Superstar volunteer

by | 5/ Apr/ 2022 | Blog, Uncategorized

Woman in front of an open car boot which as a baby basket full of items

Rachel makes emergency trip to help a young mum

At short notice, volunteer Rachel Nolan delivered much needed items to an 18-year-old mother in Birmingham, who we’ll call Angela. Angela’s two-day-old son needed a place to sleep, nappies and other essentials. The call for help was with us on Monday, and we were with Angela the following day.

This emergency trip was quite a trek for Rachel.

Only through volunteers like Rachel can we meet the demand for support across Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull. But we could do with more people to spread the load.

In just the past few weeks, we’ve had cases referred to us of women who have undergone FGM, survivors of Modern Slavery, refugees and asylum seekers with no support network and a pregnant woman sofa surfing in south Birmingham.

 

Would you support us?

Please find out more about supporting us through volunteering or by donating.

Our doula service provides practical and emotional support to vulnerable and isolated pregnant women during and after their pregnancies.

 

How to access our service

To refer yourself or a mum to our service, complete this form or call us on 07881 300533.

 

What makes us unique

  • A highly experienced former NHS midwife leads our team
  • Experience with complex cases
  • 24hr wrap around care
  • We work collaboratively with all statutory services
  • We build an impartial and highly trusted rapport with vulnerable service users.

 

Partnering with the NHS

We are proud of our status as a commissioned provider of health and social services for the NHS in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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