Support your community

Become a Health Champion
in West Birmingham

Support pregnant women and champion mental health in your community – with free training and real experience along the way

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 Champions – support pregnant women and new mothers.

  • Rapha Champions – 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?

Free training:

All training and certification is provided free of charge, equipping you with recognized skills .

Hands-On Experience
Practical experience volunteering in real community settings, to build your confidence and CV.
Career Pathways:

Exposure and connections to NHS careers and related fields – this can be a stepping stone into jobs in midwifery, nursing, counseling, social care, etc.

Community Impact:
A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives in your own community (improving maternal health outcomes, supporting mental health and wellbeing).
Ongoing Support:
You won’t be doing it alone – the programme provides mentoring, supervision, and a supportive peer network throughout the journey.

Doula Champion Pathway

Doula Champion are trained volunteer doulas who support pregnant women and new mothers

As a Doula Champion, you might accompany expectant mothers to prenatal appointments
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You will receive accredited doula training from
experienced professionals (led by an ex-NHS midwife)
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This pathway is ideal if you are interested in maternity care or midwifery..
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For example, you might be paired with a young mother who has little..
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Doula Champions should be flexible, especially around due dates, and commit a few hours weekly. This role suits retirees, students, or part-time workers.

Rapha Health Champion (Listening Volunteer)

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

You will provide one-to-one support through active listening sessions.
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You will undergo intensive training in reflective listening and mental health first..
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Rapha Champions commit to at least an hour per week of listening support..
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This pathway is perfect if you’re interested in mental health, counseling, or social work..
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Impact: You’ll help reduce stigma and waiting times for mental health support in our community by being that crucial first line of support. Many people just need someone to talk to; as a Rapha Champion, you provide that lifeline.

Are You Eligible?

Residence

You must be a resident of West Birmingham.” (If the programme is strictly limited to certain wards or postcodes, specify that; otherwise West Birmingham in general.

Age:

Age 18 or over. (Assuming adult volunteers only, which is typical for these roles, especially dealing with sensitive topics).

Passion and Personal Qualities:

Genuine interest in community health and helping others is essential. You should be compassionate, empathetic, and a good listener. (These soft criteria aren’t hard requirements, but set the tone for the kind of person suited to the role.)

No specific experience required:

No formal qualifications or prior experience needed – full training is provided. This is important to encourage people who might lack confidence. (If there are any exceptions, e.g. needing basic English proficiency for training, you can mention but likely assume most will have that.)

Background Checks:

Willingness to undergo a DBS check. (Working with vulnerable women and potentially mental health clients will almost certainly require volunteers to pass a background check for safeguarding. Note this so applicants aren’t surprised later.)

References:

(Optional: some volunteer programmes require references – mention if applicable, or leave out if that will be handled later in process.)

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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