go on to become a paid listening service coordinator or pursue qualifications in therapy – the programme can open these doors.

This will close in 0 seconds