Support your community

Become a Health Champion
in West Birmingham

Bethel’s West Birmingham Health Champions (BWBHC) programme is a free 6-month volunteer training programme for adults (18+) living in West Birmingham, with two pathways: Doula Champions (pregnancy support) and Rapha Listening Champions (mental health support).

Join the Programme

Programme Overview

BWBHC is a community health development programme designed to tackle health inequalities in West Birmingham. Delivered by Bethel Health & Healing Network in partnership with local organisations, this programme offers free training and hands-on experience to local residents who want to make a real difference.

Our Mission

  • Black women in the UK are 3 to 5 times more likely to die from childbirth-related complications than white women.

  • Many in our communities still face significant barriers to mental health support.

  • Volunteers like you can change this, by becoming the first line of culturally aware and empathetic support.

What You’ll Do

As a BWBHC Health Champion, you’ll choose from two training pathways:

  • Doula Champion Pathway, Volunteer Doula in West Birmingham – support pregnant women and new mothers.

  • Rapha Health Champion Pathway, Mental Health Listening Volunteer – offer listening support and promote mental wellbeing.

After receiving structured training, you’ll begin volunteering in the community, supported every step of the way by our team.

This is a complete programme with comprehensive training and support, running over the course of 6 Months. (Your individual commitment will be flexible and detailed separately.)

Volunteer - Bethel Heath Network

Why join the West Birmingham Health Champions programme?

As a volunteer in the West Birmingham Health Champions programme, you’ll receive free training, hands-on experience, clear career pathways, community impact and ongoing support.

Free training

All training and certification is provided free of charge. You’ll gain recognised skills in maternity support, active listening, safeguarding and community health, ideal if you live in West Birmingham and want to build your confidence and CV.

Hands-On Experience

Put what you learn into practice by supporting real people in your community. Depending on your pathway, you might support pregnant women and new mothers as a Doula Champion, or offer 1-to-1 listening support as a Rapha Listening Champion.

Career Pathways

This programme is designed to open doors. Many Health Champions go on to roles in the NHS, maternity care, mental health, social care or wider community work, using the experience and references gained through Bethel.

Community Impact

You’ll be part of tackling health inequalities in West Birmingham. Your time and skills help vulnerable women, families and individuals feel heard, supported and less alone at some of the most critical moments in their lives.

Ongoing Support

You won’t be doing this on your own. Bethel provides supervision, mentoring, reflective practice sessions and regular check-ins so you feel safe, supported and confident throughout your journey as a Health Champion.

Doula Champion Pathway

Doula Champions are trained volunteer doulas who support pregnant women and new mothers in West Birmingham.

Support pregnant women

As a Doula Champion, you’ll offer emotional and practical support to pregnant women and new mothers, from antenatal appointments to early days at home.

Free accredited training

You’ll receive free, accredited doula training from experienced professionals (led by an ex-NHS midwife), plus safeguarding and reflective practice.

Pathway into maternity & health

This pathway is ideal if you’re interested in maternity care, midwifery, nursing or wider health roles. The experience and references can support future NHS applications.

Make a difference locally

You might be matched with a young or isolated mother in West Birmingham who has little support. Your presence can reduce stress, build confidence and improve well-being.

Register

Rapha Health Champion (Listening Volunteer)

As a Rapha Health Champion, you’ll be trained to support individuals facing stress, anxiety or loneliness in West Birmingham. You become a skilled, non-judgemental listener who helps people feel heard, valued and connected.

One-to-one listening support

You’ll provide one-to-one support through structured active listening sessions, giving people space to talk openly about how they feel without judgement.

Free listening & mental health training

You’ll receive free training in reflective listening, boundaries and basic mental health awareness, plus regular supervision so you feel confident and supported.

Flexible time commitment

Rapha Health Champions usually commit around one hour per week for listening sessions, with flexibility to fit around work, study or family commitments.

Pathway into mental health & care roles

This pathway is ideal if you’re interested in mental health, counselling or social work. The experience and references can support future applications for NHS or support-worker roles.

Register

Who can become a West Birmingham Health Champion?

Where you need to live

We’re focusing on volunteers who live in West Birmingham.
You’re eligible if your home postcode is in one of these areas:

  • Soho & Jewellery Quarter – B18

  • Newtown – B19

  • Ladywood – B16

  • Aston – B6

  • Nechells – B7

  • Bordesley & Highgate – B12

  • North Edgbaston – B15

  • Kingstanding – B44

  • Oscott – B44

  • Perry Barr – B42

  • Handsworth Wood – B20

  • Birchfield – B6

  • Lozells – B19

If you live just outside these areas but feel you could still take part, you’re welcome to get in touch and ask.

Map of West Birmingham wards for Health Champions: Perry Barr, Ladywood, Soho & Jewellery Quarter, Nechells, etc.

Age

You must be 18 or over to volunteer as a West Birmingham Health Champion.

Personal qualities

We’re looking for people who are:

  • Warm, kind and non-judgemental

  • Good listeners

  • Reliable and willing to work as part of a team

  • Respectful of different cultures, faiths and backgrounds

Experience

No specific experience is required.
Full training is provided for both the Doula and Rapha Health Champion pathways.
If you already have experience in care, community work or supporting others, that’s a bonus, but it’s not essential.

Safeguarding checks

Because you’ll be supporting vulnerable adults and families, you’ll need to:

  • Complete an enhanced DBS check (funded by Bethel)

  • Provide two references

We’ll guide you through this process during recruitment.

Join The Programme

Interested in joining or want to learn more? Fill out the form below and a member of the Bethel West Birmingham team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps

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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