Volunteer as a Birth Partner
The Birth Partner Project provides volunteer birth partners to pregnant women seeking sanctuary (asylum-seekers, refugees and victims of human trafficking) who would otherwise face pregnancy, birth and the first few weeks with their new-born baby alone.
Each woman is supported by a small team of 3-4 volunteer birth partners, who meet together from week 36 of the pregnancy onwards to build friendships and provide practical information and emotional support in the lead up to the birth. When labour begins, we provide 24-hour support using a rota system to ensure that the woman has someone with her at all times. After birth, our volunteers continue to meet weekly with mum and baby for a further 8 weeks to offer additional support and make sure they have everything they need. Since the start of the project in 2016 we have supported 80 women.
Volunteer Birth Partners are part of a 3-4 person team providing non-medical, emotional and practical support, comfort measures and a positive, nurturing presence during late pregnancy, labour and birth, and for two months after the birth.
When a referral is received, a birth support team of volunteers is bought together and this team then supports that particular woman throughout her late pregnancy, labour and birth and into early motherhood, this enables continuity and a trusting relationship to be built. Birth partners also provide information and signposting to assist women to access other relevant support during this period.
We welcome applications from people who have experienced birth themselves and also those who have not. We believe that it is your personal qualities and openness to learning, as well as your ability to commit to the vision of the organisation that makes you a good birth partner.
We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until Friday 18th February 2022.
We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to guarantee a place on the Volunteer Training Programme.
Time commitment: The time commitment to support one woman usually covers a 3-4 month period, this includes weekly pregnancy visits from 6 weeks before due date and weekly post-natal visits for 2 months after birth (the weekly visits are split between all3/4 volunteers on the team). In general, a volunteer would be expected to be available for regular on-call periods during a period of 5 weeks around the estimated due date (birth dates are highly unpredictable). On call periods are allocated based on the availability of each member of the support team, however during your 5 weeks on-call you will be covering approximately 1 x 8 hour shift per 24-hour period. (The baby will only come once in this 5-week period so although you are on call, you will not always be required).
Expenses reimbursed: Travel expenses are reimbursed..
Training: Full training is provided.
Selection procedures: An informal discussion, application form completion, 2 references and a disclosure and barring check (cost met by organisation).
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact us using the form below.