The Doula Access Fund provides free doula support to those experiencing financial hardship and who find themselves in challenging situations or without a birth partner.
If you are a health professional or represent a charitable partner you may make a referral to the Doula Access Fund. We work with various agencies and charitable partners including those who provide services including maternity, mental health, refugee and domestic violence.
We believe that everyone has a right to have a positive and supported birth experience and to the best possible start in life.
Doula UK is uniquely placed with excellent infrastructure, financial stability and with a membership of 700 trained and skilled doulas across the UK to provide doula support through the Doula Access Fund.
Eligibility:
Please refer anyone you feel would benefit from doula support either for birth or in the postnatal period who is;
- experiencing financial hardship*
and fills one or more of the following criteria;
- Lone parent
- Black or Asian
- Mental health diagnosis
- Fleeing domestic violence
- Homeless or in temporary housing
- In the Social Work system
- Registered disability
- Survivor of trafficking or abuse
*Proof of receipt of benefits or no recourse to public funds will be required.
How to apply:
Health Professionals and representatives from charitable partners and agencies may;
- Complete the online referral application for support from the Doula Access Fund for a service user.
- Doula UK will notify you within 6 weeks. If successful Doula UK will send you a unique Doula Access voucher.
- The service user may then use Doula UK’s Find a Doula to select a doula who is accepting Access Fund clients and is available, local and from whom they would like support.
- Doula UK will pay the doula directly.
Apply to the Doula UK Access Fund
History of the Doula UK Access Fund
The Doula Access Fund (originally the Hardship Fund) was created in 2008 and was historically financed out of Doula UK’s Membership income and from modest individual donations. Many families were supported by the Doula UK Access Fund between 2008 and 2018 but over time, demand for the service rose, which could not be met by Doula UK’s limited funding resources. Now the Doula UK Access Fund is open again and fundraising has begun in earnest to realise our ambition of improving support for all experiencing pregnancy and labour and giving those with a new baby the best possible start to all those across the UK.
Supporting the Doula UK Access Fund
Perhaps you are a doula who agrees that a doula should be an option for every woman who wants one? Perhaps you hired a doula yourself and would like to help others get the benefits you enjoyed?
Donate to the Doula Access Fund
Make a one off donation
Set up a regular donation
If you are interested in finding out more about donating or represent a grant-giving trust and may be interested in funding the Doula Access Fund please email admin@doula.org.uk
